Thanks drex I just want to put springs on at first don't have the money to do all the rest of the modification at this time. Please let me know.

Ernster

 

I recommend you save up for coilovers. Take it from a guy who has spent way too much money on suspension parts and labor. I started out with just Eibach lowering springs on stock shocks, then realized the ride quality was worse since the OEM shocks weren't meant to be run with the lower/stiffer springs. After that, I bought the H&R cup kit for a matched spring/shock combo, but realized the drop wasn't just right so I had the front springs cut a half coil. The cup kit wasn't low enough or stiff enough for me, so I got the TEIN Basic coilovers. Now I'm completely satisfied with the drop and ride, though my pockets are much lighter. I've spent over $1,500 on parts and $800 on labor when I should have just done it right the first time instead of trying to take the "cheap" route.

 

BlakeP,

do you feel the Basic Coilovers is good enough versus the Super Street version which is fully adjustable? I'm debating if I need to spend the extra few hundred for the SS.

Thanks.

 

Well, they're perfect for me. I'm the sort of "no hassle" type of guy who likes a nice mix of sport and comfort without having to re-adjust depending on the situation. I don't track my car so I don't need the extremely stiff settings, yet the roads around my area are pretty good so I don't have the need for the extremely soft settings. The Basics are comfortably stiff (if that makes any sense), so I'd never spend extra for settings that I wouldn't use. It really comes down to whether or not you think you will want to adjust the settings, because that's really the only difference that I know of.

 

Blake, just to defend the route you took a little, TEIN took a while to finish the R&D on their setups for the BASIC and SUPER STREET (and now for the S-Tech springs), so you didn't have that as your option back when you got your Eibachs and even when you upgraded to the Cup kit.

Either way, I think you made a great choice goin' with the BASIC's for your needs.

 

Yea, I guess another reason I didn't get c/o's right away was because I didn't have an option for reasonably priced coils at that point. TEIN rules!

 

razorfish, what it comes down to is what is important for your needs.

For me, having the Super Streets is perfect. I don't mess around with the settings too often, I don't track my car, but I have an option to do those things at anytime. Unlike a lot of people, I am more inclined to like a stiffer ride than a floaty comfort ride, but that's just me. The w203 chassis is so good that the rough ride doesn't bother me as much as other cars I've ridden in the past. Take that with a grain of salt because others may feel differently.

Another thing to consider is that a dampening setting can help prevent things such as rubbing, chassis lean on turns, coil compression on speed bumps, etc, etc... It's a funny thing, but when I dropped my first car (mx6), I stayed on the stock shocks and dropped the car with Intrax sport springs. After 4 months, the shocks went to hell and I would scrape on every dip in the road, speed bump, etc...When I replaced the whole suspension with ground control coilovers (adjustable height only - springs by Eibach), I actually didn't have to slow down as much on speed bumps, no rubbing (which I had on turns with the Intrax). Granted, the Ground Cotrol setup was not damper adjustable, but I also had to raise the car a hair.

That being said, if you don't have any plans to use the dampening adjustments, the BASIC's should work for you no problem. I would only go for the Super Street's if you plan to keep the car for a long time and have a greater need for accelerated performance. If you just want better than OEM performance, go with the Basic's.

 

Thanks for the info Drex!

I'm not complaining about the OEM performance on my 05 suspension even when I take turns hard and drift a bit without the ESP on. But the super street look attractive but from my past experience I used JIC coilovers for my Nissan Maxima and it was fully adjustable. The dampening was pretty cool but I didn't change it that much. I basically left it at one setting for the life of my car until I sold it.

I think the basic TEIN setup most likely be my choice and I just hope it isn't too stiff and most likely resembles the OEM feel but lower of course.

 

I can't see the stiffness being that much of a difference from the OEM springs you have (which have been debated to be the AMG springs/shocks or sport shocks made by AMG).

 

The Basics are definitely not much stiffer (or less comfortable) than the OEM sport setup.

 

Haha, so does the man finally need a set? Time for a christmas present I say (and I can vouch for the TEIN's in 4 different cars - all W203 - great quality ride).

flip

 

Damn, I should've asked TEIN for some sort of kick-back!...LOL...Actually, I guess a free setup was good enough for me . Well, that and also having my car pic on the web!...LOL.

 

i made the same mistake too...damn wasted all that extra cash on eibach & H&R springs...just trying to save up money for the TEINs now...does TEIN make it EDFC for W203?

 

Sorry, it's not looking good for the EDFC and mig888 got an email indicating that there are no plans to make it compatible. Only reason it will not work is because of the lack of need for an upper pillowball mount for the rear suspension. Front can probably have an upper pillowball mount, but EDFC would still be useless if only the front could be controlled.

 

Hey guys,

I talked to Drex about getting the S-Tech springs and he hooked me up with a pretty good place to get them from and the install, but now I think I'm begining to be reluctant on doing a suspension mod...

I've been talking to Johnny who initially put in Eibach springs in his 05 and he said it didn't lower the car by much and from what I've seen in other posts, other people w/05's and just springs didn't go much lower.

I'd love to get coilovers, but a couple things: I know most lot of the coilovers for our cars do not clear 235's in front, so I don't want to be using an even larger spacer (than my current 3mm) in front; also, the pricing... most coils are out of my price range and a couple reputable shops told me that I should go with the Tein SS instead of the Basic's b/c the Basic's were supposedly soft and would be a downgrade in terms of ride.

So, I e-mailed Tein to see if their springs would actually lower an 05 b/c they have their springs listed for 03-05 model years and we know that the 05's are already lower than the previous years (the amount lower I don't know). so, here's their response
Didn't really answer my question, and I'm fine with the rear drop, but the front will still have a pretty significant gap. I don't know if these numbers are optimistic, but I'm thinking that these would only drop my car -.03 and -.04... So if the changes are that small, then I'm not sure I really want to do it anymore...

I was also initially going to go with the vogtlands b/c they had a "moderate" drop, but if the "aggressive" drop of the eibachs isn't even enough, then I think the vogtlands wouldn't do much for me either.

Any opinions? I have no clue as to what to do anymore

Thanks!

 

Phil,

No matter what, if you're just gonna replace the springs, you're not gonna find anything that'll give you a drop of more than 1 inch (front and rear). That's just because of the upgraded suspension you already have on your car.

For some people, that slight drop of 1/2 inch - 1 inch is enough. For you, I don't know if you'd be satisfied with that. Short term, it's good to the wallet. Long term, you'll eventually want to upgrade again. The car looks good on the stock suspension right now. I honestly would suggest saving up the extra few hundred and see if you can do the Basics whenever you're ready to do that.

 

I couldn't agree more.

 

Hey Drex, would tein basic coilovers rub against my rims if i use 19x9,5 ET 36 w/ 265/30/19 tires? Because im gonna slammed it

 

I don't think it will. You're referring to just the rears and the offset is close enough at 36 to have no problem (figuratively speaking), but I honestly wouldn't be able to tell you yes or no (cuz there's a lot of factors involved when considering rubbing issues).

Best thing is to have a shop evaluate if you'll have any rubbing.

 

Forgot to mention about the front.. Its 19x8,5 ET:36 235/35/19

Will it touch the tein coils if i slammed it?

 

This might give you some ideas.

I have Super Street Tein Coil Overs. 235/35-19 fronts and 275/30-19 rears. Driving on a smooth road I'm fine, when I hit a little dip or bump my rear will rub. However, the fronts are fine unless I make a U-Turn or turning onto a driveway/parking lots. This has to be done VERY slowly or else the fender will scrap some of the tire tread off.

My Coil Overs are set at the lowest in the rear. Fronts are .4 inch from being the lowest setting.

 

I think the 36 offset up front might cause you some problems as you go low, but can't say for sure.

 

Nice car! Are you sure it is at the lowest setting? It isnt low enough for me, does H&R coilover will drop it lower than than the TEIN? Which will low my car more, the SS tein or basic? And last but not least, whats the offset of ur rims? Because u are using 5mm spacer. Thanks.

 

Here's the thing, how much you lower it won't make a difference for the rims touching the coilover, unless the offset you get for the rims is not correct.

Now that you mentioned your fronts are 36 offset...hmmm...that might not be right. Stock offset for staggered settings are 32 offset in the front.

Now if you're worried about rubbing on the coilovers, don't worry. If you're worried about rubbing on the tires. The front offset may not work and you may experience some rubbing on the tires. The rear should be fine. If you want to prevent tire rubbing in the rear, have your fenders rolled. If you are worried about coilovers rubbing the rims on the inside, the rear is fine, the front would/might be off.

 

Incorrect. For the 19s I'm using 12.1 mm spacers and the rears are 7.1 mm spacers. I had them custom made by Design Deluxe. For the 17s I'm using H&R 5 mm spacers for the fronts only, since the AMG wheels still rub against the coil overs. The 19's offset is 35mm around.

Yes, I am certain that the rear is at the lowest setting. I do know for a fact that H&R will give you a lower drop in the rear, but the front won't be as low as the Tein's Coil Overs.