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2003 E320 sitting high after bilstein shock install!?
Hi, today I installed “Bilstein B8 Performance Plus Shock Absorbers Part #: 24069076” on the front of my 2003 E320 base sedan. I bought new stock oem springs from my Mercedes dealer. I also replaced the strut mounts with new ones from Febi.
Unfortunately I do not have the old strut/springs to measure with. After reading online about the Bilstein, people said to use the 4th setting from the top, which is how they came. But after the install, the car still sat very high. So I moved it to the 8th setting. There are 10 in total.
But the car is still sitting high. Will the springs/struts settle in time? I read it may take a week or 2 for them to settle in. I drove the car after the install and I still feel a hard thump over a big bump.
Does anyone know what could be causing the car to sit so high?? Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.
If the car is sitting considerably higher after installing OEM springs I'd guess that the car might have had lowering springs on it. It does take some time for the springs to settle. Don't expect much of a drop though.
Changing those settings on the shocks do nothing to the ride height. That's for the firmness of the shocks. Shocks do not raise or lower the car.
Do you have before and after pics? There aren't any showing. With before ones we should be able to tell if the car was lowered or not.
Thank you. Here are the after pictures, I will upload some before ones as soon as I find some. I can confirm it was on stock springs before these as well.
Hi, today I installed “Bilstein B8 Performance Plus Shock Absorbers Part #: 24069076” on the front of my 2003 E320 base sedan. I bought new stock oem springs from my Mercedes dealer. I also replaced the strut mounts with new ones from Febi.
Unfortunately I do not have the old strut/springs to measure with. After reading online about the Bilstein, people said to use the 4th setting from the top, which is how they came. But after the install, the car still sat very high. So I moved it to the 8th setting. There are 10 in total.
But the car is still sitting high. Will the springs/struts settle in time? I read it may take a week or 2 for them to settle in. I drove the car after the install and I still feel a hard thump over a big bump.
Does anyone know what could be causing the car to sit so high?? Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.
I have attached pictures as well.
Thank you,
Mazio
I could be wrong but i think that B8 is for sport suspension or it can be only use with shorter spring such as H&R or eibach sport spring.
My Bilstein B6 (24-120234) with old original spring only drop 1/2 inch after 3K miles.
It may have dropped 1/2 inch sooner than 3K miles, but didn't have time to measure until it had 3K mile on it and ZERO drop since.
That definitely isn't right. I agree with F1Fan, start checking the part numbers for what you got.
Also found this when checking out fitment for those shocks: "Bilstein B8 Performance Plus dampers are a performance upgrade to OE dampers designed to be paired with aftermarket lowering springs. These dampers offer application specific valve settings with a monotube design to bring out the best handling performance of a vehicle." https://www.lmperformance.com/868665...320-front.html
You really don't want to be running those shocks with the stock springs as they're not the correct length or valved for that most likely.
That definitely isn't right. I agree with F1Fan, start checking the part numbers for what you got.
Also found this when checking out fitment for those shocks: "Bilstein B8 Performance Plus dampers are a performance upgrade to OE dampers designed to be paired with aftermarket lowering springs. These dampers offer application specific valve settings with a monotube design to bring out the best handling performance of a vehicle." https://www.lmperformance.com/868665...320-front.html
You really don't want to be running those shocks with the stock springs as they're not the correct length or valved for that most likely.
Not to resurrect this thread, but I do have the same problem after installing B6 HD shocks and springs on the same car. Any thoughts?
LMAO...... definitely wrong settings. You are supposed to compare the bottom spring seat from the old one to the new one. Suspension springs do need to settle!
Yes, I know that know. Live and learn, I guess. Problem was that I needed the cup from the old shock in order to install it over the circlip on the new one.
Forgot to take the measurements.
I have this exact problem. Ordered from FCPEuro.
Here's the kit I ordered: https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/mer...ein-2113239400
I took the (assuming) stock spring off the stock strut, put it on the Bilstein strut, tightened the top nut until it was seated against the spacer and bellows, and now the thing looks just like Mazio and Miniion's.
Did anybody figure this out. I really don't want to swap back just so it looks normal.
I have this exact problem. Ordered from FCPEuro.
Here's the kit I ordered: https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/mer...ein-2113239400
I took the (assuming) stock spring off the stock strut, put it on the Bilstein strut, tightened the top nut until it was seated against the spacer and bellows, and now the thing looks just like Mazio and Miniion's.
Did anybody figure this out. I really don't want to swap back just so it looks normal.
Read the instructions that came with the Bilstein. The bottom spring seat is height adjustable.
People. just a strut or shock will not change your ride height. Springs hold your car up and strut/shocks make it not bouncy
Its a coil over where the spring mounts directly to the body of the shock absorber. The coil overs are height adjustable. The spring needs to be mounted onto the coil over at the correct height.
Its a coil over where the spring mounts directly to the body of the shock absorber. The coil overs are height adjustable. The spring needs to be mounted onto the coil over at the correct height.
that is true but still people keep saying installed strut/shock and that has nothing to do with the height (unless you adjusted it wrong). I would say about 70% of people with coilovers dont have them adjusted correctly anyway. lol
10-05-2018, 05:24 PM
