Suspension Upgrade on 91 300E
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Suspension Upgrade on 91 300E
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
Jeremy
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Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Orange County, CA
W124's
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
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
Thread Starter
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Joined: Nov 2006
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If I had a chance to replace all the suspension parts ... it would go alittle like this.
Vogtland lowering Springs. How low is this as I don't want to deal with speed bumps eating my car?
Bilstein Sport Shocks
500E or E60 (If I can ever get those) Front and Rear sway bars. Used ok or definately new?
Adjustable Camber arms for the rear. To what purpose?
Wiecher Sport Front & Rear strut bar. (NLA) If this means no longer available then what would be a good replacement>
KMAC bushings. Will these make the ride rougher or smoother?
lol
Vogtland lowering Springs. How low is this as I don't want to deal with speed bumps eating my car?
Bilstein Sport Shocks
500E or E60 (If I can ever get those) Front and Rear sway bars. Used ok or definately new?
Adjustable Camber arms for the rear. To what purpose?
Wiecher Sport Front & Rear strut bar. (NLA) If this means no longer available then what would be a good replacement>
KMAC bushings. Will these make the ride rougher or smoother?
lol
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,816
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From: Orange County, CA
W124's
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. LOLYeah, 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.
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$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
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Member
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 232
Likes: 3
From: Seattle
2005 E320 CDI
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
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
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.
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Posts: 3,062
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From: Houston, Texas
Dora the Explorer
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
$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
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 5
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,325
Likes: 2
From: Seattle
1990 300ce
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.
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.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 5
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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.
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 $300 (plus tax) for installation and alignment. So you aren't all that far off your budget. Just wait another month or two.
Oh, by the way, make sure to get bilstein sport shocks since they're made for lowered springs. The others (HD and Comforts) are made for stock ride height.
Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 243
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From: Toronto/Barrie
1988 300E
Wade Performances offer Front Struts for the W124 for now. I believe its 250$ shipped !! I think they are still working on the rear.
http://www.wadeperformanceproducts.com/
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,816
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From: Orange County, CA
W124's
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/
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/
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,325
Likes: 2
From: Seattle
1990 300ce
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.
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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!!!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,325
Likes: 2
From: Seattle
1990 300ce
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.
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.
