miked510

Hello to all. I’ve carefully selected my hardware for suspension changes due to the fact since I have a ’05 W211 estate standard and the rear is automatic self-leveling.

I would have to use a coil-over system to lower both front and rear. I’m looking to gain some more information (other than what I’ve culled here and the other forum websites). So here it goes:

To lower my vehicle, it seems that the H&R Street Performance Coilover on TireRack is the best price and solution I’ve seen online to lower my front and rear. Since they sponsor this forum, should I post this to suspension forums and have the Tirerack sponsors review this? http://tinyurl.com/23pofcy

The 2nd selection is Eibach sway bars. Again, after googling for the best online price. I found it here. Or again, could TireRack put together a combo price for me?: http://tinyurl.com/2bw6b6e

And the tire/wheel selection was a Mahdi TS-5, I used the 1010tires.com offset calc and it’s 5mm further in, and clears fender well by 9mm. http://tinyurl.com/269vsdp

It’s the best combo I can find since Ronal has left the US and I cannot get their Ronal LZ rims in US any more. Here’s a picture from google: http://tinyurl.com/22n5yf2

Additionally should I look into purchasing a camber kit. This I’m not sure of. So I did as much homework as I could, so I’m asking for any opinions on whether this combo requires a camber kit.

Regarding the rims, I’ve already completed the transaction, so I’m on the way in getting them to me. Thank you in advance, if you could post some information that I can research before pulling the trigger on the coilover and sways.

Mike

miked510

The other question regarding the standard/comfort switch. How is that affected?

Vik888

its actually sport/comfort .. only difference is that sport starts in 1st gear, comfort starts in 2nd.

NorseWagon

Out of curiosity: Why do you want to lower your wagon...?

miked510

After browsing for images on how to spruce up the wagon, I found Wald and Vath.

miked510

Hello NorseWagon, I appreciate your question as it has a bit of history. So back when the BMW E30 M3 came out, I didn’t have the means to afford it, and living in a congested urban area, I would have to drive out at least an hour+ to go to Laguna or Infineon to track it. Young and full of hubris at the time, I still had the sense I didn’t need the power, but wanted the ride performance. I modded out the 325i I had purchased with Bilsteins shocks, Vogtland springs, and much stiffer sways with a strut bar, changed out the rims, and went low profile.

And I was very happy. It hugged the road, stayed on hairpins, looped quickly on on-ramps and off-ramps, and there’s a twisty long road out here called Highway 17 that connects San Jose to Scott’s Valley which it became a pleasure to drive. Then the M5 was available, seeing I couldn’t use the power, had purchased a 528i but bought an entire Sachs suspension kit stiffen up the ride.

Five years ago, I sold the (E39) 528i, bought an older, but well maintained (E34) 535I and a project (E10) 2002, and used the rest of the money to purchase a W211 E320 wagon since I had 2 kids and a wife, so it’s settling down time. Until today. So for a while I accepted the fact that this E320 has been paid for, very low miles, interior and exterior has been meticulously maintained, and the wife has a new vehicle; it’s really worth keeping.

Two years ago the (E10) 2002 left the family and I have 2 daily drivers. An E34 sedan and a W211 estate. I really like both, but the E34 has been updated with Sach springs, Bilstein shocks, the front suspension is a complete rebuild of new 750i components (control arms, thrust arms, sway bar links, etc.), bigger rims and lower profile tires. So as a matter of driving preferences, I would like to enjoy driving the W211 as I do the E34. Hence my research.

The rear of the wagon is self-leveling, so the basic H&R springs can only lower the front. After reading extensively, found out from H&R they made a coilover system for the wagon, what will drop the front and rear. Why the suspension change was important (to me), was since I was upgrading to 19” rims, I wanted to close the gap from the fender well to the top of the tire, BUT wanted to maintain a quality FIRM ride that will smooth out the road conditions inherent to having larger diameter rims and 30-series low profile. I’ve read that quality tires are key, so the replacement tires will be Goodyear eagle F1.

I have test driven the E63 and E55 wagons, and boy the power is mesmerizing, but I asked myself will I ever use the power for an additional 60k after trade-in of my wagon? No, I think my wife would shoot down that idea.

But I sure love the suspension and how interactive it feels versus my wagon. So I was set to upgrade a daily driver to at least have a decent sport suspension. No way, it will ever ride like an AMG, and this is the answer I came up with. The 19” seems to be a little more aggressive than an 18” sport package setup. A coil over system to properly lower the center of gravity and maintain a quality firm ride, and buffer the bumps that a 19” would have more than an 18”. The Eibach sways is 34mm front and 21mm rear to tighten up cornering.

So here’s some unfinished research items I cannot answer. Do I need to purchase a camber kit? Do I need to upgrade to better bushings? The sport/comfort switch was answered. (Thank you Vik888). So for my E34, I went and got Lemforder (OEM) (E32) 750i suspension components; do I do the same thing for the W211 estate?
Maybe I may have to go through with it to find out as this is uncharted waters for me. But again, any input from you is appreciated.

Plus the images of the Black Bison, Wald, and AMG really can make the wagon look very bada**. Mike

miked510

Thank you Vik888, I didn't know that and I really looked for that answer in my owners manual. maybe, I blew past that detail. Mike

fortlaudsummer

I dont believe youll need a camber kit for a subtle drop like that.

its nice to see someone who does their own research and not expecting to be handed all the answers.

miked510

Doesn't this have hyper super-sexy written all over it? I know I'm suppose to attach a image thumbnail, but man this wagon rocks ....

So with that said, I could go for converting my whip to look 1/8th as sexy since I can't afford the real hyper super sexy.

Sathinas

If you're always going to keep it at the same level, why not just sensor lower it?

I'm not sure where the level sensor(s) is(are), but surely, it shouldn't be that hard?

miked510

I understood that the standard wagon has standard suspension.
Here's what I pulled from H&R. I did not see self-leveling air suspension on my options list. So I'm think I got the very basic suspension.

So how do I verify this using my VIN?




And here's another screenshot. This one comes from Tirerack. It shows that self-leveling might have been sold as an option. Hmm, now I really need to do some more research.

How do I get a definitve answer short of putting the vehicle up on racks to check out the suspension?

fortlaudsummer

1-888-541-1777
Call them and let them verify it for you. That way, if their answer is wrong, it's up to them to correct their mistake.

miked510

Hello fortlaudsummer, I spoke to TireRack and the gent was a little hesitant when I asked if he was 100% sure, and in reaching H&R, they said to go to to the dealership and give them my VIN, so off I go to the dealership before heading into work. I guess this isn't as easy as it seems, but better to be safe than sorry.

NorseWagon

Yeah, I know the feeling:
Have been drooling over the AMG Wagons myself, but my partner in the joint economy would not have a clue what I was talking about if I mentioned another $50 to $60K car loan so I could get up to speed faster..

Hmm, not so sure about that:
Looks like a Wagon with a bad Airmatic system...

miked510

LOL .. spoke to the local dealership, and it's standard rear shocks and struts in the rear, so coilover system here I come !!!!

miked510

Calling the local Big-O Tires that I usually do business with was an eye-opening conversation.

The labor for the coilover install is pretty straight, but the sway bar install labor is double because the engine has to be lowered and the rear suspension needs to be dropped for the new front and rear sways to be installed.

Now researching that. At the end of the day, labor will run $1k. Back to the due diligence. Calling Eibach tech support on this and some other recommended shops.

miked510

Front Torsion Bar: 211.323.965 diameter unknown
Rear Torsion Bar: 211.320.2011 17mm

Eibach front: EIB 2566.320 34mm
Eibach rear: (same kit) 21mm

Since the labor to install sway bars will be around $600 labor, could I use the existing bars and get away with the handling and cornering or I should get the Eibachs since I'm modding the suspension already?