Sportline or "Sportline Plus" Swaybars?
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Super Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 826
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From: Southeast PA
2010 VW Golf TDI
Sportline or "Sportline Plus" Swaybars?
Hey guys, I thought I would ask all of you for your opinions. I am finally going to get bigger swaybars for my 1995 E320 that already has Eibach springs. I'm getting new Bilstein Sport shocks to replace my worn Blistein HD shocks and thought I might as well finally do it. I called Rusty and it seems they may be able to get both the Sportline and "Sportline Plus" set-ups, but I'm not sure I want to go for the "Plus". The "Plus" setup may be about $100.00 more, but it isn't the price that bothers me. Somehow I kind of like the idea of the matched OEM Sportline set-up The plus with the "Limo" front bar and the differently shaped rear bar from the E500 seems like less of a perfect fit. The "plus" may be stiffer, but I wonder about balance and maybe overdoing things. I'm looking for a little encouragement to overcome my reservations about the "Plus" or maybe reassurance that I will be happy with the more traditional upgrade to the Sportline set-up. Do you think I should just go Sportline or go for the "Sportline Plus"?
For those who have not seen the bars, I included a link below to pictures and a pdf of all specs for all W124 swaybars and bushings. I have to thank gsxr (AMG Dave) for all of the facts about bars and all kinds of other things.
http://www.w124performance.com/images/W124_sway_bars/
Thanks for your help,
Ken
For those who have not seen the bars, I included a link below to pictures and a pdf of all specs for all W124 swaybars and bushings. I have to thank gsxr (AMG Dave) for all of the facts about bars and all kinds of other things.
http://www.w124performance.com/images/W124_sway_bars/
Thanks for your help,
Ken
Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 141
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From: Mt. Sinai, NY
2013 E350 wagon cuprite brown; sold:2014 ML63; R500 Saks Edition; R500; more W124s than I can count
i have sportline springs and struts on my wagon. changed from the sportline front bar to the limo front bar. the car now corners flatter but i can honestly say that the ride hasn't suffered at all...btw, if anyone wants the sportline front, they can have it for free if they come and pick it up...ny 11766 zip
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 99
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From: Jersey Shore
Well... I never driven a Sportline, so I can't give you comparison results.
I can tell you that the Sportline+ setup is very comfortable, stable, responsive, and it gives the car a much more modern feel.
I have not seen any down side to the Sportline+ set up.
I suppose you really can't go wrong with ether setup.
You decide.
I can tell you that the Sportline+ setup is very comfortable, stable, responsive, and it gives the car a much more modern feel.
I have not seen any down side to the Sportline+ set up.
I suppose you really can't go wrong with ether setup.
You decide.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 826
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From: Southeast PA
2010 VW Golf TDI
Thanks termite and ShoreBenz. That sounds like 2 votes for "Plus". Based on termite's experience it does make a difference to get the bigger front bar and for both of you there were no downsides.
I guess I do like the front bar, since it has the same shape as the regular Sportline. It was the extra bend in the rear E500 bar that bugged me, but it seems I should go bigger in back if I am going bigger in front. I suppose that does get closest to a new balanced matched pair that is bigger than regular Sportline. If bends don't matter, however, the reality is that I could get E500 front and rear even though recommendations seem to point to a Limo front on the 6 cylinder. The extra bend or bends on any of the bars is what gets to me.
Actually, I guess the E500 rear bar doesn't really have that much of a bend. I think I may be convinced.
I guess I do like the front bar, since it has the same shape as the regular Sportline. It was the extra bend in the rear E500 bar that bugged me, but it seems I should go bigger in back if I am going bigger in front. I suppose that does get closest to a new balanced matched pair that is bigger than regular Sportline. If bends don't matter, however, the reality is that I could get E500 front and rear even though recommendations seem to point to a Limo front on the 6 cylinder. The extra bend or bends on any of the bars is what gets to me.
Actually, I guess the E500 rear bar doesn't really have that much of a bend. I think I may be convinced.
Last edited by ksing44; Mar 12, 2009 at 11:43 AM.
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From: REHOBOTH BEACH DE
88-300CE TWIN TURBO, 99-C43, 05-G55K, 71-280SL, 94-E320 CAB, 08 CLK63 BLACK SERIES
Bigger is not always better...
The standard Sportline bars designed for the I6 W124 and C124 are more then enough.
You're not pushing enough power to need a heavier bar then the standard Sportline.
I run the standard Sportline and have double the power of a stock I6 124
Some of the problems you will encounter with oversize sway bars are lifting the inside tire during hard cornering, instability over rough roads, corner
entry under steer, corner exit oversteer, sway bar end link breakage plus a number of other conditions.
This is all created over the roll stiffness being too high because of a oversize sway bar.
The standard Sportline bars designed for the I6 W124 and C124 are more then enough.
You're not pushing enough power to need a heavier bar then the standard Sportline.
I run the standard Sportline and have double the power of a stock I6 124
Some of the problems you will encounter with oversize sway bars are lifting the inside tire during hard cornering, instability over rough roads, corner
entry under steer, corner exit oversteer, sway bar end link breakage plus a number of other conditions.
This is all created over the roll stiffness being too high because of a oversize sway bar.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 826
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From: Southeast PA
2010 VW Golf TDI
Some of the problems you will encounter with oversize sway bars are lifting the inside tire during hard cornering, instability over rough roads, corner entry under steer, corner exit oversteer, sway bar end link breakage plus a number of other conditions. This is all created over the roll stiffness being too high because of a oversize sway bar.
I remember this same kind of thing for deciding between Eibach ProKit springs and the H&R springs. I ended up with the Eibach springs and am happy that they are not too low and that my car is firm but still comfortable. At the same time I do wonder if I would like it even better if my car were just a bit lower and stiffer.
Last edited by ksing44; Mar 12, 2009 at 02:49 PM.
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Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 141
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From: Mt. Sinai, NY
2013 E350 wagon cuprite brown; sold:2014 ML63; R500 Saks Edition; R500; more W124s than I can count
Bigger is not always better...
Some of the problems you will encounter with oversize sway bars are lifting the inside tire during hard cornering, instability over rough roads, corner
entry under steer, corner exit oversteer, sway bar end link breakage plus a number of other conditions.
This is all created over the roll stiffness being too high because of a oversize sway bar.
Some of the problems you will encounter with oversize sway bars are lifting the inside tire during hard cornering, instability over rough roads, corner
entry under steer, corner exit oversteer, sway bar end link breakage plus a number of other conditions.
This is all created over the roll stiffness being too high because of a oversize sway bar.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,494
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From: REHOBOTH BEACH DE
88-300CE TWIN TURBO, 99-C43, 05-G55K, 71-280SL, 94-E320 CAB, 08 CLK63 BLACK SERIES
undoubtedly true in the abstract, however, my e320 wagon is one porcine wagon and the moderate increase in roll bar diameter on the front decreased roll w/o adversely impacting the ride quality. i have put about 1000 miles on the limo bar and stand by my calibrated butt dyno. the 500e rear bar apparently lessened the understeer induced by the limo bar. if you simply used the 500e rear bar w/ a stock front bar, i expect that the car would oversteer like mad. similarly, if you used the limo bar w/ no rear bar, it would plow like a locomotive. in my experience, the understeer did not noticeably increase w/ the above combination and the car hustles through turns fairly well...even w/o twin turbos
May be overkill on a stock sedan
Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 99
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From: Jersey Shore
Bigger is not always better...
The standard Sportline bars designed for the I6 W124 and C124 are more then enough.
You're not pushing enough power to need a heavier bar then the standard Sportline.
I run the standard Sportline and have double the power of a stock I6 124
Some of the problems you will encounter with oversize sway bars are lifting the inside tire during hard cornering, instability over rough roads, corner
entry under steer, corner exit oversteer, sway bar end link breakage plus a number of other conditions.
This is all created over the roll stiffness being too high because of a oversize sway bar.
The standard Sportline bars designed for the I6 W124 and C124 are more then enough.
You're not pushing enough power to need a heavier bar then the standard Sportline.
I run the standard Sportline and have double the power of a stock I6 124
Some of the problems you will encounter with oversize sway bars are lifting the inside tire during hard cornering, instability over rough roads, corner
entry under steer, corner exit oversteer, sway bar end link breakage plus a number of other conditions.
This is all created over the roll stiffness being too high because of a oversize sway bar.
The setup would have been promptly removed.
The car is quite neutral, but will tend toward mild over steer if you get silly.
Even without those lovely turbos! :
And like most Mercs, she'll throw herself in the bushes before she lifts a wheel.
I don't have the specs in front of me, but I think in size, SportLine+ bars, slot between the SportLine, and the 300E AMG 3.2L sway bar setup.
The major difference, the front AMG bar being thicker at the bottle necks on the
left and right side.
Maybe someone has these specs handy?
Last edited by ShoreBenz; Mar 13, 2009 at 07:24 PM.
