john87699

Here is a post I put up earlier this afternoon about the CLS suspension and lowering - I thought it may be helpful info for some people:

There's an easy trick to lowering any Mercedes with ADS (at least the E-Class). Globe Motorsports in Los Angeles and 310 Motoring do them all the time as do many other tuner shops - it's super cheap like $250.00-$500.00. Funny trick too. You simply lower the "sensors" under the car - the computer reads the settings as normal and lowers the car automatically. Kinda hard to explain but it worked perfect on my E500 plus there is no aftermarket crap or ride difference. You know how it lowers when you drive - well it reads this setting all the time when you lower the sensors so the computer thinks that it is the car's "normal" height. Will save you lots of trouble and a lot cheaper than Brabus's 3/4 inch bulls**t - even with the sport kit - gotta drop this car about an inch - especially if you put 20's on it - my only concern is having to do any fender mods to handle the big wheels. Any suggestions from anyone else?

tprovines

john,

I have a 2005 E500 and am interested in lowering, but with the airmatic suspension it is a pain. I dont feel like paying the $1500 from Carlsson or Brabus. What year E500 do you have? Did you mess with the sensors yourself, or did you have someone do it for you? If you did it, what would I need to do?

lorinserbenz

https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w211/97325-rear-airmatic-lowering.html
Very easy to lower... takes all of 20 minutes.
The CLS should be exactly the same as the E..
Cost .50

adam76

all of 20 minutes my a$$! i think ill blow the cash on C-Tronic rather then f anything up. thanks for the post though...

anyone who succesfully performs this on their CLS, please let us know how it goes! and Good Luck!!

john87699

Actually it does take them about 20 minutes - sure wouldn'ty do it myself though - They lower them by tricking the sensors (Had Globe Motorsports - 310Motoring in LA do it) two years and it's been flawless ever since. It's a great trick - shoudl cost you about $250.00 - $300.00 usually, but it doesn't hurt anything (I only went about an inch - wouldn't go more than that or an inch and a half.)

lorinserbenz

5 minutes to put washers one the front, and 15 minutes to notch the rear bolt holes. Its very easy..
Several people have made the statement of the C-tronic being safer or better in case of a warranty problem. Well I hate to burst anyones bubble but if you have a suspension problem with the Ctronic box installed you had better believer MB will blame it on the box and void the suspension warranty.
I look at the washer method as a "hardware" way of lowering and the Ctronic as a software method. The C tronic is difficult to install and expensive, the washer method is easily returned to stock in case of a problem.
All I know is my car rides the same, looks good and I have $1500 in my pocket still.

05CL55

From my experience......You CAN lower it the cheap way BUT.....KNOW THIS.....remember the car lowers more at 45mph, and then again at 75mph. Lower your car the cheap way, you'll have problems. Brabus setup takes 20 minutes as well, but costs a hell of a lot more. But the program in Brabus' setup, will not let the car lower any more at the higher speeds.

Secondly, mess with the sensors, and your a milimeter off... guess what...ABC/ride height control sensors trip and you'll get a malfunction. Not to mention that if they dont trip, you car may not sit exactly level and you'll wear tires unevenly.
But if you've done this technique enough, you can get it right evertime with your eyes close. Thats why 310 and everyone else can do it. But the car still drops more with speed increase. Most of the shops that do it and get away with it, they have a template that is used so that the modification to the rear mainly, is exactly right everytime.

There are so many other secrets that I could disclose here on how to save and modify the car. But I would not encourage any owners to open themselves up to a whirlwind of possible problems with a car as techno as these.

my .02

adam76

both good points 05CL55 and LorinserBenz. im really torn on this, i am a technical guy capable of working on cars, but at the same time, could see the potential for screwing something up. i doubt there are any experienced shops in chicago that could do this like 310, and it may be cheaper in the long run if i buy a module like the Brabus one or Carlssons then to drive out to cali...

chizler

Adam76.... Come visit us we just opened our downtown Chicago facility at 158 W. Ontario (@LaSalle). We are called Haute Auto and are a high-end auto customization facility and showroom. In fact, we have installed at least half a dozen Carlsson electronic suspension lowering modules and actually have a Carlsson SL55 on the showroom floor right now that we recently completed and it has the lowering module installed for you to see first hand. My personal CL55 also has the module installed and it has worked like a dream for about a year now. Check us out we have many other enhancements for your car. www.hauteauto.com

p.s.: check out our ad in the March issue of duPont Registry (p.97) that hits stands next week.

adam76

i got your flyer at last years auto show, maybe it was at one of the DUB shows, i had my last car in both of them. i never saw the site up or the store...

i work downtown and drive daily, so i will definitely stop by!

thanks.

chizler

Great we look forward to seeing you and I definitely want to see your CLS...haven't seen one up close yet. Let me know when you may be coming by so I can make sure I am around.

verone

just go to D2 in alhambra..........great service and they do it rather quickly too

adam76

who what where?

adam76

chizler- tried sending u a PM and email. was going to stop by today, wasnt sure how to contact u. how about tomorow\friday? repsond to my PM or email with your contact info.

sorry for the private msg in the public post...

verone

Adam.....sorry, i didnt put all the info, there is a tuning shop in Alhambra called D2, ask for Collins. They do allot of our employee's MB cars.

chizler

i don't think you get it....adam76 is in chicago and is looking for a shop in chicago?

jmejones

I'm waiting for my SLK55 to be delivered this month. I'm coming to see you to see what you can do with it as far as lowering goes. I'll have 19" HRE 845s on them the first day. I look forward to talking with you.

chizler

Great just let me know when you are heading down and I will have a few options ready to talk with you about. The HREs will look great on the car and there is nothing like a little "drop" to really set it off!!!

chris44

Does anyone know of anyone in the Miami/Ft Lauderdale area who does lowering/mods? ( 05 E500)

rentoman

Hey John, I have a cls 550 and just slapped some 20s on them... and need to lower them. And I saw your post about 310... are they still in business? I googled them and didnt get anything. And noticed that your post was from few years back.

I'm in Chino Hills, and willing to drive to get my car lowered by someone with experience... the right way..