NickW

I decided to go ahead and try them out. The issues I was having with my ML was a lot of body roll and not a lot of confidence in corners or at highway speeds.

The new springs have basically eliminated the body roll and made the ML completely predictable now. Best part was that the ride quality is not significantly changed. On large bumps I can tell they are stiffer springs, but just riding down the road I don't notice any difference. They also didn't lower the vehicle a lot, which is good, I don't want a slammed SUV.



BEFORE








AFTER

Isawelvis

Looks great. Have been wanting to do this myself. Your car looks great. I like the black with out running boards and the chrome strip running down the rocker panel. I took the running boards off my ML350 and then painted the rockers to match the exterior color.

It looks like you did the spring swap yourself. I checked on a local shop and they wanted alot of money to make the swap.

How difficult was it?

peter2772000

S you finally did it! Kudos, definitely looks better...


I'm also curious as to how hard it is to do yourself. I'm guessing that with a spring compressor, can't be too bad.

M~Factor

Looks like the perfect height.

NickW

Thanks! Yeah when I first got it, I thought I might get some running boards because I liked the look. After having the ML for a while, I realized they would be for aesthetics only as I'm tall enough to just sit into the vehicle. Even more so since it's lowered a little bit. And now I like the simplicity of how it looks more than I think I would like running boards.

Thanks!

The swap wasn't too bad. I've worked on cars for a long time and done a lot of suspension work on all kinds of vehicles. With that being said, this was one of the more difficult spring swaps I've done. One of the most difficult parts is not having air tools so it was time consuming. Another issue is that there's not a lot of room to get the rear springs compressed and get them out. I had to add a bunch of washers to the rear spring compressor to keep the bolt from running into the top hat. That may not make sense now, but it will if anyone goes to do it, haha.

I used strut-coil compressors on the front and spring compressors on the rears. You also need a 21mm spline socket for the front to remove the top ball joint in the A-arm, from the knuckle so that you have enough room to get the strut assembly out.

But all-in-all it's doable with simple hand tools and patience. If anyone attempts it and has any questions, I'm happy to help.

Also...you obviously need an alignment after you're done. I found a local shop that agreed to do it for $80. Had 4 places tell me they wouldn't do it b/c it's a Mercedes. Which is silly, b/c there's nothing special about it. Mercedes wanted $200 so I said no thanks to that.


Thanks man!

DanD.

This is exactly what I was looking for, more confidence when cornering.

Please post a link to website where you bought the springs. Thank you.

NickW

It's night and day, totally worth it.

I bought them on eBay from a seller named tndmoto. About $280 shipped and they got to me with just a few days. Part number for the W166 (non-airmatic obviously) is 29147-6.

DanD.

Looks like I out of luck, its only for not diesel W166. And mine is a diesel.

Isawelvis

Congrats on the "Dogs", i.e. Silver Britches beating the Irish. Love it when ND gets beat by an SEC team.

Go Vols

NickW

Thank you! It was all defense, our offense is not working right now. I agree, im all for sec vs non-sec! That was a nice W over tech too!

shotgun_banjo

Any idea how much the car dropped after the swap? I am just wondering if pushing the sport setting on the Airmatic will achieve the same look with those rims of yours as I saw a very cheap set on craigslist this afternoon which is exactly like yours.

NickW

H&R claims a 1.8" drop in front and a 1.6" drop in back. I did not measure before or after so I can't say for sure. I would say that based on how it looks to me, I think the 1.8"/1.6" is pretty accurate.

I've read that sport mode lowers the airmatic models .6", but I don't know if that's true. I've seen pictures of ML's with 22" wheels in sport mode and it looked comparable to how mine now looks...in my opinion.

peter2772000

I'm bummed. Finally sealed the deal on the ML350, now I realize there aren't any lowering springs out there for diesel. According to H&R, it's due to the heavier diesel engine itself.


Petey sad....

yavor

Looks great! Honestly with the lowered suspension it looks similar to my GLE in sport mode, but it has air suspension and in sport is significantly lower that the GLE with steel suspension.

DanD.

Im with you brother. Im so upset. ;(

glocati

Nick W - Looks Awesome - quick Q for ya: Does Benz use the rubber spring pads on the W166? Thx Greg

peter2772000

Just finished looking at the pics again and came to the stark realization........that I hate NickW.

NickW

Hey Greg, yes there are rubber pads on top of all 4 springs.


Haha! Sorry man, hate it for you diesel guys!

Jml8

Did you do an alignment? If you did, did all the number go back into specs and does the SUV stay straight down the road or do you have pulling issues now

glocati

Thanks Nick !!

NickW

Sorry for late response, but yes I definitely got an alignment. Numbers went back with factory specs, but just barely on the camber. I haven't seen any concerns with tire wear. Drives straight and does not pull, just as before.

peter2772000

Well, after much thought and inner turmoil....I've decided to order the spring set for a gas ML350 from H&R. I can live with the front height, it's the rear that's driving me batty. My new wheels/tires (295/40R-20 on 20" x 10.5 rims) are on their way. I really believe that I can get away with replacing the rears only. I've done the same thing on my 2014 GC SRT which also exhibited the a$$-up-in-the-air like a gorilla in heat. I'd ordered a set of four Eibach Pros and installed the rears only. Handling/ride was no better or worse, but the rear came down about 1.25".

I can't see the rear of an ML350 weighing much more or less than the BT. Other than the extra weight of the DEF (7 gallons) and tank (I'd guess about 20-30 lbs?), there can't be such a huge difference in spring rates. Matter of fact, the extra weight on the BT will probably drop it another .25" or so (he said, praying he was right).

roger123

is that 21"?

peter2772000

No comprendez, is what 21"?

peter2772000

Well well well, guess what I found out, fellow diesel sufferers?

Rear:
OEM Part # for a 2012+ ML350 spring is 164-324-02-04
OEM Part # for a 2012+ ML350 BT spring is 164-324-02-04

Front:
OEM Part # for a 2012+ ML350 spring is 166-321-14-04
OEM Part # for a 2012+ ML350 BT spring is 166-321-14-04

They're the same bloody #'s. My guess; H&R simply figured that no one driving a diesel would actually be interested in lowering the truck, so they never bothered to test their kit on a BTed version. Only thing that makes sense and blows my freakin' mind.

Guess what I'm ordering this afternoon???? Only installing the rears, mind you.