Got coilovers? Brand? Ride quality?
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Mercedes Benz
Cyn's comments are dead on in my experience. I'm running RENNtech springs with stock C32 shocks, and while the improvement is wonderful and very noticeable in both handling and looks, it's still not enough. If I had it to do over again, I'd have put C55 shocks in at the same time. As it is, I may step up to PSS9's and sell the shocks. That, or sell the whole car and step up to E55 and a whole new world of modding
But really the E55 is to big to be much "fun" and a worked out C32 is nearly as quick as a stock E55 and it turns and stops in ways no E55 ever could.
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Mercedes Benz
Last time on the track there was an SL55 PP and we ran very similar lap times (C32 was a bit quicker). Granted driver ability could be the difference but coming on to the front straight the SL and I would go the same speed and the SL would only pull a slight bit by the time you jumped on the brakes for turn 1. At that point I was ready to dive bomb him as the C32 was far stronger under braking (with a 4 wheel bbk).
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2006 BMW X5 4.8is and 2005 C55 AMG
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I have the E55 and while its fast its not as fun as a modded W203 when it comes to driving. If you had coilovers and a good brake kit on the W203 it would be a better car and a lot more fun to throw around. That assumes that you dont want just 1/4 power because if you do the E55 is just for you!
Nope, I think the Stage II+ C32 is fairly quick in a straight line - I just REALLY miss BMW handling. Cyn, based upon your experience, do you think that with PSS9s and BBKs that the C32 will handle like an M3? Anyone else feel free to chime in. Oh - and to head anyone off at the pass that is frowning right now, I'm asking for a subjective opinion of handling feel, not trying to start up old W203 vs. E46 flame wars, resplendent with Nurburgring times, etc
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Nope, I think the Stage II+ C32 is fairly quick in a straight line - I just REALLY miss BMW handling. Cyn, based upon your experience, do you think that with PSS9s and BBKs that the C32 will handle like an M3? Anyone else feel free to chime in. Oh - and to head anyone off at the pass that is frowning right now, I'm asking for a subjective opinion of handling feel, not trying to start up old W203 vs. E46 flame wars, resplendent with Nurburgring times, etc .
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C32 AMG
Nope, I think the Stage II+ C32 is fairly quick in a straight line - I just REALLY miss BMW handling. Cyn, based upon your experience, do you think that with PSS9s and BBKs that the C32 will handle like an M3? Anyone else feel free to chime in. Oh - and to head anyone off at the pass that is frowning right now, I'm asking for a subjective opinion of handling feel, not trying to start up old W203 vs. E46 flame wars, resplendent with Nurburgring times, etc .
.If you read/watch the reviews of M3s, C32s/C55s and S4s, the Benzes have a softer ride with more understeer. You can firm up the ride with RennTech springs or PSS9s. You can try to fix understeer with: (i) equal sized tires on all four wheels (ii) a stiffer rear stabilizer bar, or (iii) possibly by setting PSS9s to firm in the back. But so far, nobody has eliminated understeer.
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Hard to say. It depends on what "handle like an M3" means. You will never have the steering feel of an M3, but with the right tires and suspension, you can equal the lateral grip of an M3. But for that matter, a Plymouth Reliant with sticky tires can equal the lateral grip of an M3!
If you read/watch the reviews of M3s, C32s/C55s and S4s, the Benzes have a softer ride with more understeer. You can firm up the ride with RennTech springs or PSS9s. You can try to fix understeer with: (i) equal sized tires on all four wheels (ii) a stiffer rear stabilizer bar, or (iii) possibly by setting PSS9s to firm in the back. But so far, nobody has eliminated understeer.
If you read/watch the reviews of M3s, C32s/C55s and S4s, the Benzes have a softer ride with more understeer. You can firm up the ride with RennTech springs or PSS9s. You can try to fix understeer with: (i) equal sized tires on all four wheels (ii) a stiffer rear stabilizer bar, or (iii) possibly by setting PSS9s to firm in the back. But so far, nobody has eliminated understeer.
Understeer is still there but compared to stock its 100% better.
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Mercedes Benz
Nope, I think the Stage II+ C32 is fairly quick in a straight line - I just REALLY miss BMW handling. Cyn, based upon your experience, do you think that with PSS9s and BBKs that the C32 will handle like an M3? Anyone else feel free to chime in. Oh - and to head anyone off at the pass that is frowning right now, I'm asking for a subjective opinion of handling feel, not trying to start up old W203 vs. E46 flame wars, resplendent with Nurburgring times, etc .
.With all these mods the steering has a ton more feel and you can actually feel what the front tires are doing where as the stock car is (and i quote from a C32 owner and driver) "dealing with rubber bands."
Wish you were local for I would just say come on out on Jan 17th and see what its like first hand!
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W203, W211, W219, W212
Back to the topic, FifthRing have you decided on a particular setup ?
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C32 AMG
I'm not going to make a decision on suspension until my original shocks are toast. It could be another year. I'm torn between RennTech springs/shocks (which preserve OEM configuration and will not impair trade in value), and PSS9s which give the ultimate performance, but will hurt resale value if I choose to trade the car in. Given that the springs/shocks will be half the cost of the PSS9s, I'm leaning that way. I'd probably be happy with C55 spring/shocks if I could find some take-offs.
I think I need to build up some miles and some goodwill with the wife, and then drop some serious change on the Quaife limited slip differential and upgraded suspension.
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I think steering ratio has a LOT to do with it. My wife's Audi TT feels like it handles more crisply, but I know that it's just a quicker ratio. Maybe we all need smaller steering wheels!
I'm not going to make a decision on suspension until my original shocks are toast. It could be another year. I'm torn between RennTech springs/shocks (which preserve OEM configuration and will not impair trade in value), and PSS9s which give the ultimate performance, but will hurt resale value if I choose to trade the car in. Given that the springs/shocks will be half the cost of the PSS9s, I'm leaning that way. I'd probably be happy with C55 spring/shocks if I could find some take-offs.
I think I need to build up some miles and some goodwill with the wife, and then drop some serious change on the Quaife limited slip differential and upgraded suspension.
I'm not going to make a decision on suspension until my original shocks are toast. It could be another year. I'm torn between RennTech springs/shocks (which preserve OEM configuration and will not impair trade in value), and PSS9s which give the ultimate performance, but will hurt resale value if I choose to trade the car in. Given that the springs/shocks will be half the cost of the PSS9s, I'm leaning that way. I'd probably be happy with C55 spring/shocks if I could find some take-offs.
I think I need to build up some miles and some goodwill with the wife, and then drop some serious change on the Quaife limited slip differential and upgraded suspension.
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Great replies, all. I'm just trying to determine whether throwing more money at the C32 suspension is going to fix my opinion of the handling, or if I should cut bait and run off to an NSX or modded M3 Competition! Like I said, the RENNtech springs (and of course the Quaife LSD) made for big improvements, but the cost/benefit ratio may be getting too high, if after all that I'm still wanting a more neutral car - especially if it rides then like I'm walking around on my knuckles.
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C32 AMG
I personaly dont see why you think a PSS-9 will hurt the cars value. It has the same front design and the rear is a spring and shock just like OEM. The car will not have any issues with being some crazy car. If you did what I want to do and had a suspension shop put a double wishbone front end on the car that might hurt the value but a set of springs and shocks with adjustable valving and adjustable spring perches for ride height is not some crazy upgrade. Plus pay a tech 200 bucks to put the car back to oem wheny ou sell it and then sell the pss-9 used for half of what u paid. From where I stand a lowered car is a lowered car regardless of who makes the parts etc (on a trade in value approach).
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It hurts TRADE IN value. A CarMax/AutoNation will not touch a car with clearly aftermarket parts, and most dealers will discount you heavily. I agree that a private buyer (car enthusiast) is likely to understand; but in most cases you will be lucky to come away even (no loss of value). I lived it with my Audi which had top quality KW coilovers and dealers turned up their noses at it. I almost paid to restore the car to stock.
The springs and shock idea may be oem like but it wont sit oem and the car will not ride oem so chances are they will see it. The springs are black and the shocks are black but the rear springs are progressive and the top 3 coils are all compressed when a stock spring is 100% uncompressed at rest.
Springs are 500 bucks, a set of shocks is say 600 bucks used maybe less. So its 1100 or so or 1600-1700 for the PSS-9 or Carlsson RS. At that difference I feel its a just upgrade.
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First off, I made my 996 basically a race car with every part imaginable. I tried to sell it like that. Guess what? No one even gave me what stock cars were going for. It hurts resale. I ended up taking all aftermarket parts off the car and sold them and the car that way. Further, it will cost more than 2-300 bucks to remove/install the suspension. Lastly, The Pss9's are much stiffer springs and different valving or else why add them at all!
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From: global traveller
some slow@$$diesels
I had H&R's on my C32 from 2003-2005. They absolutely sucked. The shocks went soft unimaginably quick (stock rims). They became softer than the stock AMG shocks after about 6k miles. My H&R coilovers were absolutely horrible. They felt great initially but then my ride became VERY VERY bouncy.
I have the H&R coilovers on my C270CDI as well and DO have to second the fact that THEY SUCK (bigtime actually) but NOT because they are too soft...the shocks are TOO STIFF instead and that shows in highspeed curves.
When I do 200-230kmh on the german autobahn (which is pretty much most of the time in when driving through germany) and go through slight curves with a bumpy road surface, my car with H&R setup starts to bounce enough to make my ASR light flicker (loosing traction) which is scary as hell every now and then.
I have eibach springs with koni yellow shocks under my C250D (for more then 500.000km already) and that setup is soooooooo much better then the H&R setup under my C270CDI.
H&R sucks but not because they are too soft...
greetingz,
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C32 T-modell
I´ve had H&R coilovers also. I think they are quite stiff in front, but soft on the rear, rear is more like stock.
I also experienced that creepy ride with H&R, but after some work with different setups i found out the balance. Very simple solution, with common sense. If you lower it equally in front and rear, it´s ok. Add just 1-2cm more lowering in front and it´s terrible. I think many of us is lowering their cars more at the front end because of gap between wheel and fender...
I also experienced that creepy ride with H&R, but after some work with different setups i found out the balance. Very simple solution, with common sense. If you lower it equally in front and rear, it´s ok. Add just 1-2cm more lowering in front and it´s terrible. I think many of us is lowering their cars more at the front end because of gap between wheel and fender...
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03' E39 M5, 10' CLS63 AMG
hey guys,
i just went through and read the whole post, because i'm also considering getting a suspension upgrade on my car. However i'm not looking to do it for looks, that would just be a side bonus. i currently have 2003 C32, and my stock shocks are way too bouncy when driving around town and highway's. so i want something that can perform and keep up to my car around corners, because i think i get way too much lean. and in the past all i have ever see ppl talk about are H&R as they were the best setup for my car. and now after reading all off that i'm not too sure. and now lost again on what set up i should get.
so car H&R's (some ppl say too soft, others say too hard) there are a lot of cons for this set up and some pro
the Bilsten PSS 9's no one has said anything bad about those
and i dont know what else to consider.
what i do know is that i'm going to get coil-overs, the whole set up.
as my car sits now its way too high from the front and lower in the back. the pic of my current car is attached and tell me if u think this is normal, for a C32.
plz advise on what coil-overs i should get.
P.S. to reduce under/over steer i'm going to get my car weight jacked. and that would improve my cars over all performance. thx again for ur help.
i just went through and read the whole post, because i'm also considering getting a suspension upgrade on my car. However i'm not looking to do it for looks, that would just be a side bonus. i currently have 2003 C32, and my stock shocks are way too bouncy when driving around town and highway's. so i want something that can perform and keep up to my car around corners, because i think i get way too much lean. and in the past all i have ever see ppl talk about are H&R as they were the best setup for my car. and now after reading all off that i'm not too sure. and now lost again on what set up i should get.
so car H&R's (some ppl say too soft, others say too hard) there are a lot of cons for this set up and some pro
the Bilsten PSS 9's no one has said anything bad about those
and i dont know what else to consider.
what i do know is that i'm going to get coil-overs, the whole set up.
as my car sits now its way too high from the front and lower in the back. the pic of my current car is attached and tell me if u think this is normal, for a C32.
plz advise on what coil-overs i should get.
P.S. to reduce under/over steer i'm going to get my car weight jacked. and that would improve my cars over all performance. thx again for ur help.
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W203, W211, W219, W212
This is interesting, so far there are 4 people expressed their opinions about H&R coilovers.
The first one said they were too soft. The second opinion (me) said they were perfect. The third said they were too stiff. The fourth said they were stiff in front, but soft in rear. LOL.. oh well..
The first one said they were too soft. The second opinion (me) said they were perfect. The third said they were too stiff. The fourth said they were stiff in front, but soft in rear. LOL.. oh well..
