Saaboteur

Hey guys...first off, thanks for everyone's well wishes (in my other thread - https://mbworld.org/forums/c36-amg-c...ieve-sh-t.html) regarding the car and my wedding. Wedding this past Saturday was excellent! Our professional photographer also happens to be a 'car guy' (he's into AE86 Corollas) so he understands. There should be a few shots with us and the C43. Ended up decorating it to cover up the dent on the trunk.

Anyway...now that the wedding has come and gone, I have clearance from the wife to do the suspension on the car. Already have the Vogtlands and a few other bits and pieces, just need to be sure of the Bilstein part numbers.

I was originally looking for the HDs, but the supplier isn't sure they will 100% fit the C43. Similarly with the Sports. From other posts, this is what I gather:

HD part numbers:
Front - B36-1856
Rear - B36-1857

Sport part numbers:
Front - F4-B36-1854-H0
Rear - F4-B36-1855-H0

But then I see also that the W208 CLK430 front Sport number is

BE3-2599-H0

I believe my supplier can get any of those numbers, I just need to be sure they will fit. Ideas and confirmation? The plan is to run the Vogtlands with #4 pads all around. Aiming to eliminate wheel gap but retain pliability and comfort - I will drive the car throughout the winter too.

503C43 ////AMG

I can't wait to see how your drop turns out as I am basically looking to do the same suspension set up. Search earlier threads as I had brought this up in an older thread. I had located the numbers that bilstein was suggesting for the C43 (if you were lowering it) and if I remember correctly the were the sport part numbers you had listed.

503C43 ////AMG

SAAB did you order the bilsteins yet, I am ready to order my suspension and am looking for a good place to order the bilsteins. I found the Vogtlands for $250 and they will lower my 1.4", I plan on using a larger pad in the rear for that raked look. I'm thinking #4 in the front and #9 in the rear. Does anyone else have a raked setup, what # pads did you use?

Saaboteur

I did order the Bilsteins! Just the other day actually. I ordered the Sports and went with the CLK spec'd part numbers. I got them from Essex Distributors in Vancouver. The CLK fronts were C$120 each, the rears C$105 each, and then $20 shipping total. Good deal for Canadians.

Website is bilsteincanada.com

I bought #4 pads all around already. I didn't think they made pads higher than #5? The choice was based on other posts of pictures of cars on #4s all around. Looks like a decent lowering without compromising winter capability, which is quite important for me.

503C43 ////AMG

Not sure about the pad #'s..... I read on someone elses post that they had the #9 pads but I am going to double check with MB. I did locate the part #'s from bilstein's web site but they do not list the C43:

PRODUCTION SERIES W202 (C-CLASS)
180 / 200 / 220 / 230K / 250D / 280T
93-5/00
HD F4-B36-1856-H0 F4-B36-1857-H0
SP F4-B36-1854-H0 F4-B36-1855-H0

I too do not want the "slammed" look, I just want to lower my center of gravity and reduce the wheel well gap to give it that more aggressive look as well as increase my handling a bit. I ordered the Vogtland springs which state a 1.4" drop, I am going to use bigger pads in the rear to give it the raked look. I am curious why you decided to go with the CLK's shocks?

503C43 ////AMG

Just found the bilstein sports (Front - F4-B36-1854-H0 Rear - F4-B36-1855-H0) at local parts store for $110 a piece and they are about 3 miles away from me, WHAT LUCK!!!. I bought the Vogtland springs for $250 + $25 for shipping and with the bilstein shocks that will bring my total up to $715, NOT A BAD DEAL IMO! I might wait to see how the CLK's work out for you but I am thinking I might just go out and get them as I'm sure these are made for my car and they are definitely a quality product but at the same time I have a little bit of time on my hands as I am still awaiting my Vogtland springs. Hopefully you will receive your bilsteins and install them before I get my springs.

I should be receiving my Vogtland springs in 3-7 business days, I CAN'T WAIT.....

ohlord

5 and at 4mm per bump they are for fine tuning not raked look.
You also need to add in the several hundred dollars for camber eccentrics and rear camber links and professional alignment.You use the sport shocks to compensate for the shorter springs not heavy duty.

503C43 ////AMG

Thanks for the input, so correct me if I'm wrong but you are saying each # of pad = 4mm? If that is the case then #1 pad in the front with #5 pad in the rear will give you just over 1/2" of difference, that sounds like a raked look to me I already planned of having the shop that installs my suspension do the alignment and I am looking into the camber kit from K-MAC, they have front and rear kit for $670, any suggestions for camber kits?

Saaboteur

I went with the CLK spec'd fronts because of this link (the one you sent me!):

https://mbworld.org/forums/c36-amg-c...firmation.html

From what I gather, the Sport numbers for 202s don't specifically list the C43 for the application, but there is a Sport number for the V8 engined CLKs. That link plus discussions with other forum members indicated to me that the CLK parts should fit fine, and might be a better idea for the C43 rather than the more plebeian 202s.

Re: camber kits, I haven't even installed all of my parts (waiting on the shocks and some time) but I picked up a KMAC front camber kit, and I have Speedybenz's rear camber arms. My car already has the Mercedes adjustable cam bolts up front to adjust castor, but when I had the car aligned last winter, they couldn't get it to spec, so I got the KMAC kit then.

ohlord

so the max is 16mm or about 3/5 of an inch.Not much of a rake front to rear but it may suit you fine.
The shop needs a hunter machine.
speedybenz or lensolo for the rear camber links or kmac bushings.
Ride will be rough with the v springs and those 19's. Good that you have all those new roads paved with the keep Oregon working road projects

503C43 ////AMG

Yeah they need to work some more as some of the roads out here are atrocious.... A 1/2" is all I am looking for as far as a raked look is concerned, just a bit higher in the rear..... I get all of my alignment/tire stuff done at les schwab and I believe they have a hunter machine. I plan on ordering the K-MAC camber kit, they list a kit for the front and rear, do you think I will need both?

ohlord

might make it with the factory eccentrics you get at the dealer or peachparts.com has them I think.
Schwab may also have a supplier.
If you use the forum search a member has links for sale that fit the C.
They are a work of art.
The kmac units are nice in that they are rebuild-able.

503C43 ////AMG

So I found a cheap place to get the bilsteins and thought I would post the website, the cheapest I can find them locally is for $110 per shock for the sports. On this website they have them for $90, pretty good deal IMO:

http://www.raceinspired.com/cs-51-ga...ks-struts.aspx

vinceC

Some info from a post I made a while back:

At first I thought "this is a first - most folks want to lower their cars". But then I remembered that this car has H & R springs. Anyway, the part numbers change by VIN.

FRONT

Up to VIN ending in A384233 or F369713
201 321 09 84 (8mm)(1 bump)
201 321 10 84 (13mm)(2 bump)
201 321 11 84 (18mm)(3 bump)
201 321 12 84 (23mm)(4 bump)

From VIN ending in A384234 or F369713
210 324 01 84 (5mm)(1 bump)
210 321 02 84 (9mm)(2 bump)
210 321 03 84 (13mm)(3 bump)
210 321 04 84 (17mm)(4 bump)
210 321 05 84 (21mm)(5 bump)

REAR

Up to VIN ending in A384233 or F369713
201 325 09 44 (8mm)(1 bump)
201 325 10 44 (13mm)(2 bump)
201 325 11 44 (18mm)(3 bump)

From VIN ending in A384234 or F369713
210 325 01 84 (5mm)(1 bump)
210 325 02 84 (9mm)(1 bump)
210 325 03 84 (13mm)(3 bump)

As you can see you are somewhat limited in the rear.

As others have said, you need to figure out what is in the car now. The number of bumps is only part of the story. I am willing to bet that the early and late VIN pads will fit in any of the W202 cars. Since aftermarket springs were installed, you do not know what the installer used. They may have used any of the available pads to get the ride height they wanted. The only way to know for sure is to pull the springs and check the number on the pads. Try to beg or borrow a KLANN spring compressor. With the KLANN it will take about five minutes per spring to pull them and check the numbers. Once you know what you have you can work from there.

One note. I changed the front pads in my son's C43 last week. We went from 2 bump fronts to 1 bump - a change of -5mm. The front camber changed from 0deg20' negative to 0deg50' negative. The specs are for 0deg57' negative +/- 0deg 50'. We didn't change the rear so I don't know what the impact would be there. The point is that a 13mm change may require realignment.

DRBC43AMG

Hi and thanks for the useful information. IMO any and ALL changes in height will need realignment some way or another for our cars. Big differences will probably have a negative effect on the handling. So, think safety first

jayrasheed

i droped my car some 2 cm almost an inch over the already low euro spec 36 hight. i didnt re-align still tracks true and i have more camber and way more front bite and grip.

503C43 ////AMG

looks like tirerack.com has the cheapest bilstein sports I have found so far... $20 cheaper total (including 2nd day air) than raceinspired.com:

https://www.tirerack.com/cart/Select...eShipping=true

503C43 ////AMG

SAAB have you installed the suspension yet? I ordered the bilstein sports from tirerack.com, they should be here in a couple days. All I am waiting on now is the K-MAC camber kit and the spring pads. I am going down to pick up the pads today from MB after I decide which ones I am going with.

Saaboteur

Unfortunately, no. I was going to do it this weekend, but we had a bit of a flood in the basement so I've got my hands tied with that. And the car's going into the bodyshop on Wednesday, so I probably won't have it for a couple weeks, so i dunno when I'll be able to work on it. That said, I am going pick up a spring compressor later today though....

ProjectC55

Where did you find a front camber kit? Are u sure you don't mean the front bushings?

Saaboteur

www.iapdirect.com although given the choice again, I would just order direct from KMac. IAP's ebay ads make it look like they have the stuff in stock, but their website
says they have to order from Oz, so you might as well just order from Oz. They (IAP) gave me a bit of a runaround when I ordered my kit last year. That was before the wording on their site talked about 10 day waits. Apparently the kits are made to order (or they were last year anyway).

The KMac front camber/caster kit comprises replacement bushings, replacing both the 'front' and 'rear' bushings on the front lower control arm. There is an eccentric bolt inside which allows the adjustment. The bushing is poly, looks quite durable. I should have shot some detail pix of the KMac stuff when I had the chance, but all the parts are on the car now!

taj.basra@yahoo

hi
I need some assistance, im based in the uk, and one of my rear shock absorbers are leaking, i believe they are Bilstein HD and i have had a look at it and it has a blue H stamped on it with the numbers 649 1848 m01, i believe the mercedes part number is HWA 2023260200, mercedes are saying they will need to ship in from germany and it is not similar to other merc c class fitments and the cost would be £255 inc vat for one.!!
Other suppliers in the uk are not listing the C36 and they say they have contacted Bilstein who say they do not have.

Options

1) Im looking to get a pair of HD's so they can go straight on
2) source some similar spec shocks with no adjustments required
3) used HD shock shock for the rear so i can replace just the one

Thanks for your help

nd4spd13

Hi. Here is the bilstein number for the rear HD shocks
#24-018579
You should be able to look at the bilstein website and find a distributer in your area and then ask around for this part number. I also know websites in the US where you can order these but you should be able to find them in the UK

mkoons

How did those Bilstein #B361854 & B361855 work out? There are no numbers listed specifically for C43's

503C43 ////AMG

They work great performance wise but are pretty stiff, if you are looking for comfort these are not what you are after.