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Now my car is firmer and on some decent-bad roads I would call it harsh.
On this bad but not say crazy bad, it seems the B6 is holding up the spring from compressing fast enough. Therefore I felt it is harsh, not hard per se.
I
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I replaced B4 to B6 at that point in time was because at high speed at highway with bridge joints and 4 people on board including myself, some luggage,..... the rear suspension can bottom out.
It was Jakarta-Bali-Jakarta trip, the Jakarta-Bali section. So I thought why not try B6 version and only for the rear.
Looks like now my new spring and B6 combined = harsh for the above road.
I can feel it is harsh for the rear suspension only and not the front , which is still a B4.
You've only had them in 130km? I would give them until about 2000km to settle down.
In my experience, B4s work how I like them when they're new, but become too soft after about that distance. I want to try B6 so that hopefully they are too harsh at first, but settle down to become like a new B4 after a couple thousand km...
Hi @S-Prihadi, I've just installed Yesterday the B4's 24-194129 for code 482 (Suspension with higher ground clearance) and have driven the car only once. They are similar to the original ones (A2123200630) except a bit firmer when comparing them side by side. It might be a middle ground between the B6 and the original B4.
Hi @S-Prihadi, I've just installed Yesterday the B4's 24-194129 for code 482 (Suspension with higher ground clearance) and have driven the car only once. They are similar to the original ones (A2123200630) except a bit firmer when comparing them side by side. It might be a middle ground between the B6 and the original B4.
The B4s for code 482 will definitely soften up a lot after a few thousand kms...
You've only had them in 130km? I would give them until about 2000km to settle down.
In my experience, B4s work how I like them when they're new, but become too soft after about that distance. I want to try B6 so that hopefully they are too harsh at first, but settle down to become like a new B4 after a couple thousand km...
The NEW REAR SPRING is 130km, the B6 at the rear is close to 12,000KM and almost 4 years old.
.Now the new rear spring has settled, I mean no more as tall as 1st 2 days of install. 24th April 2025 data, below : but 40kg extra fuel load,
which is worth about 2.85mm lowering of the spring if at 7kg per 1 mm type of spring rate.
Last edited by S-Prihadi; May 2, 2025 at 09:18 PM.
Hi @S-Prihadi, I've just installed Yesterday the B4's 24-194129 for code 482 (Suspension with higher ground clearance) and have driven the car only once. They are similar to the original ones (A2123200630) except a bit firmer when comparing them side by side. It might be a middle ground between the B6 and the original B4.
Well noted the information, thank you.
Now we have this rare damper first impression ....
I don't think my spring is worn, tired maybe .
But it sure is at least 5mm shorter or more compressed the oldie one, when and if with equal weight on the car, compared to new one.
Damper is to tame down spring compression and rebound. It in itself will add initial and progressive stiffness due to the valving.
So we can imagine it like additional mild spring.
Those bad roads I showed the photos are probably needing only 2cmm or so spring compression and B6 initial push down is bit more than B4,
if B6 is firm and new spring is as firm as it should be, I guess overall is more firm and seems harsh, if compared to B4.
That bad patch road has white paint mark, that meant it will be repaired soon.
I probably can't use it as apple to apple comparison by the time I replaced B6 to B4.
I don't think my spring is worn, tired maybe .
But it sure is at least 5mm shorter or more compressed the oldie one, when and if with equal weight on the car, compared to new one.
Damper is to tame down spring compression and rebound. It in itself will add initial and progressive stiffness due to the valving.
So we can imagine it like additional mild spring.
Those bad roads I showed the photos are probably needing only 2cmm or so spring compression and B6 initial push down is bit more than B4,
if B6 is firm and new spring is as firm as it should be, I guess overall is more firm and seems harsh, if compared to B4.
That bad patch road has white paint mark, that meant it will be repaired soon.
I probably can't use it as apple to apple comparison by the time I replaced B6 to B4.
Interesting, after my spring installation, it seems I need new shocks in the back and with your past experience I was thinking of the B6 instead of B4's my rear shocks were replaced under extended warranty around 68k or so, but now with the new springs I feel the ride is way stiffer.
Interesting, after my spring installation, it seems I need new shocks in the back and with your past experience I was thinking of the B6 instead of B4's my rear shocks were replaced under extended warranty around 68k or so, but now with the new springs I feel the ride is way stiffer.
I know what you mean .......now that I have new rear spring set.
I can now relate to our friend Dingo in Hong Kong when he was trying to get softer spring and higher aspect ratio tire for comfort.
I guess if he replaced his Sachs with B4, it may improve the ride in terms of noise while being as comfy as stock....but when driven hard it is sporty enough.
Best thing to do for poor roads like that is more sidewall. Going down to a 17" wheel and matching tire would result in a more comfortable ride, and a 16" even more so. You can go for softer suspension components but it won't make as big a difference.
Yes, I have 17" on my luxury with 485 suspension, it's a whole different car ride and handling wise. I'm not sure if 16' wheels would clear the calipers enough though
Last edited by pierrejoliat; May 5, 2025 at 09:24 AM.
Best thing to do for poor roads like that is more sidewall. Going down to a 17" wheel and matching tire would result in a more comfortable ride, and a 16" even more so. You can go for softer suspension components but it won't make as big a difference.
I'm not sure if 16" wheels would clear the calipers enough though
They would not fit on your car. The 16" wheels for 212s only fit RWD cars with 295mm front brakes. Both the 322mm brakes on your car and the 4matic control arms interfere. I've only seen them on barebones E200s and Polizei cars.
Last edited by deimosian; May 5, 2025 at 02:00 PM.
I don't think my spring is worn, tired maybe .
But it sure is at least 5mm shorter or more compressed the oldie one, when and if with equal weight on the car, compared to new one.
Damper is to tame down spring compression and rebound. It in itself will add initial and progressive stiffness due to the valving.
So we can imagine it like additional mild spring.
Those bad roads I showed the photos are probably needing only 2cmm or so spring compression and B6 initial push down is bit more than B4,
if B6 is firm and new spring is as firm as it should be, I guess overall is more firm and seems harsh, if compared to B4.
That bad patch road has white paint mark, that meant it will be repaired soon.
I probably can't use it as apple to apple comparison by the time I replaced B6 to B4.
Interesting point... the rear of my car is sitting visually higher with the new damper. I haven't measured the height before changing them but since my car is no longer dragging the botton at my home garage ramp, I would say it's a pretty accurate assessment that the new damper has added some "K" factor to the full system (spring + damper). It will be interesting to know when you replace the B6's by brand new B4's whether the rear of your car will sit higher or lower.
Thanks for sharing!
Last edited by Andre Cateb; May 5, 2025 at 04:11 PM.
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The Samsung external mic at the wheel gets some vibration noise which you can hear, ignore that. I could not super secure the mic.
Its nice to have rear Bilstein B4 comfort once again.
I hope the repaired shaft of B4 will hold, as I am trying the Right Rear using that dumb-azz Lemforder mount again, while Left Rear is using the oldie 2014 MB original top mount.
Let see how the result will be in 2,000KM plus, about the mileage the Lemforder ruined my Bilstein B4 circlip and circlip base region.
I know what you mean .......now that I have new rear spring set.
I can now relate to our friend Dingo in Hong Kong when he was trying to get softer spring and higher aspect ratio tire for comfort.
I guess if he replaced his Sachs with B4, it may improve the ride in terms of noise while being as comfy as stock....but when driven hard it is sporty enough.
Thanks S-Prihadi!
My 2011 E250 CGI is still with me.
Yea l put 485 springs on it few years ago and also luckily found a set of 16" factory rims with 225/55/16 tyres.
The ride is quite nice, but still a bit firm compared to Japanese sedans. I guess B4 would further improve the ride.
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