moreracm

I'm thinking about installing the AMG sway bars on my C320. Can anyone give me any input on what is needed to do this conversion. I have placed an order for the sway bars and bushings. Is there any things else (end links) I would need to install them.

Thanks,
Nick

Boo2

Hey, where did you get them? I didn't know AMG made them. As for the install, not too sure, I wouldn't do them myself. Sorry.

phattbam

hey nick do you have a base model c320 or the sports package? I have the sports package and i've been waiting to upgrade on the sway bars too, but i only got the H&R cup kit. please let me know if you know if there's a difference between the sports package bars and the amg bars.. thanks

vinmanc32

very similiar if not the same. I cant really see them making two sets of sway bars to get the same desired outcome for both. I dont remember seeing anything about AMG involved with the sway bars and if they are, then I bet MB uses them on the C320 Sport. Good luck.

phattbam

thanks for the reply vinmanc32

Mach430

You may want to consider Eibach Swaybars (which I don't believe are out yet) rather than AMG. I have the same size Eibach Swaybars on my CLK as the AMG, but paid a fraction of the price.

patronus

I have successfully installed C32 sway-bars on my C240. Its an hour or so of work and the parts were $301 from the local MB dealer.

Awesome upgrade.

hopup

patronus: Is the handling much better?

patronus

The handling was very noticably improved. Particularly, the front bar is a small increase in diameter and its stiffness is increased 50%. The rear bar, however, is a 150% increase in stiffness. Remember that the stiffness of the bar changes to the diameter change to the fourth power! Because of changing the stiffness of the rear relative to the front of the car, it drastically reduces understeer. Stiffening the front alone drastically improved turn-in. I really like the new balance of the car.

The install was as smooth as you could expect. The front bar even had the flat ground into it for mounting of the factory front suspension sensor for my xenons!

All that said, however, there is one downside. The effective spring rate of the suspension has been increased. This amplifies the fact that these cars are badly under-damped.

Koni Sports are on order.

benggolf

what other parts (bushings, clamps, bolts) did you have to order to complete the installation. If possible, please provide a list and PNs.

Was is a straight bolt-on job? Does your C240 have the standard or sports package.

Appreciate your sharing the info and keep us posted on results of your Koni shock absorber installation. TIA.

patronus

I'll provide part numbers tonight when I get home and look at my reciepts. It will have everything, from the bars, bushings down to special nuts and bolts. It was a straight bolt on except for having to drill a slightly larger hole where the sway mounts to the front strut.

My C240 did not have the (worthless) sport package. I am building my own that will handily out-perform it for less than half of the cost and without the cheezy aluminum trim and black interior, both of which I cannot stand.

The Koni's are not yet released. They are currently saying July. They will run about $550 for the set of four.

phattbam

i actually got the sports package for the aluminum trimming, i know it's not carbon fiber, but it gives it a sporty look, now that i think about it, i could have saved the ~3K on the sports package but the seats wouldnt have been as nice, only my opinion.

patronus

phattbam,

Yes, we are all free to express our opinion. I will not judge you for yours, thanks for not judging me for mine.

Now, for the part numbers:

FRONT ASSEMBLY:
203-323-31-65 - Bar-front - $70.30
203-323-16-85 - Rubber mount (bushing) - $4.40 (2)
203-323-11-40 - Bracket - $11.50
203-323-12-40 - Bracket - $11.50
203-323-21-89 - Rod - $47.18 (2)
913023-012002 - Nut - $2.40 (4)
002-990-39-22 - Screw - $1.25 (4)

REAR ASSEMBLY:
203-326-00-81 - Rubber mount (bushing) - $7.60 (2)
203-326-15-65 - Bar-rear - $74.93

The screws are not absolutely necessary if you are very careful with the screws as you remove them from the front bushing assemblies. I used them because a couple of mine got bunged-up.

Good luck!

bora

patronus,

Can you please check the connecting rod part numbers for the
front sway bar. My dealer does not show a part number
with 203-323-21-89, but they do show

203-322-21-89.

Thanks

Bora

Buellwinkle

You don't need the connecting rod. All you need is the 2 sway bars for about $75 each and 2 sets of bushings that are about $12/set.

bora

Thanks for the info.

Bora

.elijah.

I have a 2002 C240 Sport and i was wondering if there are any sway bars at all in mine? i don't think there are but whatever. And which dealer is actually willing to install them? Laguna Nigel is my preferred choice, but I'm not sure on how they are on installing extra upgrades to the car. Is it as long as they are MB parts that they are fine with the change?

bora

Your car should have the same sway bars as the rest of us.
20mm/13mm

tberry

Hey Ben on the side note any deals on an intercooler kit for '02 2.3L C230k coupe? Something that doesnt require modification to OEM bumper and minimal appearance change (preferably visually undetactable by dealer) .

Buellwinkle

You don't need to pay people to install it, come to the Tech Session meet on February 22nd and the sponsor is providing a lift an all the tools, with that it only takes about 20 minutes to do. Just send Simon and e-mail telling him you'll be there.

KWiK

A lift would be nice, but it's not needed. Besides, the Tech Session is over a month away. I know I couldn't wait, my stuff went on 2 nights ago.

patronus

Buellwinkle,

Actually, you need all of the parts listed including the link and the bushing mounts. The links are substantially larger for the AMG bars because of the significant increase in force (~150%) they put on the links. The outside of the bushings are bigger than stock and require a different mount, using the same mounting holes on the chassis.

Don't cheap out and end up with a broken suspension

bora

What is the correct number for the connecting rod (or what I would call sway bar end link)

20FHK02

Could be the mounts for the C240 are different than those for the C230, because so many coupe owners have successfully changed the sway bars without the new mounts and connecting rods.

My dealer just called me and said that the bars are in!
Can't wait to install them tonight!

young

i can confirm that the amg bushings are designed for amg mounts. they're a little too big for oem ones.