NEA-4311

Hello guys, I would like to know what brand is the suspension that the C36 /43 amg w202 models are wearing. Is it AMG as well or other? Do you know where can i get it? (Europe)? Ive looked for amg suspensions but i cant find any .Please enlighten me on the subject. Thanks a lot.

c55m8o

Blistene. I've heard some say the AMG-branded Blistenes have different valving from the ones you'd buy off the shelf. I can't speak for it's accuracy; just repeating what I heard to spur on a conversation and hear from one who knows for sure.

Mercedes22

I am a member of MBClub UK Forum they have lots of threads on suspension.

Join they are a great bunch.

Regards

Peter. (C43AMG that's what i am under)

O's///C43

Don't mean to hi-jack this thread from you. I look under and they are bilsteins. What I would like to know which Bilsteins HD or Sports?

My front is bottoming out and I'm about to replaced the shocks with Bilsteins Sports aftermarket. Just wanted to make that I'm getting the right set of shocks and hope not to bottom-out.

Thanks in advance.
-Adrian

VAamg

Did you try calling the stealership to see if they could give you a part number? Some people in this forum are very good at coming up with part numbers, not sure how, but they coudl probably get that for you and you could work backwards.

SDR

This is often more a matter of the springs reaching full compression than the shocks not being firm enough. My 190 used to reach full compression frequently because there was only about 1" of space between the coils. Stiff shocks did absoltutely nothing but different springs made all the difference. The Eibachs were terrible compared to the Vogtlands. You'll find that they have less coils yet ride at the same height. This added about another 1" of travel and I no longer bottom out. Running the same setup on the C43 and love it.

c55m8o

FYI, that's a.k.a. 'spring binding'. If he has the stock springs I wouldn't expect it to ever bind; could very well be a shock related issue here, but we don't know with that info stated. If the car has over 50k or 60K miles and you live in a pothole laden area like me where the shocks have had a workout, i say go for the new shocks. Mine needed it. ...though I didn't buy blistene.

O's///C43

Guys - the car is lowered with H&R springs. The shocks are AMG branded Bilsteins. The stealership just replaced the front shocks due to leak so, the front shocks are about 6 months old.

Having said this, would you consider a different set of springs perhaps? or get new aftermarket bilstein, konis, etc.? This is one of the reason I would like to due my dilegence before spending 4bills on shocks.

TIA!
-A

steve s

just an fyi... i have only 25k on the car, and the suspension can be bottomed out if u are cornering on a long sweeping turn and there is a bit of elevation change midturn.

O's///C43

Steve - I bottom out on freeways (especially hitting a major bumps, holes, etc.). For some reason cornering is not an issue on my car. I almost want to pull the trigger and buy a stiffer shocks. I really need help

-Adrian

OzC36

AMG went to a lot of work to come up with the very best suspensions for their cars. There are obviously a lot of trade-offs in the design stage and and when the initial road testing work is done. They try and provide sporty yet versatile performance without suffering the penalties of a race car tackling everyday roads.

If it was my car and I was experiencing the problems described, I would change everything back to stock AMG parts and settings. I've also read somewhere that the AMG Bilsteins for the C36/43 have equal ratio valves and are not available directly from Bilsteins. They need to ordered from Mercedes, but as I said, that's only from what I've read on the forums.

My C36 suspension is stock and I have absolutely no problems with it. But then again I treat my car like a baby!

ProjectC55

Yes,I have the same issues and the same exact setup as you.
My friend who is a master mechanic for MB here in NY says that the H&R setup and Eibach setup with Bilstein's is junk.
I blew out my Drivers side fender with my present H&R bilstein setup. My mechanic recommends taking the stck C43 AMG spring and cutting it.
It has done wonders on my friends C43 which use to have eibach's and the handling,looks and ride have been suprisingly better to both of us .

Q-Ship

CoolCarl: How much does he recommend cutting out of the stock spring? (i.e., 1 coil, 1/2" of 1 coil, etc.). By the way, your C43 looks awesome...and I bet it drives awesome with the 5.5 liter engine! Now that I know what suspension you are running, did you also upgrade to 18" wheels from another AMG model?

Other than cutting the stock coil, what other decent riding suspension options would you guys recommend for a daily driver?

Just so you guys know, this is my first post and I'm coming over from the dark side. My prior car was a heavily modified '95 E36 M3 w/ Adjustable Konis and Eibach springs with poly bushings everywhere and, to be honest, the everyday ride is punishing. But, it was set up to be a track car.

Really looking forward to picking up my new (well, new to me) C43 later today but have to admit it looks like a SUV with all of the gap between the fender and tire.

c55m8o

LoL ... then you're talking to the right guy! Carl's got both!

BTW, the problem with typical (I don't want to say 'all') sport suspension is it's a single valving for both compression and rebound. Even the Koni Adjustables that can adjust the shock's flow rate (but only when the shocks are off the car I understand) are single valving rates for both compression and rebound. Just an FYI for those equating 'racing suspension' with a punishing ride -- that being fully customizable shocks that have 2 or 3 or 4 independant adjustment capabilities for compression & rebound, fast rate and/or slow rate for the 3 & 4 way ones respectively -- you can't be further from the truth.

The Penskes I have now are a much more supple and forgiving ride then the stock AMG shocks, since the compression control rate is independent from the rebound controll rate and I can 'dial it down' for everyday and 'dial it up' whenever I want or need ; plus the digressive/digressive nature just works 'better' in those shocks then the AMG ones. So just an FYI ... if you're willing to pay, you get incredible satisfaction when you play. You folks definitely have to stop thinking racing shocks [as opposed to sport shocks] means 'punishing'.

SDR

Here's a good thread with smoe comparison pics of springs: https://mbworld.org/forums/wheels-tires-suspension-brakes-forum/81409-vogtland-brabus-out.html

c55m8o

I wish I could.... Me, if I didn't own this 'older' Mercedes that some say (for one Carl and my master mb mechanic he mentioned earlier ) is the last of the super solid structures MB built, parts would have started falling off the car long ago for me.

I had used Seville we got with 15K miles over 5 easy years at my wife's Grandfather's hands. Within a few years with me at the helm parts were falling off on both the interior and exterior.

....the Jeep is holding up quite well too.

ProjectC55

I will try and find out for you.I need to get back my stck springs for my Mechanic to cutand install. I have H&R's and Bilstein's on my M3 and the ride is exceptional!
I wish I had Steve's $$ though because he has the ultimate handling 5.5L C43.

O's///C43

I'm more confused more than ever

I have the same question.

ProjectC55

Patience! Your confusion will be answered very soon Grass Hopper!

steve s

u could try different spring pads. mb has like 5 different thicknesses that are all interchangeable. my c36 has like the highest/thickest from factory, and the car sometimes looks like it's on stilts... put it next to a stock c280, it's sometimes higher. u could opt for the thinnest pads with the stock springs and see how it looks if u just wanna have looks.

OzC36

Wow! Some high quality posts backed by an obvious wealth of experience on this subject especially from c55m8o and coolcarlskiC43.

It'll be interesting to see if the stock C43 AMG spring fixes the problem by cutting it as recommended by carl or by installing different spring pads as recommended by steve.

If that doesn't work, then O's///C43's six month old AMG branded Bilsteins will be looking for a new home.

ProjectC55

Too keep changing the spring pads has been a total waste of time with these H&R's.I've gone from #2 to 3 to presently #4.Going back to the stck front and rear springs with the #4 pads and Bilstein shox! My buddy who owns the blk car in my pic now loves his car after cutting the stck springs and using the bilsteins.

PS That Wagon sounds sic.I've always loved the T5.

SDR

If you're intent on finding the perfect setup I'd suggest getting a good spring compressor. I've been able to test many different setups within minutes that would otherwise cost a lot of money. Swapping spring pads is a breeze and the dealer will actually take them back if they are the wrong ones for your taste. My wife wanted the E430 lowered but she found that she didn't like the stiffer springs and shocks, so 30 minutes later we had the stock springs back on with #1 pads and she's happy with it. To go through this elsewhere would have been costly and slow.

steve s

maybe someone could ask the tuners what they've got, i'm sure renntech or kleemann still have stuff for a w202 amg..