Chappy

Got the 18s put on. Another MBWorlder hooked me up with the wheels and tires off his W210 E-class. I just left the tires on, but was a tad concerned about rubbing. So far, no issues whatsoever. Fronts are 235/40-18 and rears are 265/35-18.

Chappy

A couple more....

ashutt

Chappy, did you make the drags yesterday? What were your times? Your setup looks great!

Allan

rsr911

Chappy,

The car looks FANTASTIC. I need to get those springs!
What pads are you using?

Thanks Owen

Chappy

Yes, but it was hot as hell (high 90s). I only did two runs...13.6 and 13.7 (my best is 13.3 @ 109).

Chappy

Thanks!

I'm using two bump front and one bump rear.

Learso

Chappy,

What do you think of the set up yourself? I think this looks very good. Let me know how the front feels with the 35s, if the feel is significantly improved.

Congrats!

L.

clkal

Chappy,
Your car looks TIGHT! Nice and simple, yet sleek. I like what you did w/ the rear lights. Don't the W210 E55's have stock lights like that? Was that mod a do-it-yourself, or did you take it somewhere to get spray tinted?

AL

Chappy

I drove it around 400 miles this weekend. It feels the exact same as with the 17s, except the tires. They are noisy (they were already mounted on the wheels when I purchased them). Nitto 555s. The fronts are 235/40-18, rears are 265/35-18.

Learso, I give you and the others here credit for "pushing" me along the 18" route....I'm thrilled

Chappy

Yes. The W210 E55 (model year 2000 and up, the '99s had the "old" tail lights). In addition, the CLK-DTM race cars (W208s) had tinted reverse lights as well....I wish ours came that way from the factory.

.....but they didn't.

I purchased an extra set of tails (4 pieces) and had a shop in Cali spray them and ship them out to me. I've had them for just under two years and they are still in perfect condition. I had them done here...

www.smokedlamps.com

Others here have done it themselves.

zonajoe

Nice job on lowering your car. You show 2 fingers space can you tell me if that is front or rear well, its hard to tell in photo. I thought about doing something like you did with factory parts. I have 18" AMG monoblocs now on my 208, will I need a different set than you used. Also what did dealer charge for labor?

Chappy

The photo with two fingers (in post #2) is a depiction of the front. The photo with two finger bent (in post #3) is a depiction of the rear.

Those photos were of my car taken in fall 2004.....with 17" stock wheels. The most recent photos are of the same suspension, but with 18" Mono IIs and 235/40-18 front and 265/35-18 rear tires.

As far as labor is concerned, I had several things done at once (back in 2004) including an oil change and filter (on my dime since I change every 5K miles), mount and balance new PS2s, alignment and install springs and pads.

Figure 3-4 hours tops to just change springs and pads.

Good luck!

Learso

Glad it is working out for you Chappy. 18s should have come as an option for this car IMO anyway.

L.

Chappy

It's been a while since this thread has been updated, so I figured I'd chime in with some additional details:

First, the timeline....

June 2002 - purchased W208 CLK55 new
June 2004 - purchased euro-spec springs from Gert Carnewal in Belgium
November 2004 - installed new PS2s, euro-spec springs and new (thinner) springs pads

May 2006 - purchased used 18" Monoblocks and had them installed
August 2006 - drove 2800 miles in 8 days with setup...no issues...no rubbing...car is still in factory alignment specs and have had no issues to date with inside/rear wear on tires.

I know many of you have added 18s, euro-spec springs, spring pads, etc.

Questions to you all:

1. How do you like the setup over stock?
2. Have you experienced uneven tire wear in the rear with 17s or 18s?
3. Do you have any alignment issues?

rsr911

I am new to this set up. Only 1 1/2 weeks old. So far my experience is the same as Chappy. No issues what so ever.

Ride and comfort improved!!!!
Handles better.
Looks much better!!!!!

Highly recommended mod!!!!!!

Owen

Chappy

Another recent photo (thanks easty)

ProjectC55

Hey Steve That's a good damn pic bro! You know my car would have been in the lead!

By the way I have taken out my H&R springs which have caused me too much drama in the front with my 18" mono's and #4 pads. I decided to go the route of both of my friends(C36 Turbo,C43),which are using the stck US AMG front springs with 1/2 a coil cut and #4 spring pads.
My friends 99 C43 has 18" Brabus rims #4 pads with the stck US AMG's and sits perfect. Drove aggressively in the car over bumps and a few twisty roads and all I can say is lovely. No deterioration in ride quality,performance or safety. He's had this setup on the car for almost a yr now. Formerly had eibach's and hated them.
For some reason my Stck US AMG springs are a little longer than his stck AMG with 1/2 coil cut and I have to use #2 pads. Remember he's using #4 pads with a 1/2 coil cut. His car s now sits almost the same as it does in my sig(tad higher in the front) where he had the eibachs installed. The car absolutely sits pretty much the same way and handles like a dream.

Take care Steve!

After I install the pads,I'll keep everyone posted.

Chappy

Yes. Please post pics after the install...IIRC, your car had a very aggressive stance at AMGfest and I remember we talked about you getting some different springs on.

I still want to run you at the track sometime!

Zoom On

Wow that was a great read. I really am thinking now of going Euro spec on the springs too. Do you know if my springs on a 02 cab AMG are different or already lower than you hard top guys? I have 4 figers up front and 3 in the rear. Here is another silly question, why is the fornt higher?

Chappy

You might shoot a PM to "allenjdmb" as I believe he has (or had) these on his CLK430 cabrio....

Or, just contact Gerd directly at www.carnewal.com and tell him what you have. If the springs are available, he should be able to get you a set. One known "issue" is that the W208 CLK55 cabrio was exported primarily to the U.S., so it's possible they never made a "euro" version.

Zoom On

That is what I thought I read. I am wondering if the springs are different between the Cab and the HT. If they are not then I would be able to get the Euro spec for the HT and use those.

Ghappy have you seen any funny wear with the drop yet?

Chappy

Sheeesh....calling me names already?!? To date, I've have no tire wear issues due to using the euro-spec springs.

Zoom On

Welp thats what I get from typing an email from my phone.

Stiggs

Its got a nice ring to it....the old Ghapper!

I wonder what ever happened to the dude I sold my Euro springs to? I wish I kept his e-mail.

Zoom On

Ok so the Euro spec are going to run me 460 with exchange rate. The H&R sports would run me 290. The thing I am wondering is why when you lower it with the Euro Spec Springs (ESS) why there is no tire wear problem, but what I see with the H&R is camber is off and causes wear. Both would seem to change the geometry.

Chappy how did your alignment turn out after your springs?