i have a 96 e320 with 19s. i am going to lower the car, but need some advice. some of the options is the eibach pro kit and the h and r sport springs. i am trying to get the lowest drop possible. which springs would be right for me? and what are pads, and what are the differences between them?

 

H&R's are the lowest but ride a bit stiffer than Eibach. I have H&R with #1 pads. #1's are 5mm. 2 are 9mm, 3 are 13, 4 are 17. Most stock cars come with #3's. You might have to roll your fenders if your car is too low for you wheels offset.
good luck, check the search button there are many threads on this topic.
Welcome to the board.
Mario

 

what are pads though and the lower the pad the lower the car? also how much and where can u get them?

 

Eibach's ride a little more comfortably, H&R's should result in a bigger drop.

 

i finally know what the pads are now. i went to a website, but only could find #2 pads in the front and #1 pads in the back. would that be good? or is #1's all around the best? any websites are good.

 

For my E55, MB doesn't make #1 pads so I just used #1 pads from a E430. (which is the same thing)
It all depends on how you want your car to sit. I put #1's in the front because I like the "rake look" and I knew my two 12" subs would lower the back as well.
Since you want the lowest drop, I would call the dealer and get #1's for the front. I think they cost about $7.00 each. Also sometimes when the car is first lowered with new springs, till will take a month or so for the car to fully settle. My car dropped another 1/4" over a two month period.

 

mario you said you had to roll your fenders, if i were to go with a #2 pad in the front and a #1 pad in the rear, would i have problems with rubbing and would it sit in a nice stance. the only reason i wouldnt want #1's in the front is beacuse i wouldnt want problems with rubbing. i really do like the stance of your benz.

 

Thanks, with my old 19's staggered I had no rubbing problems, but once I got my HRE's I had rubbing issues front and back and clearing the brake claipers was big problem in the rear. I'm only clearing the rear brakes by .75mm (about a business card). Rubbing issues really depends on how wide you are going to go and the offeset of your wheels.
I have 245-35-19 front, 275-30-19 rear. AMG have their fenders factory rolled.

 

do u think #2's in the front and #1's in the front would look fine? or would the front look a little funny? or do u think i should go with #1's all the way around. i have 245/35/19 all around with the rims 19x8.5 all the way around?i want to go as low as possible without rubbing obviously.

 

I have h&r cupkit with #1 pads all around...

 

With only 245's you could use #1's, no problem. Drop it.

 

mario thanks for your help, your car looks great!

 

anyone have any #1 pads for the front or rear of a 96 e320? or is it the easiest to just go to the dealership?

 

Much easier to get them from the dealer.