W203 Coupe Suspension Opinions
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 269
Likes: 93
From: Las Vegas, NV
2003 S55 AMG, 2005 C320 Coupe, 2020 Jeep Gladiator Mojave
W203 Coupe Suspension Opinions
My suspension has seen better days and repairs usually mean time to upgrade. I'm a little puzzled by the 949 sports package unless someone has monkeyed with it at some point over the past 20 years.
Front sway bar is 20mm, front brakes are single piston, 300mm rotors. Supposedly "lowered suspension" but doesn't appear be, at least the front anyway.
But moving on, this car will be used primarily for freeway commuting, but I want it lowered, not slammed, and better handling. The ideal stance for me is zero wheel gap. I also have my eye on some H&R sway bars but not sure if I can justify the need to buy them.
I've narrowed it down to these. I've read a ton of threads but would appreciate personal experience with any of these.
-Bilstein B14 coilover kit (non-adjustable damping)
-Any feedback on the BC coilovers that FCP sells??? They DO have adjustable damping but I'm not familiar with them.
-H&R Cup kit (cheapest option)
-Koni Yellows w/adjustable damping, twin tube, with H&R springs? Price is approaching the Bilstein B14 territory
Front sway bar is 20mm, front brakes are single piston, 300mm rotors. Supposedly "lowered suspension" but doesn't appear be, at least the front anyway.
But moving on, this car will be used primarily for freeway commuting, but I want it lowered, not slammed, and better handling. The ideal stance for me is zero wheel gap. I also have my eye on some H&R sway bars but not sure if I can justify the need to buy them.
I've narrowed it down to these. I've read a ton of threads but would appreciate personal experience with any of these.
-Bilstein B14 coilover kit (non-adjustable damping)
-Any feedback on the BC coilovers that FCP sells??? They DO have adjustable damping but I'm not familiar with them.
-H&R Cup kit (cheapest option)
-Koni Yellows w/adjustable damping, twin tube, with H&R springs? Price is approaching the Bilstein B14 territory
Member
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 119
Likes: 12
From: SoCal
90 VW Corrado g60, 07 New Beetle Vert triple white & 09 Escalade ESV Plat LOL!
I would do the Koni or Bilstein. Both have lifetime warranty so when you hit the pothole from hell and it blows out the o ring, you can order a new set on warranty and they’ll reimburse you. Koni may still cover the shipping. Neither test the struts to verify they’re blown.
Coilovers are nice for dialing in an exact ride height however you’ve gotta cover the threads and threaded spring perch in marine grade grease that won’t wash off. Corrosion kills coilovers but they’ll never tell you that.
For comfort and a quiet ride, I prefer the Koni yellow with lowering springs. I only get about 50k out of the springs before they start to sag and rub together on the coils. It’s just the nature of the lowered ride height, not a flaw in manufacturing.
Coilovers are nice for dialing in an exact ride height however you’ve gotta cover the threads and threaded spring perch in marine grade grease that won’t wash off. Corrosion kills coilovers but they’ll never tell you that.
For comfort and a quiet ride, I prefer the Koni yellow with lowering springs. I only get about 50k out of the springs before they start to sag and rub together on the coils. It’s just the nature of the lowered ride height, not a flaw in manufacturing.
Last edited by Petethepug; Oct 20, 2024 at 05:03 PM.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 269
Likes: 93
From: Las Vegas, NV
2003 S55 AMG, 2005 C320 Coupe, 2020 Jeep Gladiator Mojave
I would do the Koni or Bilstein. Both have lifetime warranty so when you hit the pothole from hell and it blows out the o ring, you can order a new set on warranty and they’ll reimburse you. Koni may still cover the shipping. Neither test the struts to verify they’re blown.
Coilovers are nice for dialing in an exact ride height however you’ve gotta cover the threads and threaded spring perch in marine grade grease that won’t wash off. Corrosion kills coilovers but they’ll never tell you that.
For comfort and a quiet ride, I prefer the Koni yellow with lowering springs. I only get about 50k out of the springs before they start to sag and rub together on the coils. It’s just the nature of the lowered ride height, not a flaw in manufacturing.
Coilovers are nice for dialing in an exact ride height however you’ve gotta cover the threads and threaded spring perch in marine grade grease that won’t wash off. Corrosion kills coilovers but they’ll never tell you that.
For comfort and a quiet ride, I prefer the Koni yellow with lowering springs. I only get about 50k out of the springs before they start to sag and rub together on the coils. It’s just the nature of the lowered ride height, not a flaw in manufacturing.
I appreciate the response. I don't think I want coilovers for the fact that I have to mess with them and I don't have a lot of time as it is.
Member
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 119
Likes: 12
From: SoCal
90 VW Corrado g60, 07 New Beetle Vert triple white & 09 Escalade ESV Plat LOL!
If you can find a low milage sedan that’s totalled, with the same architecture you could easily swap the engine mechanicals to shave 100k off whatever you’ve clocked up already.
it’d potentially leave you with the entire suspension pieces to remove the old suspension bushings and press in new ones for a crazy inexpensive front end refresh with minimal downtime.
After 300k on the g60 Corrado (that had a dealer rebuilt at 100k) I collected a built motor from owner’s leftover and failed builds. I put the head, block and accessories in the trunk and drove it to the Indi shop.
4 days later it emerged as a better than new vehicle with an extra 115hp from means available back in 2012.
With so little support for the kompressor motor I wonder if MBZ has a two speed / overdrive compatible rear diff from another platform. You could have a lot of fun with a set of manual controlled short and highway gears in the ring & pinion. A limited slip and gearz beats hp/tq off the line every time (unless it’s a Tesla)
it’d potentially leave you with the entire suspension pieces to remove the old suspension bushings and press in new ones for a crazy inexpensive front end refresh with minimal downtime.
After 300k on the g60 Corrado (that had a dealer rebuilt at 100k) I collected a built motor from owner’s leftover and failed builds. I put the head, block and accessories in the trunk and drove it to the Indi shop.
4 days later it emerged as a better than new vehicle with an extra 115hp from means available back in 2012.
With so little support for the kompressor motor I wonder if MBZ has a two speed / overdrive compatible rear diff from another platform. You could have a lot of fun with a set of manual controlled short and highway gears in the ring & pinion. A limited slip and gearz beats hp/tq off the line every time (unless it’s a Tesla)
Last edited by Petethepug; Oct 24, 2024 at 07:24 PM.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 269
Likes: 93
From: Las Vegas, NV
2003 S55 AMG, 2005 C320 Coupe, 2020 Jeep Gladiator Mojave
If you can find a low milage sedan that’s totalled, with the same architecture you could easily swap the engine mechanicals to shave 100k off whatever you’ve clocked up already.
it’d potentially leave you with the entire suspension pieces to remove the old suspension bushings and press in new ones for a crazy inexpensive front end refresh with minimal downtime.
a
After 300k on the g60 Corrado (that had a dealer rebuilt at 100k) I collected a built motor from owner’s leftover and failed builds. I put the head, block and accessories in the trunk and drove it to the Indi shop.
4 days later it emerged as a better than new vehicle with an extra 115hp from means available back in 2012.
With so little support for the kompressor motor I wonder if MBZ has a two speed / overdrive compatible rear diff from another platform. You could have a lot of fun with a set of manual controlled short and highway gears in the ring & pinion. A limited slip and gearz beats hp/tq off the line every time (unless it’s a Tesla)
it’d potentially leave you with the entire suspension pieces to remove the old suspension bushings and press in new ones for a crazy inexpensive front end refresh with minimal downtime.
a
After 300k on the g60 Corrado (that had a dealer rebuilt at 100k) I collected a built motor from owner’s leftover and failed builds. I put the head, block and accessories in the trunk and drove it to the Indi shop.
4 days later it emerged as a better than new vehicle with an extra 115hp from means available back in 2012.
With so little support for the kompressor motor I wonder if MBZ has a two speed / overdrive compatible rear diff from another platform. You could have a lot of fun with a set of manual controlled short and highway gears in the ring & pinion. A limited slip and gearz beats hp/tq off the line every time (unless it’s a Tesla)
