Below is a pic of my recently acquired E320 Coupe. The 17" wheels where already on it. I think it looks like it needs lowering but which option?
1) Use MB sportline springs which would lower it about an inch and not affect the camber or my insurance.
2) Use aftermarket lowering springs which are cheaper and lower by 2". Is it then okay to use the original shocks? Would I then need a camber correction kit?
3) Use a Bilstein Streetline kit. - 2" drop and new shocks.
4) Use the aftermarket springs and Bilstein Sprintline shocks.

I favour the second option because it's the cheapest!

Any thoughts?

 

My car only dropped an inch and I still needed a camber correction with the K-MAC bushings. I think there is a chance that the sportline option will not drop the car at all. The article in mercedesshop.com didn't really show any drop.

 

I would also like to lower my 88 300E, but don't know which springs to put on. I like the fact that springs like Eibach lower the car almost 2", but then I would like to use Sportline springs because they are original MB parts.

I have already put Bilstein HD Shocks on my car. What would be the best springs to use with my shocks?

 

WOW - great looking coupe! Honestly I think a 2" drop is too much - looks a bit "out of character" to me. You can also tailor amount of drop with spring pads (maybe up to 1/2?). From what I've seen/read, it's best to upgrade shocks when using springs with stiffer rates. If not the result can be a really bouncy ride as the stock shocks may not be able to "keep up" with the higher spring rates and thus can't properly dampen the ride.

I too am tempted to simply put in springs then get shocks when I can afford them. If I had the money I would go with the sportline package (springs/shocks/bushings). Though the article on MBZshop showed little in the way of drop (springs and shocks can take time to "settle"), I believe that you'd really see around 1" drop.

Not sure about the whole camber issue.

Also check out Mercedesshop.com and do some searches under springs -

This link might shed some light (it is about springs for M119/W124s but good info nonetheless) -

http://www.mercedesshop.com/shopforu...w124+sportline

 

Be careful what you say about the Eibach springs. There are two kinds, Pro-Kit and Sport. The Pro-Kit springs gave 1” drop or less on my car, after some playing with the spring pads to get a symmetrical drop, and the ride is “progressive”, i.e., it is more comfortable (not too stiff) until pushed. When you push the car harder, it handles more like a real “sport sedan”. The Eibach Sports give a bigger drop, but they are said to be very stiff for a track car. The Bilstein HDs are not made for a dropped car, but with the minor change I encountered using the Pro-Kit springs, I think they may be OK. The favorite combo seems to be Eibach Pro-Kit or H&R springs (again, there are more than one kind of H&R) with Bilstein Sport shocks that are made for a dropped car and are guaranteed for life.

 

I have lowered a few MB's including my own 88 300E. I can tell you that no matter what the company's say about how much the drop is on their springs. It will be different on every MB vehicle.

I droped my car with eibach pro kit springs (which are the only springs eibach offers for the 1985-1995 yrs) and bilstein sport suspension. And it is almost stock height still. (also number 1 pads in front and 2 pads in back). Wierd i know.

One thing i noticed is that when I droped two W202's with H&R springs, both ended up with different heights. I believe thats why MB use's spring pads to adjust that difference between all cars.

MY ADVICE: is go with H&R springs. They say H&R are stiffer then the eibachs but i think they both feel the same. I think H&R's give a better drop then the eibachs as well.

If you are worried about comfort then leave your suspension alone.

sold-

ps: nice coupe!

 

The 124 coupe is unique in many ways, but above all, Mercedes always treats the coupe differently than the sedan which costs less. The 124 coupe is very rare compared to the sedan and comes with a tighter suspension. If all that is needed is to eliminate the gap caused by using 17" AMG wheels, changing pads will do the job while keeping the quality of the ride. Any Mercedes dealer can advise which number pad to use to achieve the lowering required. The standard spring pads are designed for the o.e. 15' wheels. As the diameter increases, the more obvious the gap. New spring pads will cost nothing compared to the cost of four new springs, four new shocks, Kmac camber adjusters, etc. The quality of the ride would change radically. Every pebble and crack on the road would be felt. The ride would definitely be hard on all but the smoothest highway. 17" wheels with extra low profile rubber will provide excellent cornering because of the minimal sidewall height which eliminates any flex when cornering. The tires will last half as long as o.e. tires because of the very low profile. P.

 

Wow! A can of worms then!
I got really excited about changing the pads but I just looked underneath and found I have #2 pads on the rear and #1 pads on the front. I guess that's the end of that.
My last car was a 300E-24 sportline and it was definitely lower. It was noticeably so when parked next to a standard car.
I hear what you ksing44 (1" drop = K-MAC). I'm using 235x40 tyres so I guess if I lower it without the camber kit I'll eat them in no time.

I think I'll leave it alone until I pluck up enough courage (cash!) to buy shocks, springs, K-Mac bushes and sporty swaybar all in one go.

BTW, pkmaven, are you sure the coupe "comes with a tighter suspension"? Looking at the part numbers the saloon and coupe use the same suspension parts.

 

i got low profile tires and they lasting me awhile. Im sure they would last longer if i didnt have camber. but honestly i wouldnt let that get to you so much.

 

It really is a can of worms "cap'n jasper", but I do love the car with less gap and that kind of hunkered-down look. I only have 16" wheels and it really is true that the bigger wheel with smaller profile tire exaggerates the look of the gap. After I saw my car dropped, even just an inch, I realized that the stock ride height is sky high. It is really up there when stock. I was wondering about the European ride height. I have read that the cars are lower in Europe.

I will give you a bit more information about my experience just in case it helps you if you decide to get the mods. I started with #3 pads all around when stock and then switched everything to #1 pads when I had the Eibach Pro-Kit springs and Bilstein HD shocks installed. I then switched back to #3 pads in the rear because the rear dropped a lot more than the front on my 1995 E320 SE. I added the K-MAC bushings when I increased the rear spring pads because my camber was almost -3 and it could not be adjusted without the new bushings. The camber is now adustable to within specifications. In terms of the gap, I still seem to have a little difference between the driver side and the passenger side. Now that the gap is smaller, even small differences are noticeable. The driver side is exactly the same gap front and rear, but the rear passenger side could come down a little. I am also not sure how my own bodyweight affects the ride height and gaps. Maybe when I am in the car, the driver and passenger sides are the same. I am thinking about switching the rear pads one more time to #2 in the rear but I don’t like the car to look like it is hauling heavy weight in the trunk. To me, if it is too low in the rear it looks like your car is old with a broken down suspension. I am constantly looking at the car, measuring, and wondering if I should try #2 pads. I am getting a little crazy I guess.

Other notes: I guess I should have gotten Bilstein Sports, but it seems OK with the HDs and the drop really is pretty minimal. Here is where I was wondering about the European ride height. If the cars are lower in Europe, then HDs may be fine, because the minimal drop in US height may actually have the car at the European height. In this case the Bilstein HDs wouldn’t really be on a car that was dropped. This may be wishful thinking on my part, but I am not planning to run out and get new sport shocks right now. The HDs are guaranteed for life and the valving is just about the same as the Sports.

I really am quite satisfied with the car right now. It is firm but not too stiff and it handles amazingly well. It is truly a "sport sedan", not just a highway cruiser. Twisting back roads are a pleasure to navigate and I don’t feel I have lost too much of the comfort that our cars are known for. It is just rock solid in every situation.

I don’t think you will be disappointed if you drop your car a little with a firmer spring and shock combo. You will have real "sport sedan" that can hold its own on a twisting back road. It may take some trial and error, however, to get it just the way you want it. If I did it again, I think I would get H&R springs, Bilstein Sports, K-MAC bushings, start with #1 pads all around, and then figure I might have to adjust the pads to get everything just right. I don’t think I would get the Sportline mods, because it doesn’t look like it actually lowers the car very much and I think the stock height is way too high. I would really miss that hunkered down look. Mine is only an inch lower, but to me, it looks much better. In terms of handling, I doubt the Sportline can out maneuver me on a backroad.

 

Intrax Springs and Koni Adjustable shocks are what I am going with...they seem like the way to go if you want it quite low (2") and i have #1 all around as well...

Check out the pics in my sig as well...

 

The only difference with HD and Sport shocks is the sport shock was built shorter for lower cars. You can use either one you wont notice the difference because there really isnt any. Just the longer shock will have more room to extend and compress. While the sport shock is built just rite. both work the same.

 

The reason I got Bilstein HD shocks is because my mechanic said that the Bilstein Sport shocks would knock the teeth out of my head. Is he right, are sport shocks that much stiffer?

 

yea sports are stiffer. haha knock your teeth out i dunno about that. i have sports they arnt too bad.