500E/E500 Best front Struts?Where to buy?
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 82
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From: Los Angeles, CA
94' E500
500E/E500 Best front Struts?Where to buy?
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.
Thanks
David.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles, CA
94' E500
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
Thanks
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 281
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From: IL / WI
Depends on the day
The struts between an R129 and 500E are NOT different. The only difference that makes everything seem shorter is the difference in strut mounts.
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 42
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From: North
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?
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?
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Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 179
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From: New Zealand
1996 E320 Sportline Cabriolet x 2
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.........
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.........
Last edited by WDB124066; Jul 17, 2011 at 10:25 PM.
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Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Manchester, CT
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?
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?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.
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From: USA
G's + 190
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.Do you use the factory springs with #1 pads, or other springs?
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1992 Mercedes-Benz 500E
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
I am running stock shocks with my 500E w/ H&R and going to replace them again with stock soon.
-Mike
Last edited by Quicksilver500; Aug 10, 2011 at 07:14 PM.
