My H&R Drop
 

I just got my car back from getting H&R springs and 17mm spring pads installed. I gave them the crash bolts from Mercedes, but they said the alignment was close enough that they didn't recommend using them as it could just cause more headaches for now.


Driving impressions: The car feels more planted but less harsh. There are less rattles inside, I think due to the reduced body motions. It feels like it responds more sharply (could be due to the alignment) and has much less roll. When I hit a bump now, I feel like the car just responds to the bump really quickly and goes back to driving along. I never thought of the stock suspension as bouncy or floaty, but I think the H&Rs definitely make the car feel better. Also, no issues with the car pulling to either side.


Alignment specs:
Front Camber L/R: -2.01/-2.21
Front Toe in: 0.1 in/0.1 in
Rear Camber L/R: -1.71/-2.10
Rear Toe in: 0.15 in/0.15 in (my request for tire wear and less snappiness)
Thrust angle: 0.00


Now for the pics


Before (excuse the dirt):
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After (need spacers up front!):
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looks nice and tight!

nice. did you have the p30 package suspension before or the normal oem?

I had the normal suspension.

Ahhhhh yeah! Good stuff bro! Digginit!

Looking good bro.

I told myself I was done with modding, but now I'm tempted to black out my window trim..:smash:

Thanks guys! Next up: spacers, carbon big fin diffuser, and headers. Eventually an LSD too.

Looks great! tempted to pull the trigger on this since the ride quality is actually better and less harsh.
Do you think you feel all the bumps to a less extent?

I would say I still feel them but it just doesn't seem as jarring. My rear sunshade doesn't rattle on my drive to and from work now and I don't feel like my dash is going to fall apart on every bump. That is for small bumps like expansion joints. On large hits, the suspension definitely compresses less and it feels more like the suspension takes the hit and goes back to normal quicker. It's hard to explain. But like I said you can tell it's stiffer and more planted but I think due to the reduced body movement overall, the car feels smoother and less "harsh." It's by no means an E350 or something now. Just the edge seems to be taken off of expansion joints. And yes, tire pressures are still the same.

Your springs will settle with time. So come back in about a week or 100 miles so and give us your impressions.
Other than that looking good :y

Looks great
Do the LSD first, best mod imho
Really improves/transforms the car
Spacers too

I keep telling ppl the car feels so much more comfy after my h&r drop, I'm not kidding. Lol

Love ur stance, and it will settle a bit more so good thing u opted for the 17mm pads.

Add 10mm spacers rear & 12mm spacers front with 40mm lugs & u won't recognize ur car. Lol

looks great!

Nice car man. The 17mm pads make the fit perfect.

I'll be honest, I was skeptical that the car would be more comfy. And the 17mm pads definitely helped. The rear is still just slightly lower, but I can't imagine how annoying it would be with the stock pads. Also, I don't know if a 10 mm will fit in the back. The 265 SO4s PPs I have on the rear are pretty square in shape. There's a small bump or lip inside the fender I'm worried about rubbing. I'm less worried about the look of the rear than I am the sunken in fronts. I'll definitely do 12s up front. My next set of tires will be PSS. Will 265 PSS rub in the rear on stock 18s?

such a perfect height.
well done

so tempted to get some springs, just hesitant to replace the stock p30 springs but i love that ride height

Sorry I didnt know u were on 265/35 rear... yes it will rub with 10mm even with PSS. Keep it as is. :y

Plus with 2 passengers it drops another 5-6 mm

I have the same tire/spacer (not lowered though) set-up no rubbing in the rear
245/40 with 12 mm in the front and on downhill turns under heavy loading it rubs the liner, right side only

Exactly... the 17mm pads saved me a lot of headaches while riding with passengers or a full trunk of groceries. :bow:

also love your plates!

Thanks for the reply! that looks so good and the rationale behind is convincing, as a result of which I am beginning to hate this forum lol
More visits to mbworld = more cash out of my pocket :hammer:

I first put H&Rs on without 17mm pads - looked good at first but then settled and didn't look right. Rear sagged.

Installed the pads DIY (huge pita) and it looks great now. Definitely recommend getting the 17mm pads.

I also have and love the 10mmR/12mmF spacers, just watch out for the longer lugs hitting your parking brake. I had to get mine shaved down a couple mm in the rear.

Thanks for the help!

Haha. Thanks. I had too many people asking "what's 'ah my gawd ahhh?'" So I ordered new ones: BCUZ AMG. They are on the way. When they come in I can mount the old ones on the wall in the garage :D