E-Class (W124) 1984-1995: E 260, E 300, E 320, E 420, E 500 (Includes CE, T, TD models)

I want to lower my Car. Chop or not??

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Old 09-28-2008, 07:58 PM
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91 300E 4matic
i had a friend cut his springs and they were about a week from collapsing (until he totaled it-not his fault and now suing the guys insurance) but anyway ya thats not a safe thing to do and like the other guys said not worth cutting them and then putting diffeerent springs on
Old 09-28-2008, 09:48 PM
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1987 560SL
[quote=RBYCC;3074952]
Cut a progressively wound spring and more then likely you'll see the effects at high speeds....
quote]

That seems to be true RB.

There was a review about 1990 re: the AMG 300TE 6L, in which AMG themselves cut one coil off the OE springs to lower the car.

No problem they said, under 100 mph, but over that and the car started "corkscrewing" and they did not "feel safe driving too close to the guardrail". Whatever, this subjective anecdote meant, it was clear that the reviewer did not feel he was confident about controlling the car at high speeds.

Perhaps if 'Viper' only plans to drive down to the green grocers, it will be fine
Old 09-29-2008, 07:11 AM
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Mercedes 300CE Coupe
dont worry iv got a mate whos getting me some springs an shocks just going to have to wait a little bit. Its not that i dont have any money its just i have to pay £450 ($830) deposit for my insurance. so thats taking a large part of my money and i have just had someone offer me a private number plate (cause the ones we have across the pond look sh*t standard) so thats takin more of my money.

im defo going to wait no point ruining it for a cheap mod.

got to get my system next looking at a JVC KD-AVX22 head unit, and 15" Vibe and a 10" Vibe subs. i love these cars the boots/trunks are huge fit subs and still get the dead bodies in there!lol
Old 09-29-2008, 05:50 PM
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Insurance is gay mine went up 400 last year but-1700 for a 20 year old is good tbh. What engine is yours? is it an auto?
Old 09-29-2008, 10:29 PM
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1988 260E
[QUOTE=190E 16V;3076747]
Originally Posted by RBYCC
Cut a progressively wound spring and more then likely you'll see the effects at high speeds....
quote]

That seems to be true RB.

There was a review about 1990 re: the AMG 300TE 6L, in which AMG themselves cut one coil off the OE springs to lower the car.

No problem they said, under 100 mph, but over that and the car started "corkscrewing" and they did not "feel safe driving too close to the guardrail". Whatever, this subjective anecdote meant, it was clear that the reviewer did not feel he was confident about controlling the car at high speeds.

Perhaps if 'Viper' only plans to drive down to the green grocers, it will be fine
I'm the service advisor at a Mercedes shop and the owner has been working on Mercedes since the early 80's and is a Mercedes Benz Master Mechanic. He said AMG used to just cut springs when you sent them your stock MB and wanted and AMG conversion done. He says there is nothing wrong with cutting them as long as you do it right. I mean if AMG did it... its got to be okay.
Old 09-29-2008, 10:44 PM
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88-300CE TWIN TURBO, 99-C43, 05-G55K, 71-280SL, 94-E320 CAB, 08 CLK63 BLACK SERIES
[QUOTE=Benz260Benz;3079044]
Originally Posted by 190E 16V

I'm the service advisor at a Mercedes shop and the owner has been working on Mercedes since the early 80's and is a Mercedes Benz Master Mechanic. He said AMG used to just cut springs when you sent them your stock MB and wanted and AMG conversion done. He says there is nothing wrong with cutting them as long as you do it right. I mean if AMG did it... its got to be okay.
The quote describing high speed handling problems was from the mouth of Richard Buxbaum who was the head of AMG Westmont.
It was made in a Car & Driver roadtest ( Feb 1990 ) of a 6.0L SOHC 300TE.
Cut the springs and you increase spring rate which can and will affect handling

P.S.

This car may be still for sale by its current owner...asking price about $38K.
Old 09-29-2008, 11:28 PM
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300E a couple 1994 w124wagon E320 Wagon/,1971MGB Track/Rally, MG Midget Autocross ,2000 E320 wagon.
Increased

spring rate of 10% for one coil is nothing and if you install H and R's and sport shocks and drop the car on 18's your ride will be much firmer than that.If the guy can't handle a stock model with a coil cut to drop it at speed he can't handle anything.I've been cutting springs and racing cars for 40+ years.One coil is nothing on a w124.MB master techs cut them on their own race cars all the time,they even cut them on their street cars.I know a few.You can't even get lowering springs for the W210 4matic sedans and wagons so we just chop them.On the wagons cut the fronts and use the adjustment link on the self leveling suspension to drop the rear.


cutting a spring properly will not cause it to fail,who ever came up with that story?
Old 09-29-2008, 11:31 PM
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1987 560SL
[quote=RBYCC;3079078]
Originally Posted by Benz260Benz

The quote describing high speed handling problems was from the mouth of Richard Buxbaum who was the head of AMG Westmont.
It was made in a Car & Driver roadtest ( Feb 1990 ) of a 6.0L SOHC 300TE.
Cut the springs and you increase spring rate which can and will affect handling

P.S.

This car may be still for sale by its current owner...asking price about $38K.
Yes, a car lent from Buxbaum. Good memory.

John Phillips III wrote about it in the article. The car had other quality issues, too. It seems that when AMG reassembled the car, they weren't as careful as MB.

Oh, and it cost $99,500 new, in '90, even though it's not a
Old 09-30-2008, 09:14 AM
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94 Wagon and 94 Cabriolet
Q: cutting a spring properly will not cause it to fail,who ever came up with that story?

A: Richard Buxbaum who was the head of AMG Westmont

RBYCC said:

There was a review about 1990 re: the AMG 300TE 6L, in which AMG themselves cut one coil off the OE springs to lower the car.

No problem they said, under 100 mph, but over that and the car started "corkscrewing" and they did not "feel safe driving too close to the guardrail". Whatever, this subjective anecdote meant, it was clear that the reviewer did not feel he was confident about controlling the car at high speeds.
Old 09-30-2008, 09:49 AM
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88-300CE TWIN TURBO, 99-C43, 05-G55K, 71-280SL, 94-E320 CAB, 08 CLK63 BLACK SERIES
Originally Posted by ohlord
spring rate of 10% for one coil is nothing and if you install H and R's and sport shocks and drop the car on 18's your ride will be much firmer than that.If the guy can't handle a stock model with a coil cut to drop it at speed he can't handle anything.I've been cutting springs and racing cars for 40+ years.One coil is nothing on a w124.MB master techs cut them on their own race cars all the time,they even cut them on their street cars.I know a few.You can't even get lowering springs for the W210 4matic sedans and wagons so we just chop them.On the wagons cut the fronts and use the adjustment link on the self leveling suspension to drop the rear.


cutting a spring properly will not cause it to fail,who ever came up with that story?
I don't believe anyone claimed failure, more less then consistent performance at high speeds.

If performance springs are available, then it's foolish to chop a stock spring...

...

Last edited by RBYCC; 09-30-2008 at 04:03 PM.
Old 09-30-2008, 12:24 PM
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1990 300ce
That's exactly right. Why would you cut your springs if you can spend barely any more money and get aftermarket springs to use as they're designed?

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