Suspension swap - OEM c36 AMG shocks to stock w202 shocks

Subscribe
Feb 1, 2016 | 02:40 PM
  #1  
I have a quick question and please forgive me if it sounds ridiculous.
I have a C36 AMG with Koni yellow adjustable front shocks and bilstein sport shocks on the rear. These shocks are an unknown quantity in that I have no idea how long they have been on the vehicle (car has 294,000 kilometers) and the ride quality is frankly horrible. I have replaced ball joints tie rod ends wheel bearings tires and it still is rough.
My question is this:
Can I put stock w202 (c230/c280) shocks on the c36 amg instead of replacing with bilstein sport shocks? Obviously there is a noticeable price difference between stock and bilstein. I am wondering:
a) Will they fit?
b) Will they have any effect on the ride height of my vehicle if i am using stock C36 amg springs
c) Will they be more comfortable than Bilstein shocks?
I would appreciate any advice you can offer. Obviously my main motivations are to make the car buttery to drive and to keep costs down where I can.
Thanks
Reply 0
Feb 1, 2016 | 03:04 PM
  #2  
A) yes
B) no
C) stock w202 shocks were also bilstein, but softer bilsteins than an AMG
Reply 0
Feb 1, 2016 | 05:59 PM
  #3  
Quote: A) yes
B) no
C) stock w202 shocks were also bilstein, but softer bilsteins than an AMG
Thank you for your help. That's wonderful news I will go an order the stock w202 shocks for my vehicle roads in Southern Ontario are awful for sport shocks lol.
Reply 0
Feb 2, 2016 | 01:36 PM
  #4  
I am now curious as to low cost interim solutions for this vehicle.
I have found these:
http://m.ebay.com/itm/Sensen-Front-Rear-Shocks-Struts-for-97-02-Mercedes-Benz-C230-Lifetime-Warranty-/331071417744?nav=SEARCH
I believe they are for the W203 chassis so c classes made from 1997 to 2002 and I know the quality may be questionable but I might give them a punt for how cheap they are.
Would they fit onto a W202? Are the suspension components interchangeable between W202 and W203.
Again, any help is much appreciated.
Thanks
Reply 0
Feb 2, 2016 | 04:31 PM
  #5  
w203 has different front axle than w202

why don't you buy rear koni shox?
i love my shox which i have on my c43, i have them full set on hardest settings all the time and love my ride
Reply 0
Feb 2, 2016 | 04:31 PM
  #6  
-
Reply 0
Feb 8, 2016 | 02:57 PM
  #7  
if you want to part with your koni fronts let me know. I have a full set of w202 stock sport shocks if your interested?
Reply 0
Feb 8, 2016 | 10:48 PM
  #8  
Quote: if you want to part with your koni fronts let me know. I have a full set of w202 stock sport shocks if your interested?
I am interested. Do you know how many kilometres on your set? How would you want to do it? Where are you located? Thanks!
Reply 0

MB World Stories

The Best of Mercedes & AMG

Explore
story-0

New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

 Verdad Gallardo
Feb 9, 2016 | 01:39 AM
  #9  
Quote: I am interested. Do you know how many kilometres on your set? How would you want to do it? Where are you located? Thanks!

I am in lithopolis ohio, what we can do is find out cost of shipping from me to you and you to me. Add that together and divide by 2. Then just cross ship them. I'd be interested in your bilstein rears as well. The 202 with them on it has 225k miles, the shocks were replaced 30k miles ago.
Reply 0
Feb 9, 2016 | 06:27 AM
  #10  
Quote: I am in lithopolis ohio, what we can do is find out cost of shipping from me to you and you to me. Add that together and divide by 2. Then just cross ship them. I'd be interested in your bilstein rears as well. The 202 with them on it has 225k miles, the shocks were replaced 30k miles ago.
Ok Ohio is not far from me. I'm right near Detroit Michigan so I would probably cross the border to Detroit and send them from there and you could send yours to Detroit cheaper for both of us.
Only problem is I would have to fit yours before I shipped mine as they're on the car and it's my daily. But once I've swapped out I would ship mine immediately. Let me know!
Reply 0
Feb 9, 2016 | 06:32 AM
  #11  
Quote: I am in lithopolis ohio, what we can do is find out cost of shipping from me to you and you to me. Add that together and divide by 2. Then just cross ship them. I'd be interested in your bilstein rears as well. The 202 with them on it has 225k miles, the shocks were replaced 30k miles ago.
Sorry did you mean the shocks you want to send have 30k on or 195k. Thanks
Reply 0
Feb 9, 2016 | 03:03 PM
  #12  
Quote: Ok Ohio is not far from me. I'm right near Detroit Michigan so I would probably cross the border to Detroit and send them from there and you could send yours to Detroit cheaper for both of us.
Only problem is I would have to fit yours before I shipped mine as they're on the car and it's my daily. But once I've swapped out I would ship mine immediately. Let me know!
Quote: Sorry did you mean the shocks you want to send have 30k on or 195k. Thanks
They have 30k ish on them, Somewhere between 30-40k. I didn't record the exact mileage I changed them out at.

They are still very stiff, as in the compression is good and feel like what they felt out of the box compressing them by hand. They have no leaks.

I'm fine with shipping to you first, I can afford to put mine up in the garage for some days as long as the turn around time is fairly quick.

The nice thing is since, were only shipping shocks shipping should be very cheap.

PM me an address and i'll get on it.
Reply 0
Feb 9, 2016 | 03:46 PM
  #13  
Im happy with that arrangement. I will PM you my US mailbox address for shipping. I will be able to fit them as soon as they arrive and send you out my set in return.
Thanks so much!
Reply 0
Feb 10, 2016 | 03:17 PM
  #14  
Quote: They have 30k ish on them, Somewhere between 30-40k. I didn't record the exact mileage I changed them out at.

They are still very stiff, as in the compression is good and feel like what they felt out of the box compressing them by hand. They have no leaks.

I'm fine with shipping to you first, I can afford to put mine up in the garage for some days as long as the turn around time is fairly quick.

The nice thing is since, were only shipping shocks shipping should be very cheap.

PM me an address and i'll get on it.
let me know if you got my PM thanks
Reply 0
Feb 11, 2016 | 11:31 PM
  #15  
Quote: let me know if you got my PM thanks
yup got the pm, Packing them up either tonight or tommorow. Just have to remove the rear shocks still.
Reply 0
Feb 15, 2016 | 01:29 PM
  #16  
Quote: yup got the pm, Packing them up either tonight or tommorow. Just have to remove the rear shocks still.
Ran into a snow storm, But shocks are packed and on there way to you today.
Reply 0
Feb 15, 2016 | 06:20 PM
  #17  
Quote: Ran into a snow storm, But shocks are packed and on there way to you today.
Thanks! Let me know the tracking number when you have it. I'll do the swap and send you mine. Do you have a DIY for the swap? Thanks
Reply 0
Feb 24, 2016 | 11:23 AM
  #18  
Any updates on this Viperns?!
Reply 0
Subscribe
Currently Active Users (1)
 
story-0

New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes-AMG's new electric GT 4-Door Coupe trades combustion for software, synthetic noise, and more than 1,100 horsepower.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 20:08:15


VIEW MORE
story-1

6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

Slideshow: Not every Mercedes design becomes timeless, some feel stuck in the era they came from.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:09:07


VIEW MORE
story-2

Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

Slideshow: Yes, Mercedes built manual cars, and some of them are far more interesting than you'd expect.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-02 12:36:58


VIEW MORE
story-3

Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 11:19:28


VIEW MORE
story-4

8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: Before curves took over, Mercedes mastered the art of the straight line, and some of those shapes still look right today.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-25 12:05:49


VIEW MORE
story-5

Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

Slideshow: The 190E Evolution II shows how a homologation necessity became a six-figure collector icon.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-22 17:53:47


VIEW MORE
story-6

Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes is turning one of its core nameplates electric, and the details show just how serious this shift is.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:58:06


VIEW MORE
story-7

Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

Slideshow: Faster charging, longer range, and a controversial steer-by-wire system define the latest evolution of Mercedes-Benz EQS.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-15 10:35:34


VIEW MORE
story-8

5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

Slideshow: These overlooked Mercedes-Benz models never got the spotlight, but they quietly delivered more than most remember.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-13 19:35:45


VIEW MORE
story-9

Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

Slideshow: A well-used 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300D with more than one million miles is now looking for a new owner, and it still appears ready for more.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-10 10:05:15


VIEW MORE