Newbie
lowering, spoiling a Mercedes S class depresses me. i don't know why people do it to these cars. 



Why because it looks awesome! everyone has different taste
Quote:

Originally Posted by mosdefSBhebha
lowering, spoiling a Mercedes S class depresses me. i don't know why people do it to these cars. 
Member
How can you go that low and run 20x10 in the rear and not rub? I'm running 20x10 with 285s and can't put anyone in the back seat with a full tank of gas. Maybe I'm missing something but its a pain taking my kids to school. Can't figure how you guys do it...I'm at stock height and if I'm running at 80 mph and hit a dip...I scrap the back wheels.
Member
I run a 20x10.5 in the rear. What I found was that with a 285 I rubbed pretty bad, once I went to a 275 I have minimal, if any, rubbing occuring.
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Also you have to have the right offsets on wheels...
Super Member
Quote:
i would love to see some photos of your setup boost420!!!Originally Posted by boost420
I run a 20x10.5 in the rear. What I found was that with a 285 I rubbed pretty bad, once I went to a 275 I have minimal, if any, rubbing occuring.
Junior Member
his thread did it for me! I present my very moderately lowered S430 on links from Adjustable Air Ride, and new staggered 18's. I have 5mm spacers enroute to get those fronts out a bit more (45mm offset, 40mm after the spacers) and new front tires coming in (size 255/40) to bring the profile down a bit. Height was set to be able to just clear a typical parking lot curb stop.




Very nice plz add some pics when u put the spacers on. I am thinking about getting some 10mm in the rear and 5 in the front.
Quote:

Originally Posted by MJK5215
his thread did it for me! I present my very moderately lowered S430 on links from Adjustable Air Ride, and new staggered 18's. I have 5mm spacers enroute to get those fronts out a bit more (45mm offset, 40mm after the spacers) and new front tires coming in (size 255/40) to bring the profile down a bit. Height was set to be able to just clear a typical parking lot curb stop.
I just mounted Links on my S400 cdi.
Looks awsome, but i can't raise the rear end, in the front it raises, but not in the back, did i mount them wrong?
is there any guide online, how to?
hope you all like this brownie
Looks awsome, but i can't raise the rear end, in the front it raises, but not in the back, did i mount them wrong?
is there any guide online, how to?
hope you all like this brownie

Junior Member
Quote:
I'm really looking forward to the spacers but hoping they don't screw up the balance on the front end. So far I've managed to preserve the ride quality in spite of the drop, mostly because I resisted the urge to go bigger than 18" on the wheels. The drop did change the toe up front and the thrust angle in back but they were still able to get a factory-spec alignment on it.Originally Posted by SFBIGBODY415
Very nice plz add some pics when u put the spacers on. I am thinking about getting some 10mm in the rear and 5 in the front.
The car's at the body shop today getting an AMG rear bumper, and then I'll be able to get the spacers on and shoot some decent pics.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Quote:
Looks awsome, but i can't raise the rear end, in the front it raises, but not in the back, did i mount them wrong?
is there any guide online, how to?
hope you all like this brownie
Looks great! I love the color of your car...Originally Posted by Anis
I just mounted Links on my S400 cdi.Looks awsome, but i can't raise the rear end, in the front it raises, but not in the back, did i mount them wrong?
is there any guide online, how to?
hope you all like this brownie
I need to post new pics of mine on links
Super Member
Quote:
more incorrect information. You can safely lower a w220 with no sacrifice to ride quality or wear
i absolutely respect your knowledge, you and oliverk are essentials to this forum, but no sacrafice to ride quality or accellerated wear?. come on, your appreciation of the lowered look weighs heavy on the accuracy of your answer. seal pressures absolutely increase with less chamber volume to absorb compression. same as milling a head?Originally Posted by tusabes
wow, your hatred for any modifications just leads you to postmore incorrect information. You can safely lower a w220 with no sacrifice to ride quality or wear

Junior Member
Quote:
I can't speak to the wear issue, other than to speculate that selecting Sport 1 or Sport 2 seems to increase ride firmness by reducing the amount of air in the chamber without adverse affect. I think it's a matter of degree.Originally Posted by AH1W-COBRA
i absolutely respect your knowledge, you and oliverk are essentials to this forum, but no sacrafice to ride quality or accellerated wear?. come on, your appreciation of the lowered look weighs heavy on the accuracy of your answer. seal pressures absolutely increase with less chamber volume to absorb compression. same as milling a head?
I'm not a fan of the "slammed" cars personally, and for me "slammed" is when there is no gap between the fender arch and the wheel. Aesthetically, it looks like the car's body is swallowing the chassis.
With respect to ride stiffness ("quality" is subjective), the lower the car is, the firmer the ride. There is a "sweet spot" on lowering links where you gain the aesthetic benefits of a lowered car with a barely perceivable change in firmness, and that seems to be to set the links to a length 7/8ths of an inch longer than stock. That gives you about an inch of fender gap up front once the rear is adjusted, and I would equate the change in firmness to going from "Convenience" to "Sport 1" on the Airmatic setting.
The car easily took a front end alignment after the drop. If I'm feeling nostalgic for the "old" ride, raising the car using the Airmatic lift brings it back, although I rarely bother with it.
My 2 cents is that lowering in moderation can be done without a significant degradation to ride quality or serious risk of premature parts failure.
Junior Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by SFBIGBODY415
Very nice plz add some pics when u put the spacers on. I am thinking about getting some 10mm in the rear and 5 in the front.
Benz was definitely not happy with spacers greater than 5mm. Tried HR hubcentric 10mm on the rear, okay up til around 60 mph and by 80 a lot of vibration from the rear. I had a similar problem on my old S500 when I tried running 35mm offset wheels. I still have the 5mm on the fronts and they seem to be okay.
Newbie
I'll lower any w220 for $100 for anybody that's in Seattle area. I've been driving mine with washers for while now and my Benz looks flawless. I can send you a pic, I can't upload from my phone for some reason.
Super Member
Mines now down on Lowering Links and im more than chuffed with the ride quality.
Junior Member
For those who have ABC and have lowered your cars regardless of method, had any problems with having to replace any ABC components. I've been contemplating lowering mine cause it just looks like a 4x4 up front. But, from what I read on the forums, ABC components are very costly! So, before I buy links or ELM (was planning on doing both), I would like the input. Thanks.
Super Member
Mine has ABC and is lowered on lowering links. I did think it could cause certain components to fail due to extra stress, but to be honest its just had its annual MOT test and its gone through with no problems. The MOT test picks up on bushes, balljoints and shockers amongst other things to see if they have failed or are about to fail. If they are close to failing then you pass the MOT test but get an advisory on them components.
Mine went through with no advisories and no failures, and iv had it lowered for about a year now.
Mine went through with no advisories and no failures, and iv had it lowered for about a year now.
Junior Member
Quote:
Mine went through with no advisories and no failures, and iv had it lowered for about a year now.
How many miles do you have on it? I read that 70k is about when these systems hit their problems. I am thinking of maybe having the system drained flushed and refilled before I lower it.Originally Posted by w4sim
Mine has ABC and is lowered on lowering links. I did think it could cause certain components to fail due to extra stress, but to be honest its just had its annual MOT test and its gone through with no problems. The MOT test picks up on bushes, balljoints and shockers amongst other things to see if they have failed or are about to fail. If they are close to failing then you pass the MOT test but get an advisory on them components.Mine went through with no advisories and no failures, and iv had it lowered for about a year now.





