Here is my completely standard UK spec 430 (2000 model year). Just got it and am going to put the Kleemann suspension on after speaking to Ben at Evosport.

However, I want to know who in the UK (London area) can fit it for me. Any UK owners out there recommend anyone?

Thanks Guys.

P.S. Thanks to Ben for his practical advice. Keep up the good work Ben

 

Here is a pic!

 

Kleemann is reprecented in the UK, find info on www.kleemann.dk

 

thats a 430?

they dont come with the amg rims and package in london?

 

Hi sungulent, they certainly do not come with AMG alloys but once I get the suspension done, I'll have to get some 18" wheels of some nature. Probably stick with 7.5 front but go to 8.5 rear. Maybe 8 front and 9 rear. The wheels you see are common in the UK on the Avantgarde model across the range.

The only options on this car are parktronic and the sunroof.

I think there is a perception that we like the 'understated look' in the UK

 

I have the kleemann installer details at home, i can post them later if you like, or email them to you.

Also, have a look at www.mbclub.co.uk when you get chance, quite a few UK members on that board.

 

lol i though U.S benzos where understated

i was wrong

ok im happy now

 

Here it is:

KLEEMANN:

Steen Greve

Oakley Int. Ltd.
Mayfield Garage
High Street, Mayfield
East Sussex, TN20 6AA

Tlf: 01435 872 872

 

Thanks Matt, I called them and got a quote for £1200 + vat for the parts including fitting. I thought that was good and will probably ask them to do the work.

I had a quote for the Brabus springs and shocks fitted by a MB dealer and that was £1800 all in.

I like what I hear about Kleemann but I am not sure if I want to get the car down 1.4". The Brabus kit takes the car down about 1" (25 to 30mm).

My thoughts are if the car is loaded (kids + roof box etc) will I have severe problems with ground clearance. I could do with some practical advice on this I think!

Jonathan.

sungulent, I think it is a 430! It certainly has a V8 and has the right badge

 

Let me tell you, I've got a 2000 CLK430 with 8.5" rims in front, 9.5" rims in back (18" Brabus Monoblock Vs), and the car is lowered with H+R Sport springs and Koni Adjustable shocks. Keeping the stock spring pads, the H+R springs (over time) settled to a nearly 1.5" drop all around, which is VERY low and has resulted in an incredibly scraped up front fascia (although the AMG front is considerably more susceptible to injury than the normal one). My wheels rub in the wells on hard corners, and with a loaded down car it's practically undrivable. I know people have had better experiences lowering their cars, and I don't know why my experience has been so troublesome- perhaps the fact that I drive my car like it's stolen?

Anyway, don't lower it too much if you're planning to haul the kids in it, especially if the roads around your area aren't the best, or if you have to navigate a lot of driveways, parking garages, and speed bumps.

BTW- with England's speeding cameras and supposedly strict penalties (I could be wrong), are you sure you'll have enough room for a Kleemanized 430 in the UK? Good luck!

 

fudger... i lived in london for 6 years and i'm surprised u have a 430!! most i saw there were 320 and 230's, even some 200's.

anyways... i also have installed 8.5x18 front and 9.5x18 rear and had the Eibach springs installed which lowered the car by 1 inch.

the result... stopped having a second passenger onboard!!

my fenders get a beating everytime !

 

Ahmed, I thought that a 1" drop with Brabus springs and shocks would not cause problems with 18" wheels. You suggest you do have a problem with your similar set-up.

I think I'll get on to the brabus guy again!!!!!!

 

oh fudger, your case may be a bit different!

i have 18 inch AMG wheels installed. And i have standard factory shocks alongside my eibach springs. I didnt wanna sacrifice comfort!

 

Ahmed, how many miles have you done with the standard shocks and Eibach springs? Do you have problems with shock travel now that you have lost 1"?

Feedback I have had so far suggests standard shocks don't last too long when used with short springs!

Jonathan.

 

Ahmed, finally someone with my problem. I've got H+R Sport springs and Koni shocks, and it's lowered about 1.5" (my wheels are the same size as yours). I scrape like crazy, and absolutely can't have more than 1 passenger in the car. Oh well .

By the way- I had the stock shocks for nearly 2 years (about 20K miles), and by the end they were noticeably crappy. Much floatier than they used to be, etc. Keep in mind I drive the car incredibly hard though . Unfortunately, my stupid tuning shop didn't set my Konis to a firm enough setting, and there's nothing preventing me from scraping.

 

Newbie, please measure the actual ride height from ground to apex of the fender.

Ahmed, can you do the same?

Perhaps we can get some comparison going here and come to some definitive conclusions. I'll go and the same with mine and post a reply. This way we can compare stock (although UK spec) with your set-up's.


Jonathan

 

You want that in metric or good 'ol American?

 

We've still got a couple of imperial things left, Europe hasn't changed us completely! The day when we loose 'miles per hour' will be a sad one

 

Yeah, I'm always happy to see miles on signs in the UK .

And I just went out and measured- the results are:

Front- 25.0" from bottom of fender apex to garage floor

Rear- 25.5" from bottom of fender apex to garage floor

Ahmed, you're next

 

ok... will do and let u know the measurements.

 

Guys, it was all metric when I was at school (only just and I think we had a ZX Spectrum in the school somewhere) but fortunately I joined an engineering firm who's equipment was all in imperial. I was lucky and got used to both worlds! I assume we will stick with imperial here.

Matt, have you got used to Miles per litre here in the UK? Some young lads in the office have and it makes me feel 'old' in comparison to them!

When I get home this evening I'll take some measurements.

 

Here we go. I have the Avantgarde UK spec car that has slightly shorter springs than I belive you have in the US; probably about .5".

The gap between fender and garage floor is:

Front at 26"
Rear at 26.5"

This tends to coincide with what Ben (Mach430) is telling me that with the H&R springs or Kleemann springs the ride height will be as per Newbies set-up (about 25").

However, this does not explain why Newbie is having trouble with 'scraping'.

I did check the rolling diameter of my aspect ratio 45 tyres on 17" wheels and it was about 610mm (24"). This was measured horizontally across the wheel to avoid the effect of the cars weight compressing the tyre.

At the moment I have tyre to fender gap of about 2" so fitting H&R springs would take it down about 1" I would summise that Newbie must have a much smaller gap if any which would mean Newbie more compression and travel with his spring/shock combination or that the rolling diameter is greater than my 24".

This is strange as I have not heard of anyone else having scraping problems with H&R's! Reported anyway!

Any views?

 

ok boys and girls, i just did a few measurements of my own and this is what i came up with:

from fender edge to floor:

front: 25"
rear: 26"

gap between fender edge and tire:

front: 1 inch
rear: 1.5 inches

my springs and shocks seem fine cause the way to test it is by puching the hood down a few times and let go to see if the vehicle smoothly comes back up and stops, or keeps bobbing up and down for a while. If it does the latter, than the suspension needs looking into!

 

A picture is probably worth a 1000 words..

here is my baby..

 

Are you guys sure you're driving your cars, not just idling around town?