R230 Adjustable Coilover Kit : It's Finally Happening!
 

UPDATE! : VVK has the full kits for sale now at vvkusa.com!

As you all realize, the airmatic situation on our cars is troublesome. If I am not reading about people having problems on here, I am having them myself (actually have a have full suspension failure currently). The SL65 Black Series has coilovers, why can't we? So I went out and discussed with a well known BMW suspension builder here in Florida called SLRspeed (http://slrspeed.com/), and an upcoming automotive engineering company called VVK, to combine efforts and finally create us a reliable and adjustable coilover kit (with sway bars) for our cars. And after over a month of discussions, they are in!

For the full kit, with sways, and a 1-year warranty - they are aiming at a low $4000 for everything. If we get a group buy going and get 10 people on the list, we can get these down to $3500. If we get an even bigger list, I can really try and see if we can get these lower, if at least a little bit :y

There will be two options: "Street" which will be approximately same ride feel as stock but a bit firmer, and "Sport" with a stiffer ride for track (what I'm getting personally). But the best part of all, is these struts/springs can be re-valved/changed at any time and made specific to your liking - fully customizable. If a strut ever blew, it will be an easy replacement strut that swaps in and out in under an hour, so no more expensive hassles or long down times.

What is the interest like here? Who else is fed up with tensing when red lights blink and gong - always wondering if you'll be driving home at 20mph that night because your car is "too low". If we can get a list going it will speed up the development time even more - which is currently in the timeline of about 2months. I'm leaving my car with them to mockup and develop for and then they'll do final testings and then shipping out. Who's in?

Group Buy for $3500 [Username-Full Name-Email]
1. FlyinFINN - Bill Hamman - bill.hamman23@gmail.com
2. cordney16 - Cordney C Ward - cordney16@yahoo.com
3. spartan7669 - Dimitri Tsioutsiopoulos - roufusfighter@live.com
4. FreedP - Peter Freed - freedp@gmail.com (maybe)
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Company in Pompano that does them already, Mercedes Master Tech. Price is 2500.

Yup, awesome shop, actually is a Mercedes Indy shop and they rebuild air and abc shocks like arnott and offer coil overs. Great shop, great techs.
Ask for Pat

Hey Guys,

Actually you're mistaken, partially. Yes, some companies offer a stock EU SL coilover suspension conversion - this is not that. These are going to be:

- Height adjustable
- Damper adjustable
- Multiple shock valving options
- Multiple spring weight options
- With adjustable sway bars

You are comparing a stock suspension (without even sways) to a full blown upgraded suspension and saying they are the same - and that is not true.

I suggest you call Pat at Mastertech or visit them at their shop/showroom and find out. Like has been said they are not just a shop. One division is the shop and the other is suspension. The place is huge

Look, I understand you guys are all for your friend in Pompano. But this is what he is offering:
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...256431e27f.jpg
Stock SL350 suspension.

Those are NOT adjustable. Not on the sways, not on the ride height, not on the dampers, not anything. They have simply pieced together a bunch of stock parts from an SL350. Please stop advertising for your friend who is NOT selling a package even close to what is being made here.

correct

PM sent.

I didnt know how to add mine to your message but I would like to be added to the list.

i am interested in this option as well. a little more of a description as far as spring rates, shock core brand, etc. im kind of in the works with an air suspension through a local shop, but thats in the air. does this include removal of abc light, new ps pump, etc? if so, add me to the list

Group Buy for $3500 [Username-Full Name-Email]
1. FlyinFINN - Shane Allen - shane.allen@modti.com
2. cordney16 - Cordney C Ward - [email] cordney16@yahoo.com
3 spartan7669 - Dimitri Tsioutsiopoulos - roufusfighter@live.com
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Great to see the list building up! I have one to add from PM as a maybe.

Group Buy for $3500 [Username-Full Name-Email]
1. FlyinFINN - Shane Allen - shane.allen@modti.com
2. cordney16 - Cordney C Ward - cordney16@yahoo.com
3. spartan7669 - Dimitri Tsioutsiopoulos - roufusfighter@live.com
4. FreedP - Peter Freed - freedp@gmail.com (maybe)
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

The goal we've discussed would be that there would also come a PS re-routing kit for your existing pump. This would make it a much cheaper, easier, and a much less labor hour install for the kit - getting you back to driving on the road quicker. I will update you if this changes as soon as they have it settled.

As for the ABC light, from what I am currently informed of, is that Mercedes or a Mercedes specialized shop can simply delete the ABC program from your ECU completely - much like they do for the SL65 Black Series. This will be one of the final details figured out as it is purely visual.

*double post

Hey Everyone! We've already entered into mock-up stages and they are getting CAD models ready for CNC'ing pieces to my car around end of next week. I'm out of the country for a week or so, so when I get back I'll update with more info and if we have anything physical to take pictures of.

Just a quick update!

I would be interested but the 55 kits don't work with the 600's but I am not sure why.

I don't see why it wouldn't. From what I have seen, it seems to be the exact same suspension and strut towers. Where did you get this information?

People on the forums and the other companies that have conversion options say it will not work with the 600's or 65's. I am guessing the front has a slightly different layout due to engine configuration.

Seems lower front control arms are the same. Strut towers are definitely the same. So issue is the weight, not the mounts. SL350 struts are not for SL600 because it's wrong weight.

These coilovers will allow all SL500, SL55, SL550, SL600, SL65 (except Black).

Who told you that the other kits don't work because of weight?

If we consider all suspension is the same through out the SL range (besides SL65 Black), then based on deduction and engines being different, the major difference is a V12 weight vs. V6 weight - which would indeed require different spring and shock rates.

Considering others are only offering stock SL350 shocks, there is the issue.

Yeah, that's definitely wrong.

SL600 is 4300lbs. SL350 is 3700lbs. That's a 600lbs. difference. The suspension points are all the same. Please don't comment without anything constructive to add to the discussion.

Rebuild Master Tech says the kit won't work because the mounting points.for the sway bars are in the way of the turbo downpipes from the V12's.. How is your kit addressing this issue? Is that more constructive for you?

That's actually very helpful, thank you for that. The sways being made on this kit are fully custom, they can make them bend around any dimensions needed. I will let them know to get more info On the down pipe for the sways on the SL600 to address that issue. Spring rates I already know will be different between cars.

The sway bar thing does make sense, however even the kits that have been advertised without the sway bar have said they are not compatible so maybe some of the mounting points are also different.

The black series has the V12 and has sway bars so a path must be possible past the downpipes.

SL65 Black has a completely different suspension than the others - all aluminum and totally different suspension setup.

The sways that SLR/VVK are making will get around the downpipes I'm told, called them a few hours ago when it came up in discussion on here. :) They also again confirmed that the suspension points are all identical. I'm trying to get them to get on here and make an account, to answer these questions straight, maybe they will in the coming weeks when they get the design closer to finalization.