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

e420 sportline/euro suspension

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Old Dec 13, 2008 | 03:52 AM
  #1  
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From: Houston
1994 E420
e420 sportline/euro suspension

has anybody seen this setup? or driven a car with this setup?

what is the major difference between this setup and the h&r/eibach/vog suspensions

I am thinking about buying the springs from Rusty and installing them on my e420 with bilstein sport struts and shocks...good idea?....

i had h&r but the ride was way too hard for me.

any input or suggestions are welcome.

i am not concerned about slamming it (actually i do not want it dropped too low)

just want less body roll and more stablility.

thanks in advance
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Old Dec 13, 2008 | 10:10 AM
  #2  
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400E
No such thing as an E420 Sportline from the factory. But you could do quite a bit with aftermarket parts. Shocks and/or springs would be the place to start. Both HDs and Sports are available for the car, Sports designed for lowered springs. See page 2 below. A true Sportline has quicker ratio steering - never heard of anyone swapping that out.

http://www.bilstein.com/305bilsteinapplicationguide.pdf
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Old Dec 13, 2008 | 12:22 PM
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From: Houston
1994 E420
The E420 Sportline was only offered in Europe. It included the normal Sportline equipment with notable changes in the steering box and front/rear suspension.

I am only looking for the suspension components which include

2 x 124 321 42 04 front coil spring
2 x 124 324 28 04 rear coil spring

I already have the front and rear 500e anti-sway bars

i am not looking to adjust the steering or replace the steering box (unless of course that part is available)
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Old Dec 13, 2008 | 01:08 PM
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You should be very happy with that setup.
It works very well on the 3.2L
The ride is firm & disciplined, but not harsh.
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Old Dec 13, 2008 | 01:19 PM
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From: Houston
1994 E420
Originally Posted by ShoreBenz
You should be very happy with that setup.
It works very well on the 3.2L
The ride is firm & disciplined, but not harsh.
excellent..thank you
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Old Dec 13, 2008 | 01:35 PM
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From: Jersey Shore
It seems we share the same part # for the rear springs,
& you chose the V8 springs for the front.
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Old Dec 13, 2008 | 02:26 PM
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1995 E 420
i think the subframe bushing are also different too!and that could stiff up ur car a little more and give u what ur looking for as u already have the 500 front and rear sway bar.. care to share experiences on the 2.82 rear end?? how many MPG are u getting if u don't mind me asking! have a good day!

Last edited by childofjuly; Dec 13, 2008 at 02:31 PM.
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Old Dec 13, 2008 | 05:38 PM
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From: Houston
1994 E420
i think the subframe bushing are also different too!and that could stiff up ur car a little more and give u what ur looking for as u already have the 500 front and rear sway bar.. care to share experiences on the 2.82 rear end?? how many MPG are u getting if u don't mind me asking! have a good day!

I will look into the subframe bushings as well


As for the 2.82 differential...wow...just wow

the drive is way more amazing..the transmission shifts better...the rpms are always in the optimal 2000-3000 area

0-60 time has been cut down by maybe 1-1.5 secs

60-100 is much faster

i hit about 125 mph at 4200 rpm so the autobahn speeds are still there

as for gas mileage

if i drive normally..i get 21 mpg combined

if i drive like a mad man...i get 16-17 mpg combined

too bad this transmission only has 4 gears

with a 5th...the gas mileage would be much greater..
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Old Dec 14, 2008 | 09:55 AM
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From: Phoenix, AZ
400E
Originally Posted by jmang09
The E420 Sportline was only offered in Europe. It included the normal Sportline equipment with notable changes in the steering box and front/rear suspension.
Are you sure they got E420 Sportlines in Europe? What's the evidence? They barely got any 420s at all.
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Old Dec 14, 2008 | 01:13 PM
  #10  
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From: Houston
1994 E420
Originally Posted by deanyel
Are you sure they got E420 Sportlines in Europe? What's the evidence? They barely got any 420s at all.
I am only looking through european part numbers and deducing this

(I highly doubt they had a special steering box for this model though)


124 321 42 04 - Front 400E/e420 sportline spring

124 324 28 04 - Rear w124 sportline spring (all models)


rusty has both of these springs in stock (if anyone else is interested)


these numbers differ from normal 400e/E420 part numbers

i have a pdf that has all the part numbers

i will post it later.
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Old Dec 14, 2008 | 04:55 PM
  #11  
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From: Houston
1994 E420
here is the pdf that I have
i uploaded it to my server

http://www.blueboxpc.com/124_coil_spring_specs.pdf
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Old Dec 14, 2008 | 07:31 PM
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16 E350 wagon, 94 AMG, sold -95 E320 Sportline wagon & 94 E420 & 95 E320 coupe & 92 190 16v
I just did the Sportline conversion on my 95 E320 Wagon. It was a lot of work and almost all the techs tried to charge for a lot of overlapping labor, so hammer them on the prices. The book says 6+ hours to change the rear swaybar alone!

I'd recommend the Sportline struts also as it makes for a very fine tuned system. Make sure you add up the points and get the right springs for the US car as the Euro version is lighter and the spring specs can be too low.

The Sportlines also have a different, shorter and stiffer, strut shaft buffers, about $19 each, get them now as they are free to install now but big money later!

There are Sportline front LCA bushings and rear subframe mounts too.

If you go to all the hassle don't forget the side badges
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Old Dec 14, 2008 | 08:45 PM
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From: Houston
1994 E420
Originally Posted by spinlps
The Sportlines also have a different, shorter and stiffer, strut shaft buffers, about $19 each, get them now as they are free to install now but big money later!
do you have a part number for these?

thanks again for all the info!

i will probably be working on this in the next couple of months (its hard to do it all at once with no extra cash)

i am going to be doing much of the work myself so it will be a slow process
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Old Dec 14, 2008 | 08:46 PM
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From: Jersey Shore
I can tell you the rear springs you selected
124 324 28 04 - Rear w124 sportline spring (all models)
are for high option/U.S.A. sportline models.

Last edited by ShoreBenz; Dec 14, 2008 at 09:21 PM.
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Old Dec 14, 2008 | 09:49 PM
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From: Sacramento
16 E350 wagon, 94 AMG, sold -95 E320 Sportline wagon & 94 E420 & 95 E320 coupe & 92 190 16v
124-323-06-44 --- Shaft buffer pics...

http://www.w124performance.com/image...p_buffers1.jpg



Also see below for lots of great info, pics, doc, etc...

http://www.w124performance.com/docs/mb/W124/

http://www.w124performance.com/images/

Last edited by spinlps; Dec 14, 2008 at 10:18 PM.
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Old Dec 15, 2008 | 05:21 AM
  #16  
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From: Little Rock, Arkansas
1995 E 420
Originally Posted by spinlps
124-323-06-44 --- Shaft buffer pics...

http://www.w124performance.com/image...p_buffers1.jpg



Also see below for lots of great info, pics, doc, etc...

http://www.w124performance.com/docs/mb/W124/

http://www.w124performance.com/images/
the links to those great information came from our member AMGDAVE! (just want to credit him for his work! )
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Old Dec 15, 2008 | 07:05 PM
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1992 Mercedes-Benz 500E
Originally Posted by deanyel
Are you sure they got E420 Sportlines in Europe? What's the evidence? They barely got any 420s at all.
There was actually a 500E sportline available in Europe for a few extra $$

They had sportlines of pretty much everything.

-Mike
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Old Dec 16, 2008 | 04:20 AM
  #18  
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Mercedes 300CE Sportline
Originally Posted by jmang09
has anybody seen this setup? or driven a car with this setup?

what is the major difference between this setup and the h&r/eibach/vog suspensions

I am thinking about buying the springs from Rusty and installing them on my e420 with bilstein sport struts and shocks...good idea?....

i had h&r but the ride was way too hard for me.

any input or suggestions are welcome.

i am not concerned about slamming it (actually i do not want it dropped too low)

just want less body roll and more stablility.

thanks in advance


well I'm from sweden.. and I've driven a 420e Sportline..

they are nice cars.
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Old Dec 16, 2008 | 04:21 AM
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Mercedes 300CE Sportline
Originally Posted by Quicksilver500
There was actually a 500E sportline available in Europe for a few extra $$

They had sportlines of pretty much everything.

-Mike
every 500e is sportline
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Old Dec 16, 2008 | 11:42 AM
  #20  
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16 E350 wagon, 94 AMG, sold -95 E320 Sportline wagon & 94 E420 & 95 E320 coupe & 92 190 16v
Originally Posted by childofjuly
the links to those great information came from our member AMGDAVE! (just want to credit him for his work! )
Yeah, Dave is the Man, and has been a tremendous resource and endless supply of great advise.
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Old Dec 16, 2008 | 06:58 PM
  #21  
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1992 Mercedes-Benz 500E
Originally Posted by mr-sportline
every 500e is sportline
I read an old article recently and it said 2k for the sportline package. It may have been that they offered the E60 suspension as the sportline package, looking through my notes it cost around that.
I also show PN's light and heavy springs and shocks (including SLS) for the 400E. This is from a Dave generated list also.

-Mike
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Old Dec 16, 2008 | 08:58 PM
  #22  
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From: Houston
1994 E420
thanks guys for all the info..so far this is what I am going to do

All prices are from Rusty at BuyMBParts.com

400E Front Sportline Springs: 124-321-42-04: $92 each (2)

400E Rear Heavy Sportline Springs: 124-324-36-04: $95 each (2)

Front Shaft Buffer: 124-323-06-44: $19 each (2)

Front Bilstein Sport Struts: $123 each (2)

Rear Bilstien Sport Shocks: $86 each (2)

Rear Sportline Subframe Bushing Kit:$86

Front Sportline CA Bushing Kit: (have to ask for price)


I already have the 500E sway bars ($169 for the front, $175 for the back)


Total Estimated Parts (including the ones I already have): $1325 <--yea..


All labor will be done in my garage (usually with alot of shouting and grunting...and occasional bleeding....occasional...)


hopefully when I get the money and the time, I will take pics of the progress

the suspension shouldnt be that bad considering I already had to drop the subframe for the differential...but with benz...who knows

anyhoo...thats my rant for now...

let me know if i am missing anything...or if you guys would do something different...

thanks again.
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Old Dec 16, 2008 | 11:24 PM
  #23  
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From: Boise, ID, USA
300D, 500E, E420
As mentioned, yes there was a Sportline package offered on the 124.034 (400E / E420). It was largely based on components from the 124.036 (500E / E500). It used the 500E sway bars front & rear, and the 500E front struts, plus a faster ratio steering box, had Sportline badging, etc. It was never offered in the USA, though. Interesting side note... the European 400E/E420 came with a 2.65 differential, instead of that silly 2.24 that they shipped to the USA.

The 500E was never, ever offered with a Sportline package. It was designed out of the box as a sport vehicle, with no "sport" upgrade available. It used most of the Sportline components available at the time, including the 4-seat interior, rear subframe bushings, special dampers, larger sway bars & wheels, etc. The only 2 items on a 500E which can be "upgraded" with factory components are the steering box (the 124.034 Sportline steering box is a faster ratio, but sadly is no longer available) and the front lower control arm bushings (the 500E came with standard/soft bushings, instead of the early Sportline hard bushings... late Sportlines reverted back to the soft, for unknown reasons.) Given the release dates of the original 124.036 and the first 300E Sportline package, it may be more correct to say the Sportline packages were based on the 500E, although some of the components (i.e., hard control arm bushings) were originally used on the 201.034/.035/.036 190E-16's back in the late 80's.

The 500E was offered with an AMG package, option code 957, which turned it into an E60 AMG. Sadly, this was not offered in the USA. The E60 AMG only has a larger engine, different springs & shocks, a larger front sway bar, and optional 17" wheels. That's it... the brakes, body, bumpers, interior, gearing, differential, etc were all the same.

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Old Dec 17, 2008 | 11:18 PM
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1992 Mercedes-Benz 500E
Thanks Dave, that must have been what I was thinking about.
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Old Feb 21, 2010 | 03:32 PM
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From: East stroudsburg, PA
1995 e420
e420 sport line progress???

I was wandering if you had the chance to do the sport line conversion on your e420. I have a 95 myself and was thinking to do the same.

Thanks
Mike
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