E420SportGT

Got used Koni yellows and used H&R springs installed. Rears are fine, but fronts are too low! It's got stock #4 pads in the front. When I drive, going over speed bumps (slow) and big dips on the freeways, when compressed the tire rubs against the corner point of where the front bumper meets the fender. The fenders are rolled already but it's just the tires that touch the pointy tip of the bumper. These are oem E55 monoblocks 18x8 fronts with 254/40/18.

The Konis are still stiff...car doesn't bounce at all. But could it be that the H&Rs being used have worn too much? Would installing #5 pads help or should I try getting new springs? I'd rather not go back to stock because the stance is so nice, but I can't stand rubbing everywhere I go Or maybe should I change the front tires to 235s instead?

Please help! or is this normal? LOL

nsupra

I believe you should be perfect if you changed the front tires to 245/40/18 (stock e55 setup) considering you also have the fenders rolled. If your car wasn't lowered with sport springs and shocks you would probably get away with the 255 tire up front w/ fenders rolled. These cars don't have a lot of room like rear does. Doubt its the springs that are causing the problem.

E420SportGT

The tires now are 245/40/18...but when front passes a speed bump and the compresses, the tires rub the tip of the bumper. Am I the only one that has this issue? Maybe the Konis don't dampen hard enough? hmm

Rubs here:

raymond g-

you didn't say and I'm just guessing that the ET is 31. the 245/40 is really
the widest you can go, with a smaller % of 210s which still have difficulties
with this. the varieties and combination of specs with ET, tire profile, spring
pad choice, spring settle, bushings, etc etc all make such fine tolerances
difficult to predict in 100% of the fitments. 245/40 was rejected by
my 99 E320 on the driver's side. still rubbed the lip even when it was rolled
back nearly flat.

your choices (increasing price and complexity)

- swap the #4 pads with #5, or go dbl pads if you can get away with them
- have body shop really work that part of the arch/lip. hammer time
- go with 235
- find tire profile with narrower cross section (depending on where it rubs)
- have hub of wheel milled
- choose different rims with more conservative offset

blaming the shocks is misguided as they were never meant to deal with
clearance issues.

michakaveli

My E300 with E55 springs up front and #1 pads sits almost identically how yours does now, if anything, a hair higher. I am running 235 width tires all around and no rub issues. 18x8 monoblock replicas....

E420SportGT

thanks guys I'll try with #5 pads first and see..cheapest option.

raymond g-

E-
you should be able to get a rough idea whether the thicker spring pad will
work...or to what degree. if you sight along the sidewall of the tire, you
should be able to gauge how much vertical travel is made before it rubs.
there should be marks on the tire, yes?

now, if you increase the spring pad by 4mm, that'll give you an idea, given
the profile of the tire, whether 4mm will do the job, ie, if the tire will clear.

my only concern is that whether #4 or #5 is used the tire should *never*
be rubbing. so tossing in a thicker pad is only a band aid. given a strong
enough bump it's very likely the tire will contact the metal again. (specu-
lating, sight unseen, of course)

but, you can still put in #5 and then drive with more awareness. if you
come to a severe enough road irregularity, you can always hit the brakes
so as to transit that stretch of road more gently.

E420SportGT

gotcha. I do have a feeling that maybe going with a #5 pad won't do the trick. Maybe 235/40/18s will be a better solution...since it should clear the rubbing area (which right now is at about 45degrees of the tire and not right on top or side).

nelson09

go with a lower profile tire bro..ride is lookin good

raymond g-

perchance it resembles this in some way?

Britrover

I had major ubbing issues with the 245 size tire...swapped to 235 and the issue no longer exists.

nelson09

I'm on 235/35/19 and I'm tucking half my side wall up front - no issues here...except for camber of course LOL

E420SportGT

YES! Thanks Raymond I was just gonna get some shots tonight, but where it rubs looks exactly like that and at that location LOL. Was that your tire?

E420SportGT

thanks to the others who said they have no issue with 235s...sigh..I'll need to dig deep into my wallet now

nelson09

For sure bro, forwarning, if you don't have a camber kit - DO NOT waste your money on good tires. I learned that lesson on a set of Falken FK452s (not sure if you concider those "good" LOL) now I'm running 235/35/19 cheapos...$400 for all four mounted and balenced, "Diamonbacks" if I remember correct...also find a shop that will flip tires half way through thier life for you too, so the inner wear is flipped to the outers...not all, most shops won't do that, they'd rather sell you a new set but say it's "aginst store policy" wa wa wa wa.....

raymond g-

uhm....that...was on a....FRIEND'S tire. yeah. and by the way, I just happen
to have 245/40-18 ContactSport2s for sale if anyone one wants. 90% tread,
but with some character flaws. $50 each, plus shipping.

Anatoli

HI.

"These are oem E55 monoblocks 18x8 fronts with 254/40/18."

You mean 245

1: To low - it is not allowed to say such things
2: Put 235 or 225 on your 8J Rim.
3: Put such Thing into


4: You can pull the fender to the outside...(or is it only after 07/1999???)
I have an 2002 W210 and i can pull my fender until 2cm per side to the outside - perhaps its going bevor 07/1999?
There must be a black plastic screw if you look from the bottom of the car to the top of the fender. Must be here...

By W210 after 7/1999 there is the black plastic screw...W210 bevore 7/1999 doesn`t have thet screw but you can put some normal

together (1-2cm thick) and put that on the screw between the fender.

GO LOWERRRRRRRR

BADwayz

The pass side was doing the same thing to my car. I used the stretched tire and washers to extend the corner of the fenders route myself, worked like a charm.
Im on H&R cup kit, #1 pads, and 25mm spacers on 18x8.5 ET35 (front) wheels with 215/40 tires, no rubbing.

nelson09

.."character flaws"...LOL, I like it. that's a good deal

E420SportGT

oh mine is 97 so yes I have the nut for the front bumper on the sides like your pic shows at the lower red circle. However I dunno if there is the bolt for the fender as shown in the upper red cirlce..I'll try that..might be the cheapest option. And yes, I typed too fast..245 is what I meant ahha. I can't go lower...roads here in California SUCK. And we have too many speed bumps

ohlord

are to wide
going up 1 bump on pads is 1/6 of an inch. That will not be enough
are the amg rims staggered? You need 31et fronts and rolled fenders and 235's tops.
You will never be happy with the ride quality on Koni shocks and lowered springs
Ca or no Ca
Springs settle in when brand new,old springs have settled in and never change rate.
You like the ride height try eibach springs and sport bilstein shocks and
tell us the offset on those front rims
change to 235's
get a camber kit for the front

Going around hitting your brakes before bumps is not going to hack it either it will just make the front end dive even more into the tires.
take 2 aspirins and call the doctor in the morning

ohlord

and I'm tucking half my side wall up front - no issues here...except"

The ride quality is abysmal at best
Camber is so far off the tires wear out yearly
Car looks very silly
People think I'm 20 years old
People mistake me for a ricer
Car handles like crap
My fillings keep falling out

ohlord

215/40/18's are totally wrong for the car.
20 revs more per mile (don't believe what your speedometer tells you)
Increased braking distance(unsprung weight increase)
Shortened wheel bearing life(increased load on bearings)
Sidewall height 1.3 inches narrower than stock(rides like a tank and handles worser than.)
1 inch spacers (yikes, about as foolish an install that I have heard of coming down the pike in ages)
Can I keep you in my files to show what not to do to a W210 ?
Thanks

ohlord

for sale 135bucks delivered.
Yump on them

ohlord

is doubtful it will help with the 245's if those tires Ray posted are typical of the damage you are seeing 20mm or 4/5ths of an inch is going to do nothing but make your front end gaps look like a kid installed the hood and fenders.