Just wondering what the most economical and safest way to lower my 92 300E? Can someone supply me with Part # info and where I can purchase these parts? Thanks guys.
Senior Member
There are several manufacturers that make lowering springs/kits for the W124. (H & R, eibach etc)
Personally I would stick with MB Sportine springs and bilstein shocks (if you're planning to change the shocks). The drop is fairly small but if you drop much more you'll either have to get a rear camber correction kit (expensive) or accept higher rear tyre wear.
The other way to drop it slightly is to change the spring pad thickness. This will only really work if you have 3 or 4 bump pads at the moment. Look under the car and you'll see the spring pad at the top of the spring. Changing from 4 bump to 1 bump will drop the car by about 3/4".
Check out my thread:-
https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...r&pagenumber=3
Personally I would stick with MB Sportine springs and bilstein shocks (if you're planning to change the shocks). The drop is fairly small but if you drop much more you'll either have to get a rear camber correction kit (expensive) or accept higher rear tyre wear.
The other way to drop it slightly is to change the spring pad thickness. This will only really work if you have 3 or 4 bump pads at the moment. Look under the car and you'll see the spring pad at the top of the spring. Changing from 4 bump to 1 bump will drop the car by about 3/4".
Check out my thread:-
https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...r&pagenumber=3
Super Member
Hello cap’n jasper,
I miss talking to you about swaybars, springs, and shocks. How is that car of yours? Do you have any more comments about the handling improvements with your new swaybars? It sounds like you are not fully satisfied with your spring/shock combo, since you are advising sportline. Is it all about the cost of the required camber correction? The K-MAC bushings aren’t all that expensive compared to the springs, shocks, wheels, tires, and swaybars.
I am still very happy with my car, but I still want those monster swaybars. One of these days I hope to go for it. I love hearing about how they feel, so please keep me posted about the fun you are having with your suspension modifications.
Ken
I miss talking to you about swaybars, springs, and shocks. How is that car of yours? Do you have any more comments about the handling improvements with your new swaybars? It sounds like you are not fully satisfied with your spring/shock combo, since you are advising sportline. Is it all about the cost of the required camber correction? The K-MAC bushings aren’t all that expensive compared to the springs, shocks, wheels, tires, and swaybars.
I am still very happy with my car, but I still want those monster swaybars. One of these days I hope to go for it. I love hearing about how they feel, so please keep me posted about the fun you are having with your suspension modifications.
Ken
Senior Member
Hi Ken,
Yes, if I had to do it all again I would go with Sportline springs and Bilstein HD shocks. The Ventura springs are just too low on the front. I think the rear didn't drop as much because it's a coupe and (I guess) lighter at the back.
I had to change my one bump front pads to 4 bump to stop the tyres rubbing.
The Bilstein sprint shocks are way to harsh for everyday use.
I thought my last car, a factory sportline 300e-24, was a bit harsh but the sprint shocks are something else.
As for the swaybars....very happy!
Why would anyone bother changing standard ones for sportlines when the limo bars are out there?
The coupe's fine with the sportline rear but if it was a saloon I'd have to get the 500E rear.
The car now handles great. My only criticism would be the lack of a limited slip differential.
I now corner faster just because I can!
I do love mercs for their exclusivity (especially the coupe) but I'm thinking of buying an M3. or...maybe an E55
Yes, if I had to do it all again I would go with Sportline springs and Bilstein HD shocks. The Ventura springs are just too low on the front. I think the rear didn't drop as much because it's a coupe and (I guess) lighter at the back.
I had to change my one bump front pads to 4 bump to stop the tyres rubbing.
The Bilstein sprint shocks are way to harsh for everyday use.
I thought my last car, a factory sportline 300e-24, was a bit harsh but the sprint shocks are something else.
As for the swaybars....very happy!
Why would anyone bother changing standard ones for sportlines when the limo bars are out there?
The coupe's fine with the sportline rear but if it was a saloon I'd have to get the 500E rear.
The car now handles great. My only criticism would be the lack of a limited slip differential.
I now corner faster just because I can!
I do love mercs for their exclusivity (especially the coupe) but I'm thinking of buying an M3. or...maybe an E55
Super Member
Hello again cap’n jasper,
There is nothing like experience to teach us what we should have done. Just for the record, I am quite pleased with the Eibach ProKit springs and the Bilstein HDs. If you remember, I did have to go back to the mechanic to change to 3 bump pads in the rear, to get my car level, because the car dropped more in the rear. I also had to get the K-MAC rear bushings to fix the camber, but I am satisfied now that the work is done. I had some worrisome moments and it cost more than I intended, but I really am very happy now and I think my car is almost perfect. I just have to get the swaybars to complete the package and then replace all of the rubber suspension pieces, when they ware out, with the sportline versions. I am really glad to hear that you are happy with the swaybars.
I suppose wheel diameter is another difference between your car and the Sportline. Your 17" wheel, with smaller sidewalls on the tire, certainly sacrifices ride quality. My 16" AMGs, with 205/55/16s, have a little more tire than your 17’s, so that may have helped me keep some more of my original ride quality. I am going up to 215/55/16 next time, which will be the same as the newer E320s. Based on the specs from Tirerack, the overall diameter will be about a half inch taller and more completely fill the gap between the fender and tire, but it should not make too much of a difference in the speedometer.
I wonder if just swapping "those crazy orange springs" for Eibach ProKit or H&R springs would leave you more satisfied. Are those Ventura springs considered a "progressive" spring? I know that Eibach and H&R both make more extreme linear rate springs that provide additional lowering, but they also provide a more harsh ride that is considered more appropriate for the track. Those Venturas may be more like the track versions of the Eibach and H&R springs. I know it will cost you some more money and you said the Eibachs and H&Rs were harder to obtain in the UK, but maybe it would be worth it to try the Eibachs. As for the Sportlines, I didn’t want them, because from the pictures I have seen, they don’t seem to drop the car at all. That makes sense, because Mercedes certainly would not have dropped the car enough to need the K-MAC bushings. I didn’t want to slam the car, but I am glad it is an inch lower all around. The stock ride height was really way too high on my US 1995 E320. I have seen older W124s that are not as high and I have read that some of the European cars are lower from the factory. From the pictures you have posted, it looks like your car was originally pretty high like mine.
The M3 really seems to be the ultimate little racecar for the street, especially the newer one that has enough horsepower to beat a Porsche. They handle like crazy and the newer one must be very fast, but my friends older M3 provides as harsh a ride as you could imagine and I think you are right about the exclusivity of your car. An M3 or an E55 would be very fast, but I think our cars are so much more beautiful. I know that my car really stands out in a crowd and, to me, it is simply an elegant automobile with almost no equal. I have the sedan, which I prefer, although I recognize that many people would prefer your coupe.
It is great to be back talking to you about our cars.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
Ken
There is nothing like experience to teach us what we should have done. Just for the record, I am quite pleased with the Eibach ProKit springs and the Bilstein HDs. If you remember, I did have to go back to the mechanic to change to 3 bump pads in the rear, to get my car level, because the car dropped more in the rear. I also had to get the K-MAC rear bushings to fix the camber, but I am satisfied now that the work is done. I had some worrisome moments and it cost more than I intended, but I really am very happy now and I think my car is almost perfect. I just have to get the swaybars to complete the package and then replace all of the rubber suspension pieces, when they ware out, with the sportline versions. I am really glad to hear that you are happy with the swaybars.
I suppose wheel diameter is another difference between your car and the Sportline. Your 17" wheel, with smaller sidewalls on the tire, certainly sacrifices ride quality. My 16" AMGs, with 205/55/16s, have a little more tire than your 17’s, so that may have helped me keep some more of my original ride quality. I am going up to 215/55/16 next time, which will be the same as the newer E320s. Based on the specs from Tirerack, the overall diameter will be about a half inch taller and more completely fill the gap between the fender and tire, but it should not make too much of a difference in the speedometer.
I wonder if just swapping "those crazy orange springs" for Eibach ProKit or H&R springs would leave you more satisfied. Are those Ventura springs considered a "progressive" spring? I know that Eibach and H&R both make more extreme linear rate springs that provide additional lowering, but they also provide a more harsh ride that is considered more appropriate for the track. Those Venturas may be more like the track versions of the Eibach and H&R springs. I know it will cost you some more money and you said the Eibachs and H&Rs were harder to obtain in the UK, but maybe it would be worth it to try the Eibachs. As for the Sportlines, I didn’t want them, because from the pictures I have seen, they don’t seem to drop the car at all. That makes sense, because Mercedes certainly would not have dropped the car enough to need the K-MAC bushings. I didn’t want to slam the car, but I am glad it is an inch lower all around. The stock ride height was really way too high on my US 1995 E320. I have seen older W124s that are not as high and I have read that some of the European cars are lower from the factory. From the pictures you have posted, it looks like your car was originally pretty high like mine.
The M3 really seems to be the ultimate little racecar for the street, especially the newer one that has enough horsepower to beat a Porsche. They handle like crazy and the newer one must be very fast, but my friends older M3 provides as harsh a ride as you could imagine and I think you are right about the exclusivity of your car. An M3 or an E55 would be very fast, but I think our cars are so much more beautiful. I know that my car really stands out in a crowd and, to me, it is simply an elegant automobile with almost no equal. I have the sedan, which I prefer, although I recognize that many people would prefer your coupe.
It is great to be back talking to you about our cars.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
Ken
