EPower

Ok, here are some pics. Still don't know if it is exactly where I want it, but it is so easy to adjust now. I saw a post from jl88 and he is right, you just keep adjusting, in increments of only millimeters, until you get exactly what you desire. Seriously, now that I am done, it is very easy to do, and you can get anywhere from 1/4 inch to over 2 inches lower, or anywhere else in between.

Rear before...


Rear after...about 1 1/4 inches or approx. 32 mm for you metrics..


Here are some pics of what I did. I know it is a bit hard to tell exactly where/what these pics are, but basically you are re-setting the location of the bottom two bolts that hold the base of the sensor to the frame of the car. It is located to the left of center (driver side) near the rear axle. The top of the sensor is attached to the sway bar, but you can not even really see the sway bar, and don't need to. Just jack up the rear driver side to give you a bit of clearance to crawl under. Putting it up on a lift would make this job easier, but you don;t need to.

Bracket nuts removed w/ original holes...


After slotting w/ Dremel...


Nuts reinstalled...



Actually after the last picture the car was too low for me and I adjusted back up about half of the way up the slots. Very little movement creates quite a drop, so there is not much cutting to do. Have fun...

NitroShredder

Great job E! You da man!!!

tbone

E-Power, I'm glad u figured it out! I think u should go a bit lower though...will look even more aggressive. My car looks about an inch wider coming down the street.

Tezta

so you actually have to drill new holes to lower the rear? how do they do it at TWS or using the "mercedes lowering kit"?

tbone

i'm not sure how TWS does the rear. I think they do the same...when i called and asked what they did, they were pretty tight lipped, only saying they use a kit for the front, and "modify" the rear. besides, why buy a kit, when notching out the holes is free?

EPower

Kinda limited in going any lower because I used the "washer" method in the front, and there isn't enough thread left on the stock brackets to install any more washers. I would have to engineer a new bracket, and I am no engineer. Also, the 275's I have in the rear actually stick under the fender wells slightly, and I was concerned that going any lower might result in rubbing once the car settled at speed, and then encountered any bumps. But I am happy for now. A good compromise in ride height, especially for free!

wknoe

How do you lower an e320 with no airmatic in the rear?

Tezta

springs

muhri

Get the AMG sport suspension. I have that on my car and its as low as Epower's car after he lowered it. It was a bit high when it was new, then it settled in now after about 7K Kilometers and its got a nice look/handles great.

benggolf

Thank you EPower and tbone for sharing your lowering techniques!

Question, did you ever encounter any problems with the shocks bottoming out or the tires hitting the fenders with the suspension at the comfort (softest) setting after lowering?

At long last, the right mufflers for my car has arrived (Part Number B6-6-03-6142)! Will have them installed on Thursday at AMG Performance....photos to follow.

If time will allow it, I'll have them lower the car too.

EPower

For me, no problems or rubbing at all. I don't think I went quite as low as tbone. Airmatic still has all the factory abilities, and the car rides just as smoothly as stock.

benggolf

Thanks for the clarification, EPower.

tbone

Benggolf, no problems with bottoming out or tires rubbing, and i drive in comfort mode. as far as ride quality, i used to ride in sport-1 mode prior to lowering. post-lowering, i now ride in comfort mode, which i would say, in regards to comfort, is about 3/4 of the way between comfort and sport-1 prior to lowering. I am extremely happy with the comfort level! And surprisingly, I measured the distance from the floor to the top of my fender well. It is 25", which is the same height as my friend's Acura Integra, which is not lowered! I had an Accord which was lowered about 3", and I had problems bottoming out. I even wore out the bump stops on that car. Go low with the E if you desire! The ride is pretty good.

Tezta

tbone, i noticed you have your car lowered by 2", did you use the washer method for the front?

sf49ers79

tbone can you help me out if i want to lower my E...

benggolf

Thanks tbone. Now one last question; once lowered, does the ride height change at all from comfort to sport 1 and to sport 2 modes or does it remain the same through out? TIA.

tbone

Tezta: no i didn't think of the great washer idea. My friend, who grew up in a family of NASCAR racing, lowered my car for me. He has an S and CL, lowered of course. His S is on 21's and his CL is on chrome 20" Lorinsers. he has lowered many of his other friends S classes. He makes his own links, similar to TWS's, etc. His links however, look EXACTLY like the MB links. Furthermore, they are non adjustable. The aftermarket ones I've seen have a bolt in middle which allow for height adjustment. Mine is one length, about a 2" drop. Also, the aftermarket links I've seen are a straight link, but if you look at the OEM link, there are curves in it. My friends follow these curves. This probably puts less stress on the suspension. My friend is going to make another link which won't drop the car as much. I have seen some aftermarket links, and they are aluminum in color. My friend's are the same color, and he even stamps a MB serial number on it ...hard for a MB tech to know it's aftermarket.

SF49ers: sure thing

Benggolf: everything stays exactly the same, except the car sits lower. my car still stiffens up/lowers in sport mode, still lowers at freeway speed, and still rises via button. i was surprised because i thought i would need to use that raise button to clear driveways, speed bumps, etc...not at all...the 2 inch drop gives plenty of clearance...but i suppose clearance is all relative...i couldn't even fit a fist under my Honda...my E500 obviously feels like a SUV to me.

benggolf

Thanks again tbone. Think I'll lower my car....aiming for only 1" drop.

sf49ers79

I really wanna lower my car about 1/2 more inch. but i was afraid that the height between one side and the other is not the same. any suggestion?

fiftyfive4me

tbone,

did you had to to wheel alignment after you lowered the car?

i live in the bay area too and was wondering if you could help me lower the car since you seem to be very knowledgeable and i am not too confident doing it myself.

thanks.

tbone

sf49ers, if i remember correctly, you have the adjustable links on the front, so it will take some tinkering to lower both front sides to the same height. i'm not sure how Topline lowered your rear, but if they moved the sensor as I did, both rear sides will be the same height. The sensor controls both sides, whereas the front links are independent to each side. good luck. to see if your car is at the same height, simply measure the height from the ground to the top of the fender well, and make sure it's the same measurement on all 4 sides

sf49ers79

Hey fiftyfive why dont we meet together when you want to lower it yours. so that we can help each other?

fiftyfive4me

works for me. we just have to coordinate with tbone, to be in good hands, so to speak. i live in castro valley, where do you live?

fiftyfive4me

tbone,

Haven't lowered the car yet but i started to measure the distance from the floor to the top of the fender well and here's what i got - 26 inches at the front (right is 1/4" higher than left); and 25 7/16" at the rear. Comparing with your numbers, I guess I only have little room left to lower the car to make sure there is no problem with "bottoming out".

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

sf49ers79

where is castro valley? i live in Daly City