rpayer

I have a 2001 C320 and I've noticed something a little odd. I have a set of 18' AMG's on order and I was also planning on switching to AMG springs for a little drop. There is another C320, probly an '04 or '05, that I usually end up parking by at the office and everytime i look at the car it seems like it sits higher than mine. So this morning I back in to the spot right behind it so that our cars are bumper to bumper and I get out and look...sure enough...my car sits about an inch lower. I seriously doubt the previous owner replaced the springs because it was some old lady that leased it. Neither of these cars have the sport package either. Did the '01's sit lower than the newer models???

pookie

i don't know the answer to your q, but why does your profile say you have a 2003 c320 and not a 200"1" c320.

rpayer

must be a mistake....i dont have an '03.

C43AMG

Good eye. Yeah , how come ?

drexappeal

1) Are you rolling on the stock (not so attractive) rims that are 16's or 17's?

2) How do you know the C320 at the office is an '04 or '05?

rpayer

Yes, for now I am still on the 16" stocks, so is the other 320. I know its a later model because it has the bi-xenon's and the clear lenses over the headlights.

drexappeal

Can't really assume it's a later model because BI-X can be retrofitted onto a car and they have those projectors that look like BI-X on ebay.

As for why your car is lower, was there a prior owner before the old lady? Since you've got an '01, it's possible.

rpayer

Your right but I believe it is a later model. I could be wrong though. According to my title, no. It was leased, drivin for 20k, a business associate purchased the car for his wife, she drove it for 4k, and I bought it from him. He has a dealer license so he never titled the car. There is one name on the title besides mine. I pretty much stole the car. I bought it from my friend for way below blue book with 24k. Looks brand new!

drexappeal

Well, from what you've said so far, the only logical thing I can think is to check the tire pressure.

Also, you might want to ask your friend if they ever had the springs/shocks replaced. If they did, it's possible that they were replaced with sport suspension and also possible that the rear spring pads were changed as well. A big way to tell would be to compare the gap in the wheel wells.

rpayer

The tire pressure is perfect. Dont you think it would be a little odd to have the shocks and springs changed so soon. This car has only been driven by middle aged women so I dont see why they would have had a sport suspension installed...but your right. I have just eyeballed the fender gaps but mine definitly looks to have about an inch less room between the fenders. Bout the same ride height as the Scion TC parked next to me today. Weird I tell ya!

drexappeal

From what you said though, it was driven 20,000 miles before right? It may have had faulty springs/shocks that needed to be replaced under warranty and were just replaced to sport springs/shocks (or maybe even just the springs).

If your car is a 2001 model, the luxury shocks/springs combo were not changed as far as I know, up to 2005, and there really isn't a good explanation of why your car is lower. No matter what though, the 2001 vs. 2005 luxury models did not have a height difference w/ regards to the springs.

rpayer

Your correct. They could have been changed for sure. Thanks for the info! I'll probly pull a wheel off this weekend and see. Anything that you know of that I can look for on the springs or shocks?

drexappeal

Should be a series of numbers on the springs (part numbers). If you can see them, write them down and try them in the search function. I'm almost positive somebody had posted them before.

jllnet

Do you know if there is a Camber Kit for a 02 c240? I put eibach pro kit which lowered the car decently, but still the front stays a little higher than what I was expecting plus my alignment comes out with a -1 and my mechanic claims that it can be fixed with a camber in order to avoid uneven tire wear. ????

drexappeal

many people who have the eibach pro kit have complained about the drop in the front. Unfortunately, you are in no different a situation with that than many others who have those springs. Some cut the springs 1/2 - 1 coil. Others just switch to a different setup (cupkit and/or coilovers).

-1 isn't such a bad camber that you would need a camber kit, but if you do want to get a camber kit, there are companies that offer them for the w203. Search the forum for "camber kit" and you'll find threads that'll help you.

C-Dub

Did you check the tire specs to verify the sidewall and width? Ex. 225/45/17
It could cause a change in the gap to your fender and ride height.

rpayer

yea i checked....same tire size. I'm going to pull a wheel off this weekend and see if I can find a part number on one of the springs.

Blake P

A side note to this meaningless discussion...AMG springs from a C32 will not give you a noticeable drop. If you take a look at the AMG forums, those guys drop their cars too because they come so darn high from the factory. C55 suspension is a bit lower, but may not have the same look on your car because your v6 engine is lighter than the 55's v8 and will not compress the springs as much. My opinion is to go with an aftermarket spring/shock combo or coilovers.