giannidy

Sorry for being a noob at life, but why can't I find any H&R Springs for my specific model (2001 C230)?? There are websites that have the springs for the 02-07 W203 C230, but not 2001. I don't understand since 01-07 is considered W203.

C230 Mulac

I believe it should be the same because it is the same chassis. But I don't know for sure so I would let someone else confirm this for you. Sorry I can't help more.

pwcummings

Did MB even exist in 2001? just joking, and being a relative noob myself, I have no constructive thoughts to provide but I do wish u luck my friend.

Xhale707

Tein lowering springs offer a better drop. Just an fyi

giannidy

Really? Okay I'll check those out. Those are cheaper in price too.

NOCSUCOW

Are there any special tools needed to drop this car more that spring compressors? Sorry for my ignorance as I cannot access the DIY section on my work computer.

phister

The tein springs are softer than OEM ss springs. Your drop on the s.tech springs depends on your model. C240 drop 2.3 front and 1 rear. C320 drop 1.6 and 1.1. C230 drop 0.6 and 0.7. It also depends on what spring pad # you have. H&R drop 1.4 and 1.3 on most w203, H&R is more model specific since they different springs for the sports sedan and the non sport plus the springs are stiffer than OEM ss. I'd lean towards the H&R springs and put on koni struts to go along with it.

giannidy

Heres a write up you should look at. It should say everything you need.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2929941/2005-mercedes-benz-c-class/page-22

Alright sweet. Thanks for your help man.

C230 Mulac

Excellent link giannidy, very detailed and good explanations of everything. Now I should be able to do everything myself with no problems.

giannidy

I'm glad to finally be able to help out a fellow C owner haha.

C230 Mulac

Yessir very helpful! Now I just need to order the parts to do it...

Xhale707

I did the job myself like 5 times haha..

I used this 14.99 http://www.harborfreight.com/macpher...-set-3980.html

To compress my springs. Just keep the threads lubed up and it works amazing.

Takes a little longer but works =)

If you go to ebay and wanna buy some tein springs. Look up StreetRays tell them that you wanna buy them outside of ebay and that your apart of a huge mercedes forums. & that a member told you to check them out. They will sell them for 152 shipped =)

Hope that helps a few members around here have tein as well and love them.

H & R doesn't offer an aggressive drop like teins do. If you want a more even drop then get H & R but if your looking for an aggressive look get tein.

NOCSUCOW

Any more suggestions on where to get the torx socket? I know 18mm was mentioned, but aren't they labeled as "T-XX?"

phister

Guy doesnt know how to read pad numbers. To know what pad you have you have to look and see how many rubber nipples are on the top part of the pad. Also when you put the car on the ground and look at the strut bracket in the engine dont be alarmed that there is a gap, that is common.

phister

any parts store should have it. I get my tools from Lowes or Northern Tools.

seattlebenz

Was there a sport model that year? Why not just buy a car that is low from the start and save all of this hassle and all of the potential problems?

C230 Mulac

I'm mostly looking for springs that will give me the best handling and performance. Of course the look is important too, but I don't want to sacrifice ride comfort for it, i.e. I don't want a really rough ride because the suspension is ridiculously stiff but I do want enough to feel the difference when I go around the curves. Is H&R or Tein better for that?

And do you need to get new pads when you do this or can you just use the stocks?

giannidy

It's not a kompressor, just a C230 sedan. I wouldve done that in the first place but I didn't know I was gonna turn into a mod addict.

giannidy

Thanks a lot Xhale. Preciate the tip.

phister

I would lean towards the H&R springs if you want more performance than looks. They are stiffer but not too stiff to tighten up your handling. Like I said Teins are softer than the OEM SS springs. I have a set of OEM SS springs I'll sell you. You dont have to change the pads if you dont want. The height will be just different. SS come with #2 pads and yours probably are #4 pads most likely. The SS springs will give you a stance just like the Teins almost, it'll be little over a 0.4 - 0.5 height difference between the two.

Xhale707

Going through the hassle of trying to sell your car and either buy or finance for a new car takes a lot longer. Then just changing out springs. After market springs made for our cars aren't going to have any potential problems. Actual if you think about it like this. How many of us really know what our cars FELT like STOCK at Day 1 With 1 to 10 miles on the car??? Not many im sure. & if there are a few they won't be able to remember because of how many miles are on it now. So I bet that most of us changed our springs around 20k-60k and higher. So when people report stiffer it may seem like that because they never knew what it was like to drive it when it was brand new or remember. That could just be one way of looking at it lol

C230 Mulac

If by SS you mean "sport sedan" then I already have those. I believe we have the exact same car, well, when it was stock we did, lol

phister

I was thinking of the OP and his springs options. As for our cars if you get Teins its not going to lower your car that much maybe 0.5" H&R are stiffer but not ridiculously stiffer. You'll only get really stiff springs if you go towards coilovers or get custom springs made with your specific spring rate. You can also go with Eibach springs. My order would be H&R, Eibach, Tein. The S. Tech is more for style than performance IMHO.

AnswerSS

How much would each of those brands lower a non-sport c230? Roughly.

phister

H&R - 1.4 front 1.3 rear
Eibach - 1.2 front and 1.2 rear
Tein - 0.6 front and 0.7 rear for Komp model
1.6 front and 1.1 rear for other w203