FrankW

stock damper is too long. when the lowering springs are installed the damper itself is already compressed which decrease the designed rebound/bound travel range.

Bilstein if the ones you got right now are the sports and not the oem replacement. they should have shorter internal travel which when you install the lowering springs they do not affect the overall travel of the shocks.

Autotechnica

Gotcha. However, I remember Splinter mentioning that even the Koni's which are designed for lowering springs had problems and he still bottomed out. I have found KONI's to be a bit softer than Bilstein's. I'm conflicted on what to do. I don't want to waste money on the Bilstein's if they still aren't good enough for the springs. At the same time, I don't want to waste time/money installing them with the stock dampers if that doesn't work either. Before purchasing the H&R springs, I was considering a set of the H&R street performance coilovers. The price would have been similar to the Bilstein/H&R shock/spring combo. I also wouldn't have to worry about spring pads and the front being too low. Looking at the pic splinter posted of his front end with H&R springs is worrying. I think I'll have to remove the front lip now too

Seems like nobody really bothers with upgraded shocks when going with lowering springs. Majority of people here seem to be running them with stock dampers. Most will say the setup is "fine". I assume that just means the suspension hasn't collapsed on itself. Not really my idea of "fine".

SYZYGY

run the c55 dampers. They are designed for the c55 springs, which, from my understanding, are approximately 1" lower than the c32 springs

Autotechnica

Since I've never seen any used C55 dampers for sale, I think that would mean buying them new from the dealer? I'm guessing the dealer price for stock C55 dampers would probably cost more than a new set of coilovers. I don't think it's a cost effective option. Any idea who the C55 dampers are made by? If they're simply some sort of SACHS turbo gas shocks or something, it might be plausible since I get SACHS stuff pretty cheap. I still think the C55's front strut would be too long for the H&R springs. The front is absolutely slammed.

SYZYGY

Yeah, they are Sachs. The PN is floating around on here somewhere, although when I did a google search for it, nothing came up.

New cost from the dealer on c32 struts is $230/each. I imagine c55 will be similarly priced.

splinter

Zeppelin swapped in C55 dampers and springs; his runs quite well.




+1

FrankW’s experience with fitting shorter aftermarket springs to original dampers closely parallels those of other members. I initially did the H&Rs on ~45,000-mile OE struts. Looked pretty good, but it was immediately evident that the mismatched load height/spring rate/flaccid damping combination would require prompt attention and another approach. Thus began my suspension experimentation travails.

Didn’t want to come across as aloof and arrogant vis-à-vis that xenon thread. If you can swing it, concurrently upgrading the dampers is clearly preferable. Have read of several who’re pleased with their off-the-shelf Bilstein 35-053453/F4-VE3-5345-H strut & H&R setup.

It would have been considerably less expensive and easier to simply source coilovers on a whim. Steadfastly refused to do so. Where is the challenge in that? There is something appealing about being asked “What have you done to yours?” while unwinding in the paddock after a rewarding track day session.

Trust you’ll let us know how yours go.

SYZYGY

From what I've read, the Bilstein 35-053453/F4-VE3-5345-H strut & H&R setup is actually pairing softer-than-factory dampers with shorter springs. I don't see how that could be an improvement, unless the factory struts were worn to begin with.

Based upon my research here, it seems that new OE C55 struts would be the best combo with lowering springs.

I plan to run those struts with Vogtland springs shortly, along with refreshed bearings and bushings.

03MBC32

I'm delighted to see this thread revived as Splinter has enlightened me on the Powergrid front sway bar links.

I was considering going to a Bilstein PSS9 coilover kit, but if the C55 front struts and springs along with C55 rear shocks (C32 C55 rear springs are identical I believe) will give me better handling for half the cost, I will go that route.

Can someone confirm that these are the correct C55 part numbers for the struts/shocksCan't access EPC Net outside of the USA)

Struts: 203 320 78 30
Shocks: 170 011 46 00

Thanks,
Wayne

SYZYGY

I called a Sachs dealer and I'm waiting to hear back to see if we can get OE stuff directly from Sachs for a (hopefully) cheaper price. The MBZ dealer quoted me $230-$300 for C55 struts, depending on VIN number. He was unable to tell me the difference between the three part numbers that came up, other than the part numbers themselves being different.

splinter

C55 dampers:

front-
203 320 83 30 (U.S. valving)
203 320 80 30 (CLK55 and RoW valving)

rear-
203 326 43 00 (U.S. and RoW valving)


C55 springs:

front-
203 321 70 04 (U.S. and RoW)

rear-
The C32 and C55 have similar fitment, contingent upon options’ weight.

03MBC32

Thank you Splinter. Your weath of knowledge and experience are invaluable to the forum.

Regards,
Wayne

Zeppelin

Just a slight correction to Splinters description of my car. I run the C55 Struts/Shocks on H&R springs. I never had the chance to try the car on C55 Springs so not sure if it would handle better with those or the H&R springs.

I can say that changing from just C32 Struts/Shocks to C55 Struts/Shocks made the car probably twice as stiff.

reflex92

Thats interesting....

SYZYGY

I ordered a pair of c55 struts from the dealer. They run 290 a piece. Never heard back from the Sachs dealer.

Autotechnica

I went to the merc dealer in maple, ontario today. Here's what I found.

Prices for part numbers Splinter provided.

203-320-83-30 - $276 cdn each (C55 front strut)
203-326-43-00 - $199 cdn each (C55 rear shock)
203-321-70-04 - $327 cdn each pair (C55 front springs)

Guy at parts counter said 203-320-80-30 doesn't show up in the computer. The prices are pretty good. I want to just go for the front struts and install them with my h&r springs. Just one question, what is the difference between the RoW and US front strut? Does RoW mean wagon specific? Should I be going for the US strut?

I'm also assuming there is no difference between left and right strut correct?

03MBC32

Hi Bryan,

RoW means rest of the world. I would assume the U.S. valving would be the same for Canada. The 203-320-80-30 part I check at parts.com and it shows up as "strut convertible back". No indication of the model or year. A mystery.

Wayne

splinter

Autotechnica, left and right are indeed interchangeable. MB simply reverses the upper anti-roll bar link attachment.

The EPC is typically more accurate than my recurring dyslexia. This thread certainly won’t be the last time I’ll have posted faulty intel!

Note code 494 denotes "U.S.-specification" in this instance:

Autotechnica

Hmm.. guy at the parts counter could not confirm what the parts were. He said I would need a VIN number of the specific car the parts were meant for. Ahh what a pain.

03MBC32

I know how you feel. In the past I've been to 3 dealers for parts. They all require a VIN for even a simple bolt.

Autotechnica

Looks like I'll most likely be going with the H&R springs w/ C55 front struts. Are the stock C32 rear shocks underdamped as well? Replacing those at a later time won't be much of a problem if it's required. If I hadn't already purchased the H&R springs I probably would have gone for the C55 front springs. They do seem a bit pricey for just a front pair, especially compared to the front struts that are somewhat resonably priced.

Wayne, let me know what you decide to do. I'm still not 100% on the setup I want.

Bry

03MBC32

I'm planning to go with the C55 strut/springs along with C55 Shocks. I'll get about an inch of drop in the front. The c55 shocks have firmer valving from the information I have researched. Our rear springs are similar to C55's as Splinter has stated. I'll save about $1K compared to the Bilstein pss9 coilovers.

The pricing you were quoted for the struts is reasonable, however the springs are a bit pricey as the US price through parts.com is about $80 each.

Wayne

Autotechnica

Hmmm odd. The shocks and struts from MB are actually pretty much the same price as parts.com once you factor in shipping/taxes. However, there's quite a big gap for the springs. For that price I'm considering selling my H&R's and getting the C55 front springs. I'm just wondering how similar are the rears on the C32/C55 springs. I don't like mis-matching parts unless I really know what I'm doing. I'm very conflicted

03MBC32

Agree with you on mismatched parts. I'm looking for the information that states the rear c32/c55 springs are the same. Will post when located.

SYZYGY

If The c55 rear springs are the same as the c32 rear springs then it would seem likely that the c32 rear shocks are the same as the c55 rear shocks. I am simply replacing my front c32 struts with c55 hardware, and installing h&r springs on all four corners while keeping the c32 rear shocks.

splinter

Given its decent thrust, my C32’s original chassis was dreadfully mismatched as delivered. AMG substantially improved the W203’s capabilities in its later iterations. Its documented Nürburgring Nordschleife performance and reputable periodicals during the C’s heyday have repeatedly proven same.

A comfy ride and acceptable behavior while approaching the limit of adhesion are still mutually exclusive in my experience. Note Zeppelin’s “probably twice as stiff” post. Ridden in a 997 with PSM recently?;) I’ve unabashedly strayed toward the performance end of the compromise. Your experience may differ significantly, although having piloted an M3 I suspect it wouldn’t. A sound strategy has typically been to improve that end which consistently contributes less than its fair share to the cornering equation.

Perhaps you can catch up with stalwart Canadian member PC Valkyrie during one of his track days. He’s given a solid go against many a ‘faster’ machine with his PS2- and Renntech airbox-equipped (but otherwise stock) C55.

There’s certainly nothing wrong with exploiting OE parts for retrofitting purposes if they’ll help to serve your objectives. Respectfully suggest you needn’t be too concerned with rear spring rate during the initial phase of upgrading since, as you’ve already noted, they’re easily swapped. Not to belabor the point, Affalterbach had occasion to fit a curious selection of 202, 203 and 210 springs to the rear of the C32 and C55.