randomprey

Hi Guys! Wonderful forum ya'll have! I would like some opinions on parts and possibly service shops to install the parts. What we are after is a smooth ride and decent response. This is not a track car and I don't need it to perform as such. I will eventually upgrade the rims to 17 inch so I would like some that could adjust after I get them to reduce wheel gap. Budget is just dependent on end result. I'm not scared of making the investment worth it! The current suspension is the origional factory OEM parts. It is definately showing its age and the left front wheel bounces repeatedly when going over rough road or 74+mph. If you had the chance to replace all the parts what would you do? Thank you so much for your patience! I'm a novice at car repair but definately intend to allow an experienced person handel this job. My zip code is 30506 if any of you know of reputable shops with 70 miles of me I'll call them for a quote!

Jeremy

CDP

If I had a chance to replace all the suspension parts ... it would go alittle like this.

Vogtland lowering Springs.
Bilstein Sport Shocks
500E or E60 (If I can ever get those) Front and Rear sway bars.
Adjustable Camber arms for the rear.
Wiecher Sport Front & Rear strut bar. (NLA)
KMAC bushings

lol

mgw_300e

I've been waiting for you to post that ever since he asked!


Oh, does nla = no longer available, or now licking ***?

randomprey

My estimated budget is $850 installed.

mgw_300e

you'll probably have to stick with the Vogtlands and Bilsteins then. Get the rest later.

CDP

LOL.

Vogtlands are pretty low, but you won't run into problems if you have the correct size wheels and spring pads.

500E Sway bars are perfect used or new. Just depends on the person.

Adjustable Camber Arms - Incase you run into negative camber while playing with the suspension. Also strengthens the rear since the stock camber arms are hard plastic. I've gone through 3 of them in my 300E due to the way I drive. LOL

Yeah, It makes No Longer Available. As far as I know - You can't pick up any specific W124 strut bars anywhere else. Just added that in there for kicks.

randomprey

Springs http://www.aplusperformance.com/cata...d=6081&osCsid=...
$239.99

S1991 Mercedes Benz 300E L4000-56798 BIL Bilstein Shock Absorber 2 76.37 0.00 $152.74
1991 Mercedes Benz 300E L3000-26360 BIL Bilstein Strut Assembly 2 111.13 0.00 $222.26
1991 Mercedes Benz 300E L3036-100977 FEB Febi Strut Bump Stop 2 13.42 0.00 $26.84

Total shipped = $641

I think this will put me over budget by a bit after I add in labor

jrmd01

Hey Cris, couldn't you get away with EITHER the adjustable camber arms for the rear OR the KMAC bushings?

Anyone got some first hand experience with these 2 products? I've read that the camber arms are good only if you are willing to pay to have the camber adjusted constantly because eventually they get out of specs. The only bad thing I've read about the KMAC bushings are the tendency for it to squeak after a while.

Anybody know if there is anything that can be done to get the camber fixed in the front? I know in the W210 they can use "camber bolts" to correct their negative camber in the front.

mgw_300e

Install them yourself and spend the labor money on an alignment.

randomprey

It is a thought. I would have to find some way to compress the springs. Can that tool be rented? Is it a complicated job?

Bigpete123

I don't think it's an unbelievably complicated job, but if you have no idea what you're doing, I wouldn't touch it.

I say just wait until you have the cash and pay a professional.

And don't do what I did and ride on the stock shocks with lowering springs. In the long run, the labor is more expensive if you don't do it all at once. And you eventually blow out the stock shocks and your ride sucks.

When I had my car lowered, it was $300 (plus tax) for installation and alignment. So you aren't all that far off your budget. Just wait another month or two.

Oh, by the way, make sure to get bilstein sport shocks since they're made for lowered springs. The others (HD and Comforts) are made for stock ride height.

randomprey

How rough is the ride on a lowered car with sport struts/shocks? Right now it rides like utter crap and is almost undrivable.

Federic0W124

my car is currently with stock shocks and its been lowered
for a year now. case in point, it rides like ****.

mgw_300e

the ride will be firm, which will kick a$$ compared to worn out suspension.

xudeck

Hey Chris,

Wade Performances offer Front Struts for the W124 for now. I believe its 250$ shipped !! I think they are still working on the rear.

http://www.wadeperformanceproducts.com/

mgw_300e

struts or strut bars?

CDP

Um, Where?

Bigpete123

I wouldn't describe the ride as "rough", but I would describe it as more stiff. Responsiveness is drastically improved over stock. I would say things start to get rough when you get low profile tires. The tires do a lot of the work of absorbing smaller bumps and road texture. For example, when you are driving and you switch from an asphalt surface to a concrete/aggregate surface, road noise and small vibrations are much more noticeable than stock. this is due to the tires, not the suspension.

So bottom line, a lowered car with low profile tires will handle better but road noise will increase and comfort will decrease. To me, the trade-off is well worth it.

big83bronco

What about KYB GR-2's with Vogtland springs on my 300E....my stock shock are completely blown and it rides liek a ship in a rough sea! Anything has to be better than what I got. I drive mostly interstate anyways, so it doesnt need to drive like a track car!!!

Bigpete123

Do you already have the Vogtlands?

Vogtlands are good springs. Do them justice with some Bilstein Sports. I've heard mixed results about KYB's... that they're too stiff. Some people are happy with them. They definitely are less expensive though, so it may be worth it cost/benefit wise.