I'M THINKING ABOUT LOWERING MY E430. MY QUESTION IS HOW MUCH DOES THE RIDE COMFORT CHANGE AND WHAT'S THE BEST SPRING SET TO GET. I'M ALSO PUTTING ON 18 INCH WHEELS WITH 235/40/18 TIRES. IF ANYONE HAS SOME PICS PLEASE POST THEM SO I CAN GET AN IDEAL OF WHAT I'M LOOKING TO GET.

 

If you are lucky enough to have tall spring pads, you can get about one half inch lower by swapping in shorter pads. This will not alter the ride comfort at all. However, some cars already have the short pads installed and lowering must be accompished with aftermarket springs.

If you do get 18" tires and wheels, go with a staggered setup similar to the E55. The car will look better with larger wheels on the rear.

 

HOW CAN I TELL IF I HAVE TALL OR SHORT PADS. ALSO WHO MAKES THE BEST LOWERING SPRINGS FOR OUR CAR?

 

You ask a loaded question. As far as what spring mfg is best is a tough question. Different people will give you different answers. IMO, the answer is "It depends on what you want". Do you want lower and 1) same ride, 2) firmer ride or 3) racecar ride. There are some kits that alow you to make minor adjustments to height and ride as well. Personally, I find the ride in my E55 to be fairly harsh already so I chose the spring pad route. However, the 430 might benefit from some stiffer springs.

It's been a while but I recall they are numbered with lower numbers being shorter. I saw them when my car was on a lift but I'd guess a floor jack would be as easy.

FYI - The guys at evosport are very honest and helpful and they carry a few lines of springs. When I was looking for a lower ride, they are the ones that told me about the spring pads instead of trying to sell me $1000 worth of parts.

 

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP.

 

If you are going to get bigger wheels, you will be tempted to lower the car because you will find the gap between the tires and the fender being too big. As "E55AMG99" has said, changing the pads is one way of doing it, I believe E-class has 5 types of spring pads, Dot 1-Dot 5, with Dot 1 being the thinnest. What spring pads you have in your car really depends on what kind of options you have on your car. You have to jack it up and check.

But its a E-class, I think comfort should go first. You sure dont want to lower it so that it's too low and the ride is pretty rough (especially if you're going with 18" wheels which will already increase the roughness). I would suggest you to get a set of Brabus springs. Those springs emphazise on "comfort ride" and lowered the car "adequately".

 

IF I CHOOSE TO STAY WITH THE 17" WHEELS FOR RIDE COMFORT,WHAT SPRING PAD DOT COLOR SHOULD I LOOK FOR TO DROP THE CAR ABOUT 1"?

 

Mark, I just did this on my 97 E420. I used the Eibach Pro Kit, with the front springs (professionally) shaved one half a coil. I stayed with stock pads all around. Still have the stock rims and tires, very similar to the Monoblock rims. This gave me about 1.4 drop in the rear and about 1.8 drop in the front. The look is aggressive, the handling is unreal. The drawback with the Pro Kit is that speedbumps are unforgiving and I did not install a camber kit (not far out of spec), so it tracks a bit more on wavy road surfaces. Overall I am very pleased. Yesterday on the highway I took it to 110mph, with no shimmy, no drift, completely solid and responsive. It absolutely loves the long, winding bends we have here. I played with an '03 7 series, and we were carving up the road equally. At speed, it was as smooth as ever.

I got a deal on them admittedly, but I spent 35.00 on these used springs and 200.00 for install and four wheel alignment. Best money spent so far.

 

I'M KIND OF CONFUSED. WHY DID THEY HAVE TO CUT EIBACH SPRINGS IF THEY WERE DESIGNED FOR LOWER RIDE HEIGHT. WERE THEY NOT DESIGNED FOR THE CAR. ALSO WHAT SIZE SPRING PAD DID YOU INSTALL? I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER TOMMOROW TO HAVE THE SPING PADS CHECKED FOR SIZE BEFORE THE NEW PADS ARE ORDERED.

 

Hey Mark, they cut the front to lower a little more than standard Eibach. They would be fine as they come, but the extra drop plants the front end a bit harder and gives it a little more of "the look". As far as the pads, I did not check myself. I asked the shop while they were doing it, and they said they were stock, were in great shape and could be used. Seems they were right. Long term wear will tell more of the story, but for now I am happy.

 

If you do go with an E55 wheel/tire combo the suggestion tires size is:

235/40/18
265/35/18

To use the US E55 setup fender lip rolling is recommended to use:

245/40/18
275/35/18

If you are upgrading the suspension also get new sway bars. Either the E55 AMG one or by Renntech or Eibach.

Suspension kits are available from:

AMG
Brabus
Carlsson
Eibach
Kleemann
Lorinser
Renntech

 

Mark,

I have a 2000 E430 sport on which I installed Eibach springs and thinner front pads. I also have E55 AMG shocks. My wheels are 8" x 18" all the way around with 245/40-18 Bridgestones. No rubbing whatsover and the ride is somewhat more firm than stock.

I want to get thinner pads for the rear and E55 sway bars.

See pic below. Good Luck.

 

MICKEY YOUR CAR LOOKS GREAT. THAT'S THE SAME COLOR I HAVE. DID YOU ORDER YOUR CAR WITH THE SPORT PACKAGE OR WAS IT DONE AFTERMARKET?

 

HEY MARK! Press your CAPS LOCK key to turn off the capital letters. It's as if you are screaming at us! ;-)

I ordering mine with the sport package and picked it up in Germany at the factory, through the M-B European Delivery option. Traveled through Germany, France, and Austria driving the new Benz. They put you up in 5-start European resorts. The food and drink is unbelievable. Plus getting to drive the car on the Autobahn was a rush. Definitely a trip of a lifetime.

 

Hey that sounds like a lot of fun. A friend of mine did the same thing when he ordered his 5 series BMW. He saved close to 7000 dollars. The savings allowed him to stay in Europe a few weeks. I was a BMW lover for 8 yrs. This yr. I decided to change and I love my E-class. But I've also been looking at the new E-500 or S-430.