W124 Rear Suspension Woes
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Newbie
Joined: Jul 2021
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From: Los Angeles
1995 Mercedes E320
W124 Rear Suspension Woes
So I have seen a lot of posts talking about the rear end being saggy, or bouncy. I do not have these problems. The problem I do have is that the rear end is "soft" and on dips the tires will scrape the wheel wells. I replaced the accumulators hoping that it would be the fix. It didn't worm. Any ideas?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles
1995 Mercedes E320
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From: Westcoast/Interior
02w163ML500 / 97w210E50AMG / 99w202C230k / 95w124500e-wip
There are plenty of w124 owners that have 17" wheels and even lowered, with zero issues or rubbing, etc. Assuming 17x7.5 monoblocks - proper ET of 35+ is needed for clearance.
Could very well be the springs and or shocks need to be addressed.
@UncleSlappy
When was the last time you checked/inspected these components.
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Joined: May 2017
Posts: 148
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mercedes w123 260e
Khomer 2 Its not false ,, Mercedes and all the best designers in the company at the time of manufacture of the W124 cars,, in all their wisdom came up with 15 inch wheels for a reason .Lots of research goes in to building a car as we both know ..The suspension geometry,,,,well everything ,, is made and designed to match up to the 15inch wheels ... . No where in any manual will it tell you to use 17 inch wheels .,, I know they do look nice but its a new technology on an old system . I see more and more questions on wheel;s , and tyres , than any other part of the car .This is rubbing thats wore on one side why,,, we know why .
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From: Westcoast/Interior
02w163ML500 / 97w210E50AMG / 99w202C230k / 95w124500e-wip
Khomer 2 Its not false ,, Mercedes and all the best designers in the company at the time of manufacture of the W124 cars,, in all their wisdom came up with 15 inch wheels for a reason .Lots of research goes in to building a car as we both know ..The suspension geometry,,,,well everything ,, is made and designed to match up to the 15inch wheels ... . No where in any manual will it tell you to use 17 inch wheels .,, I know they do look nice but its a new technology on an old system . I see more and more questions on wheel;s , and tyres , than any other part of the car .This is rubbing thats wore on one side why,,, we know why .
No interest in arguing your point when MANY other w124 owners across the board, worldwide have been using 16 17 18 wheels.
https://www.wheel-size.com/size/merc...e-320-eudm-217
https://www.wheel-size.com/size/merc...e-300-eudm-178
https://www.wheel-size.com/size/merc...e-420-eudm-275
As I said before, along with 3rd party lowering springs, oem sportline and camber adjustment kits, ALL readily available as needed.
Even the use of Bilsteins (B6s as an example) has been contentious among users with lowering kits. Bilstein recommends B8s. They dont recommend B6s, but many have without issues to their suspension, ride, rubbing when calibrated correctly.
"...Wore on one side...."?
You must be referring to -ve camber issues. All solvable when one goes to get a wheel alignment check (always recommended when lowering or wheel size increase). It's a given, unless the owner is too lazy to get it checked)
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mercedes w123 260e
So they know more about the cars than Mercedes thmselves ? Khomer it is each to his own .And every owners can do as they choose to do. But they will never know more about these cars than Mercedes . . And if owners need to make them look special,, then then why not buy a new car with gizmos fitted to them start with . I am glad i can say i have a full classic car,and not just a shell .
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,456
Likes: 140
From: Westcoast/Interior
02w163ML500 / 97w210E50AMG / 99w202C230k / 95w124500e-wip
So they know more about the cars than Mercedes thmselves ? Khomer it is each to his own .And every owners can do as they choose to do. But they will never know more about these cars than Mercedes . . And if owners need to make them look special,, then then why not buy a new car with gizmos fitted to them start with . I am glad i can say i have a full classic car,and not just a shell .
You're making up your own perceived words in your mind.
I said, "...There are plenty of w124 owners that have 17" wheels and even lowered, with zero issues or rubbing, etc...." - go search the threads and do some homework, and I posted links to other website information countering what you claim.
All we've heard from you, so far is "...the manual says this....", blah, blah, blah. Nothing else.
Sorry to bust your *****, but that ain't gonna cut it.Just come up with 2 or 1 other factual(s)that says what you say.
Show us the money.... that's all we ask.
I guess your one of those too, that still believes in the MB sealed for life transmission fluid too, since that's what they always promoted.........until.......they(MB) stopped promoting it.
And yes, there are those who continue to follow the MB lifetime tranny fluid even with MB no longer promoting it. Good on them for documenting. For the rest of the population who don't take care of their cars or document - sticking to getting an inspection is your best make or break investment.
Enough said.
Cheers.
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From: Vail, Colorado 8,235ft Elevation
1994 E-Class 320 Coupe, 1998 911 Carrera S (993)
Rear Accumulators .. equals a E320 wagon?
Hey Uncle Slappy -
You're having replaced the "rear accumulators" presumes your E320 model is a wagon?
I'd recently start a full suspension restoration (Orig. Sportline) of our '94 E320 Coupe, (USA) .. Vehicle age was the overriding consideration and an ever-so-slight rear suspension drupe concern. .Never any operational symptom though.. The removing/discovery of the rear components showed a tolerance stack-up beginning with worn coil spring bushings, shock bushings & sway bar link bushings to name a few.. A tolerance stack-up if there ever was...To be sure the original production rear coil springs were kind of soft, that's my experience.. All of the Sportline replacement components are MB OE which took the better part of six months to accumulate. . Some parts from the US and quite a few from Germany, say 60/40.
The Coupe's OE 8-hole Sportline tire/wheel is 205/60/15 - 7x15 et 41 Diameter 24.7"/627mm - - - - A Plus One tire/wheel enhancement using factory MB* OE 8-hole alloys is: 205/55/16 - 7.5x16 et 41 Diameter 24.9"/632mm .. Most all of the two tire/wheel metrics are within a fraction of the OE tire/wheel specifications. .. Yet, the coupe drives its very best with the OE tire/wheel specifications. .
www.rimsntires.com .. look for "Size Comparer"
* Plus-One sized factory 16 inch MB 8-hole alloys sourced from a 1999 E320 sedan. 16"x7.5 et 41 - Salvage yard sourced @ $75ea
You're having replaced the "rear accumulators" presumes your E320 model is a wagon?
I'd recently start a full suspension restoration (Orig. Sportline) of our '94 E320 Coupe, (USA) .. Vehicle age was the overriding consideration and an ever-so-slight rear suspension drupe concern. .Never any operational symptom though.. The removing/discovery of the rear components showed a tolerance stack-up beginning with worn coil spring bushings, shock bushings & sway bar link bushings to name a few.. A tolerance stack-up if there ever was...To be sure the original production rear coil springs were kind of soft, that's my experience.. All of the Sportline replacement components are MB OE which took the better part of six months to accumulate. . Some parts from the US and quite a few from Germany, say 60/40.
The Coupe's OE 8-hole Sportline tire/wheel is 205/60/15 - 7x15 et 41 Diameter 24.7"/627mm - - - - A Plus One tire/wheel enhancement using factory MB* OE 8-hole alloys is: 205/55/16 - 7.5x16 et 41 Diameter 24.9"/632mm .. Most all of the two tire/wheel metrics are within a fraction of the OE tire/wheel specifications. .. Yet, the coupe drives its very best with the OE tire/wheel specifications. .
www.rimsntires.com .. look for "Size Comparer"
* Plus-One sized factory 16 inch MB 8-hole alloys sourced from a 1999 E320 sedan. 16"x7.5 et 41 - Salvage yard sourced @ $75ea
So I have seen a lot of posts talking about the rear end being saggy, or bouncy. I do not have these problems. The problem I do have is that the rear end is "soft" and on dips, the tires will scrape the wheel wells. I replaced the accumulators hoping that it would be the fix. It didn't work. Any ideas?
Last edited by M. Schneider; Oct 7, 2021 at 07:36 PM.
