E-Class (W211) 2003-2009

Major mods done; brakes & coilovers

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Old Jun 18, 2007 | 06:00 PM
  #1  
seahonu's Avatar
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From: SF Bay Area
2015 GLK 250 BT
Major mods done; brakes & coilovers, w/pics

Much better ride now with these mods on the brakes and coilovers. It transforms the OEM E320 into a much tighter/sportier vehicle. A few details/notes worth sharing;

Upgraded brakes; crossdrilled rotors & Porterfield R4-S pads, $500
- Greatly appreciated the warnings from this forum on disabling the SBC. I would not have known about it prior!
- Admittedly the crossdrilled rotors are overkill but looks cool (bought off of ebay, $215 for the set)
- Definitely recommend R4-S pads, significantly less dust and better "bite" when the brakes are applied
- Next up is to install SS brakelines which should tighten up the brakes even further, ie. no expanding lines

Upgraded coilovers; Bilstein PSS9 system (shocks/struts/springs), $1699
- Royal pain in the *** to remove the old OEM springs, both front and rear. They're really tall/long!
- PSS9 system is way cool, being so adjustable. I can adjust the ride height to lower only 1" to a full 2" drop.
- Also the damping, currently set to #7 where #9 = 15% firmer than stock and #5 = Bilstein Sport.
- Totally tuned out the "boat" feel to taking turns 2x speed and being perfectly balanced, no understeer
Attached Thumbnails Major mods done; brakes & coilovers-2007_06180008.jpg   Major mods done; brakes & coilovers-2007_06180009.jpg   Major mods done; brakes & coilovers-2007_06180010.jpg  

Last edited by seahonu; Jun 19, 2007 at 11:56 AM.
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Old Jun 18, 2007 | 08:27 PM
  #2  
W211 Ryda's Avatar
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From: San Diego
2004 E320
Please post some pics. Sounds like your ride got a nice pampering.
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Old Jun 18, 2007 | 08:34 PM
  #3  
Benz-O-Rama's Avatar
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Eurocharged 2004 E500, Eurocharged ECU/TCU 2005 SL600, 2010 Caddy SwaggerWagon
Originally Posted by seahonu
Much better ride now with these mods on the brakes and coilovers. It transforms the OEM E320 into a much tighter/sportier vehicle. A few details/notes worth sharing;

Upgraded brakes; crossdrilled rotors & Porterfield R4-S pads, $500
- Greatly appreciated the warnings from this forum on disabling the SBC. I would not have known about it prior!
- Admittedly the crossdrilled rotors are overkill but looks cool (bought off of ebay, $215 for the set)
- Definitely recommend R4-S pads, significantly less dust and better "bite" when the brakes are applied
- Next up is to install SS brakelines which should tighten up the brakes even further, ie. no expanding lines

Upgraded coilovers; Bilstein PSS9 system (shocks/struts/springs), $1699
- Royal pain in the *** to remove the old OEM springs, both front and rear. They're really tall/long!
- PSS9 system is way cool, being so adjustable. I can adjust the ride height to lower only 1" to a full 2" drop.
- Also the damping, currently set to #7 where #9 = 15% firmer than stock and #5 = Bilstein Sport.
- Totally tuned out the "boat" feel to taking turns 2x speed and being perfectly balanced, no oversteer

Did you happen to go with iRotors?
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Old Jun 19, 2007 | 12:51 AM
  #4  
seahonu's Avatar
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From: SF Bay Area
2015 GLK 250 BT
No, not from iRotors. I bought my crossdrilled rotors from ebay, see link below. I negotiated a price of $155 for the set + $60 for shipping. Not bad.

http://motors.search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZsaleshut
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Old Jun 20, 2007 | 11:24 PM
  #5  
seahonu's Avatar
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From: SF Bay Area
2015 GLK 250 BT
Update on PSS9 settings, W211

There ain't many postings of others (W211) with Bilstein PSS9 system. Though quite abit more folks with PSS9 in the C-Class forums. I figure I would help poputate this forum with my experience on these struts/shocks.

At first, I set them to #7 (both fronts & rears) which seemed too firm on the rears relative to the fronts. I called up Bilstein (Steve, 800-537-1085) and got bunch of useful info. The settings #1-9 is linear and its a bypass valve adjusting the compression/rebound.

#9, equivalent to Bilstein Comfort series
#7, popular setting on the C-Class forums
#5, equivalent to Bilstein Sport series
#3, too stiff, abit bouncy for street
#1, for track/competition

Now, I've reset the fronts to #5 and the rears to #9. And appears to be much better balanced relative to firmness, fronts versus rear. Smooth ride with a nice firmness over small and large bumps but not too stiff. So that's my recommendation on dialing abit more firmness on the fronts than the rears.

Last edited by seahonu; Jun 21, 2007 at 02:23 AM.
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Old Jun 21, 2007 | 12:15 AM
  #6  
Kimber's Avatar
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Joined: Mar 2006
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From: CA
2005, E500 Designo
pads & Rotors

I also purchased the crossdrillled Zimmerman Rotors and R4-S pads. Noticable improvement . I purchased them directly from Porterfield, they will also slot and cryo treat the rotors. They charged around $468.00 dlvd to NorCal. I do like the principal of the Cryo treatment but a little over kill for street use.
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Old Apr 20, 2010 | 06:15 AM
  #7  
sdteb's Avatar
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Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Nashville
1984 300 SD
rotors?

rotors, how are they holding up? the ones from ebay?
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Old Apr 20, 2010 | 01:19 PM
  #8  
seahonu's Avatar
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Joined: Apr 2007
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From: SF Bay Area
2015 GLK 250 BT
WRT crossdrilled rotors from ebay. Doing fine, now at 30K miles on these rotors and pads. Actually there's hardly any wear to the rotors, ie. lip. Pads seems to be down about halfway.
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  #9  
bhmav8r's Avatar
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2000 E500
Wow! I've got PSS10's on my 911 never thought of the MB

Did you have track intentions or just for street? Seems a shame to compramise the ride...

Pics Please!
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Old Apr 22, 2010 | 12:48 AM
  #10  
mk1811sl's Avatar
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2003 E320
ive heard Zimmerman Rotors are a good choice. I'm new here, i cant figure out how to open a new forum. So i have this Aftermarket stereo/dash kit for a W211. Anyone wants it? Good part if you looking to replace ur oem cd player. ALso have a W211 command unit ( euro version ) plays dvd. I'm located in cali. los angeles.

thanks
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Old Apr 30, 2010 | 01:22 PM
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BBS LM's 18's + Kics
very impressive shots
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Old Jul 18, 2010 | 01:23 PM
  #12  
St. Mary's Avatar
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From: Houston
E320
Originally Posted by mk1811sl
ive heard Zimmerman Rotors are a good choice. I'm new here, i cant figure out how to open a new forum. So i have this Aftermarket stereo/dash kit for a W211. Anyone wants it? Good part if you looking to replace ur oem cd player. ALso have a W211 command unit ( euro version ) plays dvd. I'm located in cali. los angeles.

thanks

Do you have any pics of the dash kit? I one for my E320
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