romanse320

So, my wife decided we should ditch the X5 - in favor of something more miserly with the gas mileage

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j6...1/P1010016.jpg

I loved that thing. . .

We decided on a wagon. . .with the only stipulation that it's either bimmer or benzo. A couple of my best friends own benzos and we debate incessantly about one vs. the other.

So we found this:

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j6..._71_71/i-1.jpg

It drove nice enough and we could get a good price on it for the miles. However once we actually took posession. . .well. . .it's the first time I've ever had buyers remorse . . .it was so dirty, and well. . .pedestrian. So, we searched for wheels, I had the ugly brown (that's right BROWN!) mismatched tint removed, I've bought depo headlights (to soon be installed), and the MB Audio 10 headunit.

I'm very pleased with the results thus far:
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j6...1/P1010125.jpg
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j6...1/P1010127.jpg

Now, she IS dirty, but I was pretty excited about the look of the new wheels. My wife wanted something "newer", I wanted staggered. . . she won because it is after all her ride. . .but I think it will end up rather cool and worthy of the X5 replacement.

I think a drop is due, what do you guys think?

Ozcan

The last two pictures look very nice.
Enjoy your ride.

romanse320

Thanks! I'm glad you could see the pics!

ohlord

rear self leveling shocks,in order to drop it you either have to do the rear valving or put in the power steering conversion to install springs and sport shocks.
How many miles?Looks nice compared to what you describe as
ohlord

romanse320

81K miles.

From what I've read, I don't have to change the self levelling suspension or power steering with just the springs right? Perhaps just install a camber kit for the rear? I would most definitely keep the OE pads.

ohlord

how much you drop it.Mark Cummins did the ps delete,Im going to try the valve that way its dropped but the self leveling still is operational.
ohlord

43fatman

It looks great! I love wagons I would have one if the US got them with the 430, it would be great for my Mtn bikes.

ohlord

do you need the 430,mine is in the low7's 0-60 and maxed out at the limited speed of 135.Gets 27.5 hway and can tow the MGB with no problem.
ohlord

43fatman

I have driver a E320(210). I actually just sold a 1995(124) E320, I avg 20MPG when I drove it for a few weeks.. I just like the power of the 430 better and as far as MPG I do very well I avg 22.5 around town and on my latest trip 900mi I averaged 27.1 .

ohlord

http://www.mbusa.com/models/main.do?modelCode=E63S
ohlord
Tow mtn bikes and work on the side as a stump puller

43fatman

There is one around where I live Sick! I do like the 211 alot but the lines on the 210 are the sex. To bad we did not get the 210 55 wagon.

ron m.

Hey Rom...

What do you mean by dirty? The car looks immaculate! So, where did you get the rims? Initially I thought you took out the rims on the X5 because they almost look identical!

I did lower my wagon using H&R springs (front and back... and thinnest spring pads on the rear) as well as replace the front shocks. You will need some serious spring compressors to do the front, but the removing the back springs is easy. As far as the self leveling goes, you can alter the height by repositioning the level sensor lever underneath. Don't worry about the rear shock replacement unless you are ready to replace the self-leveling shocks ($$$). I do recall reading someone who actually yanked the self-leveling out and went straight sport suspension.

Anyway, looks like your headlights need to be polished (do a search on that as well). Here's what I did to my wagon (yes, it's the wife's car too. I just can't leave it stock):
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w210/247596-my-pimped-out-wagon.html

romanse320

hey Ron, I read your writeup with earnest as I was preparing to take delivery of the momma ride. looks really clean!

Mine was sooooo dirty on the inside, leather seats had brown lines from sweat and crap getting into the creases of the leather. . .the carpets had black stains all over them . . .it was really a labor of love to get this thing cleaned up. . .

The wheels are actually knock-offs of an 05-07 CLS class - ebay special but very nice! I'm really satisfied with the quality and fitment since they were built to w210 specs. I look forward to posting more progress pics. Right now I've got the odometer in pieces in front of my pc as I'm doing research to fix the pixels. . I love this forum!

AlphaWolf

I do not know they make an AMG wagon! OMG it is so sexy! But the price tag...

ron m.

They do look nice. Very OEM if anything. From the outside, the car looks great. I too am partial to white with cream/beige interior (although I am sure it's a pain to keep clean). My wife and two daughters are insensitive to my automotive OCD, so I have to be a bit practical with my choices. Enjoy your car Rom... it's a fun ride (and you can seat 7 people).

romanse320

The rubber floormats should be in this week, I'll be sure and post photos, this will greatly alleviate MY ocd!

ohlord

try 582 B.H.P. and 206 mph pick up the w210 brabus wagon.
ohlord
Pack a whole storage shed in it,and still run an 11 second 1/4 mile
shed moving pic from a new w210 wagon owner on benzworld.org
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w210...gons-rock.html
V12 w210 wagon brought to you by Brabus
ohlord
I also prefer the w210

230TErry

Nice wagons guys. Had ours since March and it's fantastic, I have seen a coupla really good E55 wagons but the wife thinks the 430 is enough (I'll keep chipping away)

MARK CUMMINS

I Lowered my Wagon with H/R sport springs with one notch spring pads and replaced the shocks with Sport Bilsteins as the travel is shorter on a lowered car so the stock shocks will bottom out..

One can also replace the rear auto level with normal rear shocks..but that requires a non level power steering pump..and removal of the lines to the rear shocks

I Also replaced the sway bars for the Larger dia AMG E55 Estate and it corners Flat!

Also the rear can be fine tuned via the adjustment on the rear level sensor/switch on the rear end


http://mymbonline.com/forum/uploads/dsc06714_140.jpg

romanse320

So, am I reading correctly that I MUST change the front shocks when I swap out springs? The rears I know are the self levelling and I don't want to touch those no matter what.

Britrover

romanse320 - Congrats on the wagon. If you don't mind me asking did you have the X5 3.0 or 4.4i. We are looking to trade my wifes 99 E320 for a SUV and the X5 is on our list..........How was the gas mileage on your X5 ? Which year and any huge issues from a reliability perspective.

ohlord

this would be a nice mod
why would you get out of it?Way too much fun.If done on the wagon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcVj_5Ev6bk
tunable,5inch drop,independent on all for corners,no more worries about speed bumps.
ohlord

romanse320

The X5 was 2001 4.4 Sport. It was really an awesome truck. 300HP and LBS of torque. When I took off, I seriously felt like I was going to pop a wheelie!

It had 101K miles and I had just spent $2500 fixing the (guibo)? gee-bo? front suspension, oil leaks and belt changes.

I got 16 MPG avg. The V8's on BMW's all have the same issues, however the smaller 6's are VERY reliable (I've owned 5 bimmers). If you choose the X5 Please go the 3.3 route and slap some BMW 20's on there. It is very spirited and you get better gas mileage.

romanse320

u R NutZ

ron m.

I thought I was rice but that's got to worse than tapioca... just not my cup of tea. Besides, aren't those Sevas wheels known for self-destruction? Sure they're pretty but there's just too many examples of catastrophic failure that I would even refuse to accept freebies from them (and I'm cheap!).

Rom, to answer your question on the shock replacement... my answer would be yes. Aside from the travel concern, I don't know if OEM shocks will take the spring rates that lowering springs have (even progressives). It would also be economical from the standpoint of maintenance... the old shocks are already out, might as well replace them. I went with KYBs from Tire Rack and I must say that they match fine (I've also had experience with Bilstein Yellows on my W124 and ride wise, they're the same).