sf49ers79

fiftyfive4me what kind of mod do you do on your car..

NitroShredder

Just FYI. I DID call my dealer here in Houston.. and noone knew what I was talking about. I spoke with a "former" salesman who directed me to the "top tech guy" who knows EVERYTHING there. Sure enough.. he knew what I was talking about..

It goes like this. They are ONLY ABLE to lower the car to MB's specified limits.. but they CAN DO It with the computer. The car will then NEED an alignment. Of course he says it would be about 2 hours total. I mentioned about my waiting for a car (on the boat).. and suggested I speak with my salesman about "working it" into the deal for the car.. and it can be done pre-delivery.

I'm sure ANY DEALER can and WILL DO IT. They will probably WANT to charge you. Of course, you can ALWAYS add the washers AFTERWARDS!!! =) and go lower. ;-)

Just make sure you speak to the right person. It seemed not EVERYONE knows about everything. You'll have to find the "guru" at that dealership.

Peter

Tezta

Peter, did the tech say how much lower he could go?

fiftyfive4me

nitro - thanks for the info. Will try to look for the guru tomorrow at the dealership.


sf49ers : car is basically stock, still sitting by the sideline and trying to learn from this board. Where in Daly city do you live? I had lunch there today.

NitroShredder

No, he just said they can only lower what MB has programmed into the limits. Beyond that, we are outa luck (enter the washers mod if you want to go further).

He did say HOW low.. although if you follow a thread from stephens in Australia. he did his AT THE DEALER on his new E55. He has before and after. Pretty nice drop.. and looks great.

EPower

I'm sure ANY DEALER can and WILL DO IT. They will probably WANT to charge you. Of course, you can ALWAYS add the washers AFTERWARDS!!! =) and go lower. ;-)

Unfortunatly, that is not the case, at least at the several dealers here that I have talked to here in So Cal. They now pretty much all know that the car can be lowered, and they do know there is room within MB spec/tolerance to do it, but my experience is that they simply refuse. Always citing either safety, warranty, liability or a combo of the three. Talk to the service Manager and see if they will, but I think the feedback from what I have heard from dealers here in the U.S. is that they will not...great customer service huh?

NitroShredder

E! I honestly thought I'd run into the same problem.. then managed to get a hold of the tech geek at this dealership.. and he was like.. "yeah man, sure. Will need to be aligned though" And he EvEN mentioned that I have 12 months AFTERWARDS to bring the car in for ANOTHER alignment "under warranty."

Maybe you should come to Houston to have it done =) I'll try to get them to "throw in" the lowering on my NAV replacement... if not.. it's WASHERS and dremel time for me =)

Peter

g-boy

which dealership and who you speak to in houston to lower the car

pks485

Your ride looks SWEET!

Excellent Mod, I have to try it!

NitroShredder

I spoke with Tony at the service dept at Greenway. He's the "tech man" over there. I spoke with several other people and they were like "Eh, what?" Tony knew EXACTLY what I was wanting, and knew how to do it.

g-boy

thanks

speedye500

I had Brabus lower my car. But i want it lower so can i still do the washer thing.

speedye500

I lowered my car last night even more with the washer thing works vary well thanks alot. it is also a lot cheper then when i whent to brabus.

NitroShredder

Speedy, let's see some pix dude!

speedye500

im going to wash my car today then i will put some pics up.

speedye500

my car gose up in sport mode and gose down out of sport mode. dose any ones car to this two.

nguyent281

guys, do you add the washers in when the car is out of sport mode? then after adding the washers. i disconnect the battery?? would i reset any other thing?

g-boy

just jack it up and put d washer in u dont have to unplug d battery

Lt0104

I really want to do this to my car as well but what about the warranty, I am just scared that I will have manufacturer problems with my airmatic later and since, that was modified. They will void the warranty for that feature on my car. Please advise.

Thanks,
E-320 Owner

kyee

sf49ers79: I live right down the hill from you. I'm in South City, probably minutes from where you are.

This mod seems easy enough to do, and more importantly - to UNDO when the lease is up on my car. If you guys get together to mod your cars all at once, let me know too. Definitely interested in it...

kevin

rusnakmb

EPower,

Thanks for the great works. BUT...

A great customer service don't necessary be lower customer car for them. The slicely lowering doesn't affect the safety. But remember, We are talking about USA and especially in CA. If something does happen to your airmatic, I bet the tech will be worry. You got to understand that they are risk their license or certification on your lowering job. Once a customer complain to MBUSA that MB service tech lowering their car and cause their airmatic fail. That will be a safety issue with MB. What do you think the result will be? Will you risk your certification with MB just to keep your customer happen by lowering their car differ as MB spec?

people are crazy out there. They will do "anything" as long they don't have to pay for any damage or any responsibility. The best way is to refuse the service by refering warranty issue.

For example. If a tech lowering the car for customer. That dumb customer run over a damping and scratch or damage the front bumper. What will be the result? If that lame customer go back to MB service center and complain the lowering casuse his car damager. Will the tech be responsible for it? Remember, the tech do not have base salary. They make money base on the percentage of their work. The certification isn't cheap to them. It takes time and money for those certifications.

Please, think before saying. I am not trying to offense anyone, but i just felt like to point out the MB service's concern about liability issue. They are so many people out there like to take advantage and law suit on every issues. I have heard too many rediculous complains from customers. You will be surprise.

Rudegar

Please explain the benefits of lowering both cosmetic and handling. What are the risks? Thanks

p.s. Has anyone determined if the difference between the 2003 setup and the 2004 setup of Sport I and Sport II settings effects the handling.

steveyoyo

Epower and Tbone,

Did you guys have your car's alignment done after lowering the front and rear? If so, where? I brought my car to a performance shop and they said they could not do it. Will the dealer do it without it voiding the warranty?

Thanks!

tbone

I had to get my car re-aligned. I took it to Topline in Burlingame, CA. They installed a camber kit in the front prior to alignment. Because my car is so low, this barely brought specs back into factory specs, but I have worn my tires evenly. My first set of Pilot Sports lasted 22,500 miles, worn even all the way across. The alignment was money well spent. HTH

steveyoyo

Tbone,

Thanks for your reply, Is their a place on-line you can buy a camber kit? If not where did you get yours from? BTW, how much was the kit and what did it cost you to have it installed?

Were they able to align the rear wheels as well? The performance shop I went to said there is no adjustment for the rear.

Thanks!