pcy

Hey guys,

My '14 ML350 4matic (with 30K miles) with stock suspension (with stock 19" wheels) rolls too much on curvy roads. What are my options to reduce that without spending whole bunch of money?
Body roll is observed on both all season tires (Dunlop) as well as Blizzaks currently on the SUV.

Suggestions/recommendations are welcome.

kptaylor

Well, a full suspension upgrade with stiffer springs, better damping and thicker anti-roll bars would be the best way but the cheapest way may be just larger anti-roll bars front and rear.

pcy

kptaylor, thank you for your feedback.

Has anyone upgraded anti-sway bars on their ML350?
Does ML550 come with thicker anti-sway bars? I wonder if I can use those...

Diabolis

There are no larger anti-roll bars for the W166 ML that I know of. Even the ML63 uses the same ones.

Just about the only option I can think of that is readily available are H&R lowering springs, but I've never known anyone that has had them installed so I can't comment on the ride quality.

pcy

Thanks for your feedback Diabolis.
I'll search and see if there are any threads related to H&R lowering springs installation on W166.

pcy

I remember reading this thread not too long ago.
https://mbworld.org/forums/new-m-cla...sion-pics.html

yavor

peter2772000

I'll be changing to wider tires which should help firm up the ride, but I doubt it'll help with body roll. As well, anyone with a BT is at a disadvantage, I had no luck finding lowering springs or suspension accessories for a BT-version

yavor

What rim/tyre size do you plan to go to? I'm in thinking in the same direction but can't find adequate rims with nice design and appropriate offset for our vehicles.

peter2772000

Definitely 20" x 10", just not sure about the offset yet. I'd have to dig thru older posts do confirm what offset I want. So scared of having the rims/tires sticking out of the fenders. That's just so.......Mickey Mouse LOL

yavor

I think with 20x10 you need something like ET 55, it'll be a bit more agressive than the stock offset but not too sticking. I think of leaving the OEM 20x9 with the winter set of tyres and maybe 21x10 for the summer ones. Definitely 21 looks better than 20, only I have no idea if the 21'' ones will be too delicate easily damaged by kerbs and potholes and if I won't be in a position of driving a SUV that has less offroad capabilities because of the rims/tyres set than a sedan

peter2772000

I have a Toyota FJ Cruiser with 32" A/T tires, a real actual ladder frame and electric-lock rear diff. THAT is my off-road beast. The MB is the grocery-getter for the wife. I can send her out for groceries with a clear conscience in the middle of a snow blizzard LOL.

Here in Montreal, potholes swallow cars. 20 inchers already have their work cut out for them, 21 inchers are just inviting trouble that much more, especially with aftermarket.
To be honest, I may just go with OEM MB 20" x 10" from an ML-63, rims painted a dark grey or black.

Tires. Driving me crazy. Looking at Pirelli Scorpion Zero All-Season Plus in a 295/40. OEM specs are +/- 29" diameter with a section width of 10.5" and a tread width of 9".
This tire gives you a diameter of 29.3" (but on a 10.5" rim), a section width of 11.9" and a tread width of 10.3". I'm sure they'd look awesome, and on a 10" rim overall diameter would drop even closer to the OEM 29" without losing hardly any section or tread width.

Edit: Brain fart. A narrower rim will increase overall diameter, not decrease it. Gotta stop watching **** while posting on sites... LOL

Yeah, it's an obsession LOL

kptaylor

Bigger wheels and lower profile tires aren't going to help much. Roll is controlled by springs and sway bars. Really surprised there are no sway bar options for these cars! Just spent time looking around and all there seems to be are springs and shocks. Pretty disappointing but that appears to be the only real option so nothing truly low cost. Lower profile tires with bigger wheels increases unsprung weight (heavier/worse handling) and increases felt bumps so be prepared for that. Looks good though!

peter2772000

BT's are the worst for aftermarket availability. I found tons of stuff for ML350's ie; springs, sway bars etc. But nuthin' for BT's. Discrimination, I say..... *wink*

pcy

Thank you all for your feedback.

I will buy a set of H&R springs and install them...let's see how much that helps.

Isawelvis

I agree go with replacing with H & R springs.

NickW

I was going to link this thread, but you already have. I bought and installed the 22" wheels and low profile tires first. It helped quite a bit with the body roll. I would say that it was fine after that. With the low profile tires and the H&R springs, the ride can be rough at times if I'm going over bad roads. For normal driving on normal roads it's no problem. Handling is significantly better with the springs though. The stock spring/strut set up on this vehicle is very poor IMO.

yavor

I have Airmatic and in Sport mode /GLE W166/ the body roll is significantly reduced and the vehicle feels stable enough for dynamic driving as much us dynamic is the right word with a 2.2 ton SUV. I have 20'' wheels and I'm sure going to 21'' and wider will improve the behaviour on twisty roads but I'm stil not fully decided because it makes no sense to drive a theoretically quite offroad capable SUV with rim/tyre set you have to think abput every time you have to pass over a sharp bump. Almost noone uses the ML/GLE for real offroad, but from time to time I drive short distances off tarmac and with 21 or 22'' the wheels will be very easily damaged by every sharper rock. And after all all we were wondering between MB and X5 before buying our vehicles and have decided to go for the comfort of the MB instead of the firmer but more stable ride of the X5.

Diabolis

Lots of wrong information here. Larger wheels with lower profile tires will not help with body roll whatsoever. Body roll is a function of the mass of the vehicle, its center of gravity and the firmness of the suspension. Nothing else. Lower profile tires on larger wheels will only make the ride more jarring because the tires themselves do not have any ability to cushion small bumps and road imperfections, but they won't do anything about how far the vehicle leans in corners.

NickW

I'll correct myself for the internet know-it-alls.....the unpleasant soft ride and body roll from the factory suspension and factory 19" tires was greatly improved from the low profile tires. And the ride was not jarring, but that's a matter of opinion. With the H&R springs AND low profile tires, the ride can be jarring, depending on road conditions.

I'm speaking from actual experience on this specific vehicle.

Diabolis

And I'll again correct incorrect information from the Internet dunces - the tires do absolutely nothing for body roll regardless of what you may think. They will help with a jarring ride as they are able to absorb road surface imperfections, but they do nothing to reduce body lean. I am also speaking from actual experience with this specific vehicle and about ~40 others that I've had a chance to drive pre- and post-suspension modification and/or larger diameter wheels if the science is not enough for you. And, people using lower profile tires usually also tend to get wider tires than OEM, which, with all other things being equal, would actually result in MORE body roll because you now have more traction in the corners and the vehicle will lean even further...

GregW / Oregon

Not a lot of good options for your vehicle. Best I can think would be to trade for one with the Dynamic Handling Package (Active Curve System), like I have on my '12. It was an expensive option that I had to wait for but it works quite well.

NickW

pcy

I understand what you are saying. Thanks for your feedback.
When I was looking for a vehicle back in December 2016, I couldn't find one with Dynamic handling package for sale; may be I didn't wait long enough. I wanted lighting package, HK audio system, and hitch as must-have. When I found a vehicle with those options, I grabbed it even though it didn't have dynamic handling package. Oh well. I am buying H&R springs (amazon has them for $278 for the set), I will install them in the next month and I will provide feedback if I see any changes.

I appreciate every one's feedback. I learn something from every post.

Diabolis

And you and peter here are without a doubt two of the biggest idiots to ever be bestowed upon humanity in general, yet the rest of us still have to put up with your ignorance and misplaced self-righteousness. 2 and 2 do not make 5 regardless of how much you may want it to, and yet instead of learning something or simply choosing to keep your mouths shut you opt to publicly give wrong advice and then cry and wail about how your own ignorance makes you feel inferior. Stop behaving like a spoiled 6-year-old and grow the f*ck up.