Spacers do not fit
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Mercedes S500 W220
Spacers do not fit
I have a 2003 S500 with 113K Miles. Recently I had coil springs installed on it after Airmatic suspensions broke. Now the springs made the car droop quite a bit and the underside is taking a beating every time I go into a slope and enter a road. It is very low and the only solution was to put in the spacers which the manufacturer forgot to send with the kit but issued a refund on them. I figured a 3 Inch spacer would be nice and had them ordered from the same vendor. Now the mechanic here says there is NO room for free play with a 3 inch spacer and it is hard to put them in. I talked to the vendor, MaxSpeedingRods, and they have promised to send me the 2 inch spacer for free. It has been 2 months and it does not look like they are going to send it soon especially with the tariff war going on. But another mechanic tells him a 3 Inch will go in without a problem and then some folks tell me putting in a 3 inch will disturb the geometry completely and it will ruin the car.
Now my question is do I risk it or just wait for something that may never get here especially after the vendor promised them free? I have scoured the net and there is not a vendor in US that makes these spacers.
Appreciate it.
Now my question is do I risk it or just wait for something that may never get here especially after the vendor promised them free? I have scoured the net and there is not a vendor in US that makes these spacers.
Appreciate it.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2012
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From: Ball Ground, GA (N of Atlanta)
2003 S500 2007 GL450
The front strut connects to the lower control arm about three-fourths of the way out, and the tire contact patch is partially outside the end of the control arm. This means that the car will be lifted more than the height of the added spacer.
Normal ride height (with close to standard wheels and tires) is about two fingers between the top of the tire and the bottom of the fender, or about one-and-one-half inches. What is this approximate measurement on your car? How far does the tire go into the fender?
I haven't measured the lengths on the lower control arm and the distance from the control arm pivot to the center of the tire contact patch, so I am guessing - repeat, guessing - that three-inch spacers would lift the car between four and five inches - that sounds like a lot.
Normal ride height (with close to standard wheels and tires) is about two fingers between the top of the tire and the bottom of the fender, or about one-and-one-half inches. What is this approximate measurement on your car? How far does the tire go into the fender?
I haven't measured the lengths on the lower control arm and the distance from the control arm pivot to the center of the tire contact patch, so I am guessing - repeat, guessing - that three-inch spacers would lift the car between four and five inches - that sounds like a lot.
Last edited by wallyp; Oct 29, 2025 at 11:04 AM.
Thread Starter
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Joined: May 2021
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Mercedes S500 W220
Obviously you do sound like a Benz fanatic. Appreciate it. I checked the distance between the top of the tire and the bottom of the fender. It is almost 2 inches with the fender covering the 2 inch gap. The top of the tire is invisible.
So, I am assuming a 3 inch spacer will in essence only give me a lift of 1" from the top the tires. Is that right? It does not mean much at all. Honestly I don't understand why it is so difficult to put a 3 inch spacer in the space available. The vendor again responded stating that the design allows for the proper fitment when installed correctly.
Waiting for your thoughts.
So, I am assuming a 3 inch spacer will in essence only give me a lift of 1" from the top the tires. Is that right? It does not mean much at all. Honestly I don't understand why it is so difficult to put a 3 inch spacer in the space available. The vendor again responded stating that the design allows for the proper fitment when installed correctly.
Waiting for your thoughts.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 20
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Mercedes S500 W220
I measured it and it is almost 2 inch with the fender covering it for that whole length. So, in essence the spacer will only give me an inch of lift? The vendor, MaxSpeedingRods, replied back stating that numerous customers have installed these 3 inch spacer successfully and they fit the vehicle based on the design. But they do say it has to be done correctly. Guess, a lot of folks are not good at working with spacers. In fact some of the mechanics here don't want to touch it for fear of a liability associated with Benz vehicle of something goes horribly wrong.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,473
Likes: 439
From: Ball Ground, GA (N of Atlanta)
2003 S500 2007 GL450
From Post #2: "..."I am guessing - repeat, guessing - that three-inch spacers would lift the car between four and five inches..."
.If you ride height has the top of the tire two inches inside the fender, and the normal ride height is one and a half inches below the fender, then you are three and a half inches low.
If I had the job of installing the spacers, I would use a good set of coil spring compressors to compress the springs, remove the three fasteners at the top of the strut, and install the spacer.
.If you ride height has the top of the tire two inches inside the fender, and the normal ride height is one and a half inches below the fender, then you are three and a half inches low.
If I had the job of installing the spacers, I would use a good set of coil spring compressors to compress the springs, remove the three fasteners at the top of the strut, and install the spacer.
