** Best Recommended Shocks for W202????? ** Need Help Please.
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** Best Recommended Shocks for W202????? ** Need Help Please.
What is the best kind of shocks you can get for w202 Mercedes to give you the best ride??? I drive a 2000 C280 lowered with H&R springs and I bought a pair of Koni Yellow Adjustables, the ride on it is ridiculous. I'm bouncing up and down everywhere i go. Someone told me that the Koni Yellows were especially for "track" so it only operates on smooth nicely paved roads. So now i want to change my shocks and i want to know whichs shocks are the best. Please...all opinions and advice is welcomed, preferably if you have it on your own car. Koni SPort? Blisten? KYB?... please help me fix my ride.
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I have H&R springs. For the shocks i've tried adjusting it to all the way firm, 75% Firm, 50% and even softest... my ride still too bumpy to my liking. Its like riding a horse. I thought that by buying Koni Yellows my ride would feel better than stock ride. Anyone else have Koni Yellows? please explain how your ride feels...
Senior Member
Joined: May 2006
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From: San Diego, CA
99 C43 AMG
I have H&R springs. For the shocks i've tried adjusting it to all the way firm, 75% Firm, 50% and even softest... my ride still too bumpy to my liking. Its like riding a horse. I thought that by buying Koni Yellows my ride would feel better than stock ride. Anyone else have Koni Yellows? please explain how your ride feels...
Are you 100% sure your shocks aren't leaking?
Last edited by Lensolo; May 22, 2007 at 09:19 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 386
Likes: 28
From: NorCal
'99 C43, '12 C63, '13 E350, '14 Sprinter
They ARE adjustable shocks, aren't they? Try adjusting them 
(Sorry - just now saw your follow up)
I run the Vogtland/Koni externally adjustable combo and can dial it in for both commuting/around town driving (softer) and hell-bent, get outta my way driving (very firm). The difference is quite noticable.
Keep in mind that shocks primarily control the rate of compression and rebound. I rode with a firend recently who was *****ing that his shocks sucked, but it was his springs that were crap. They were soft springs with little room for compression, so they were constantly binding. We cut his OEM springs and the ride was 100% better.
(Sorry - just now saw your follow up)I run the Vogtland/Koni externally adjustable combo and can dial it in for both commuting/around town driving (softer) and hell-bent, get outta my way driving (very firm). The difference is quite noticable.
Keep in mind that shocks primarily control the rate of compression and rebound. I rode with a firend recently who was *****ing that his shocks sucked, but it was his springs that were crap. They were soft springs with little room for compression, so they were constantly binding. We cut his OEM springs and the ride was 100% better.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,939
Likes: 178
From: Seattle WA
99 E320
i have a 99 E320 which rode like a boat with the OEM shocks. so I changed
them to Bilstein HD and they were firm...almost perfect. But then I changed
the equation again by purchasing lowering springs (Vogtland) and the shocks
seemed to bottom out...since they were over preloaded from the start, given the Vogtlands.
I picked up Koni adjustables, believing that they would have the range I wanted
as well as being the correct length and match for the lowering spring. I was
wrong.
The Konis, even at full firm, were too soft for the handling I wanted. I was
surprised. I tested the Konis and Bilsteins side-by-side and through simple
body weight compression, then stopwatched the rebound rate, it was obvious
that the Konis were damped more for comfort.
Bought the Bilstein Sports (1"+ shorter than HD) and now I'm satisfied. The
E320 has a very nice compromised handling feel. You do feel road ripples a
bit more than OEM shocks but with 18" 8.5" rims the body roll has subsided
immensely. yet.....I can still cruise in relative comfort and not feel as though
my spine were connected to the lower control arm.
This experimentation took me 3 mos of off/on again testing. Not saying that
you'll be satisfied with the Bilsteins. Just recapping for you my anecdotal
experience as well as first hand knowledge of the valving between these two
shocks. Bilstein HDs and Sports should be same; body/stroke length is
designed for 1.5" shorter spring so that it doesn't bottom out as easily.
them to Bilstein HD and they were firm...almost perfect. But then I changed
the equation again by purchasing lowering springs (Vogtland) and the shocks
seemed to bottom out...since they were over preloaded from the start, given the Vogtlands.
I picked up Koni adjustables, believing that they would have the range I wanted
as well as being the correct length and match for the lowering spring. I was
wrong.
The Konis, even at full firm, were too soft for the handling I wanted. I was
surprised. I tested the Konis and Bilsteins side-by-side and through simple
body weight compression, then stopwatched the rebound rate, it was obvious
that the Konis were damped more for comfort.
Bought the Bilstein Sports (1"+ shorter than HD) and now I'm satisfied. The
E320 has a very nice compromised handling feel. You do feel road ripples a
bit more than OEM shocks but with 18" 8.5" rims the body roll has subsided
immensely. yet.....I can still cruise in relative comfort and not feel as though
my spine were connected to the lower control arm.
This experimentation took me 3 mos of off/on again testing. Not saying that
you'll be satisfied with the Bilsteins. Just recapping for you my anecdotal
experience as well as first hand knowledge of the valving between these two
shocks. Bilstein HDs and Sports should be same; body/stroke length is
designed for 1.5" shorter spring so that it doesn't bottom out as easily.
Thread Starter
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thanks for all your replies and advice. I've had my H&R springs on stock shocks for 3 years now... then i changed my shocks to koni yellow adjustables about a month ago. H&R on stock shocks was no problem ride was kinda like a boat but not noticeably bouncy. once i switched to koni yellows my car bounces up and down on every bump i hit. do you think its my springs then ...???? should i get new springs...??? in the end i want the most luxurious ride possible. i have 19" on my car i know that will play a factor. but this bouncing is not cool. im sure theres something to fix it... please advise on springs and input.
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Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 386
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From: NorCal
'99 C43, '12 C63, '13 E350, '14 Sprinter
I guess I'd need to know more about what you mean by "bouncy."
Does this mean the car is riding too stiff and you're feeling the small road imperfections, or does it mean that when you hit a bump it bounces after the shocks should have dampened it - think of how an old Chevy will bounce three or four times after a bump.
Does this mean the car is riding too stiff and you're feeling the small road imperfections, or does it mean that when you hit a bump it bounces after the shocks should have dampened it - think of how an old Chevy will bounce three or four times after a bump.
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
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after much research and opinions... majority of the people suggests its my springs. the bumpyness (stifness) i guess is natural and im just not used to feeling every bump on the road. but i am pretty convinced theres a way to fix what i want done. any big dip i hit my car bounces up and down when i land not so much like a boat but more stiffer. my brother suggests i should look into stiffer springs. with the koni shocks anyone recommend springs? Vogtland? keep in mind its hard to part with my H&R because my drop right now is the most perfect drop i've ever had....
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,939
Likes: 178
From: Seattle WA
99 E320
clearly, changing the springs again now to one which has a higher spring
rate (stiffer) is counter productive to your goal which is for a more compliant
ride.
chances are high that if you're feeling a harsh ride, it's due to the shocks
having high compression damping. so if you're driving down the road and
you're feeling the expansion joints through your hands/steering wheel....as
well as your butt, it's because the shocks are stiffer. this is to be expected
since you replaced the OEM (which offered boat ride, comfort feeling) with
aftermarket Konis, which are probably valved for stiffer ride (but better
handling qualities).
are your Konis set at the lowest/softest setting? if so, then you probably
should look for an even softer shock valving.....or should have left the OEM
springs in the first place.
suspensions are tuned....not just frivolous swapping in/out of parts.
rate (stiffer) is counter productive to your goal which is for a more compliant
ride.
chances are high that if you're feeling a harsh ride, it's due to the shocks
having high compression damping. so if you're driving down the road and
you're feeling the expansion joints through your hands/steering wheel....as
well as your butt, it's because the shocks are stiffer. this is to be expected
since you replaced the OEM (which offered boat ride, comfort feeling) with
aftermarket Konis, which are probably valved for stiffer ride (but better
handling qualities).
are your Konis set at the lowest/softest setting? if so, then you probably
should look for an even softer shock valving.....or should have left the OEM
springs in the first place.
suspensions are tuned....not just frivolous swapping in/out of parts.
