DavidBenz

I want to purchase a set of front shocks but dunno what are the best ones for a lowered vehicle. I used to have the Bilstein Sports on my older 500E, but dont know if there is anything better out there. Also where would I purchase Bilstein Sports or any other better shocks.

Thanks
David.

AndreNY

if your going to lower the car then Bilstein Sports, if your keeping it stock height then Bilstein HD's

DavidBenz

Will r129(sl500) struts work better? I remember reading a thread that said if u were to lower a 500e that sl500 struts were shorter and will fit and work better. Anyone have any ideas about this?

Thanks

AndreNY

i dont think the struts will but there was a thread here a few weeks ago where someone stated that if using R129 mounts the car would drop .5"

bsmuwk

The struts between an R129 and 500E are NOT different. The only difference that makes everything seem shorter is the difference in strut mounts.

Jim's500E

Koni yellow adjustables for the fronts on a lowered car....just sayin'

ringmaster

I got out the shovel and dug up an old thread

Jim are you using the Koni Yellows with your H&R springs + 8mm pads? Are you pleased with the handling and ride quality? I want my 500 to be low but I don't want to kill the refined ride quality. The high pressure gas that Bilsteins uses can contribute to poor ride quality (but great chassis control).

I read somewhere on this forum that the E320 Cabrio and the 500E came from the factory with same front strut part number. Tell me it isn't so Where is the "Porsche tuned" chassis?

WDB124066

The Cabriolets got the same steering arm as the 129, and the shocks have unique sized mounting holes to other (non E500) 124's. 500's had a compression spring inside the shock as well.......

The Cabriolet's are very heavy cars, it would not surprise me if MB adopted other parts from the SL or 500 range - not just the steering arms.........

MACHC5

KONI Adjustable

Jim's500E

Cabs and 500Es do not share struts. Both cars do share many other parts though. I had a low mile 95' Cab btw. There's actually lead weights attached to the front shock tops on a Cab !

Porsche didn't 'tune' the 500Es suspension; they supposedly helped develop it... its basically all parts bin stuff from a R129...the only 'tweak' Porsche did was to the intake manifolds. Porsche 'built' the car on the old 959 line because it was too wide for MB on the W124 line at Sindelfingen, that and because MB and Audi collectively 'saved' Porsche from going under at that time with their exclusive build contracts. There are other reasons too. And the cars weren't entirely built by Porsche...the cars traveled between factories between stages. MB 'finished ' them up at Sindelfingen.

I do still run the Koni yellows and #1 pads up front. Its low and nice to me and I track and auto-x the car from time to time so it's a welcome upgrade, but all that is subjective. I never thought the stock 500E suspension was that refined...again...that's subjective. I will say that going with thicker pads such as a #2 or 3 will raise up the car in front a bit more removing the 'rake' that comes with the stock rear height with the SLS suspension. (unless you adjust the level control arm to lower the rear) which is tricky to get right.

Max Thrust

Do you use the factory springs with #1 pads, or other springs?

Jim's500E

.036 specific H&Rs with the #1 pads...

Quicksilver500

Pretty sure the 500E front shocks are .036 specific, they are not SL shocks. They are only made by Sachs and only for MB. They have an internal limiting spring that helps with body roll under hard corning and especially on rough road surfaces. I am willing to bet the damping rates between any of them aren't that significant. Bilstein doesn't list a sport for the 500E in my experience you have to use the 420.

I am running stock shocks with my 500E w/ H&R and going to replace them again with stock soon.

-Mike

Jim's500E

You're right Mike...the OE 500Es shocks and springs are specifically developed for the cars...I genralized it too much.