E55 Suspension Question/Local Shop
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles
E55
E55 Suspension Question/Local Shop
Hey people. I just bought a used 1999 E55. I was saving up for an M3, but that would have taken me a few more years and I needed a car right away. So far I am pleased with the performance of the E55. Reminds me of the days I use to go street racing with my 84 Mazda RX-7. Although beleive it or not, my RX-7 was quicker in the Quarter Mile than the E55. And alot cheaper to modify.
Anyways,
I want to lower my E55. But I dont want to lower it to much. I estimate I have 2-2 1/2 inch gap between my tire and fender right now. All I want to do is drop it 1 inch. My main goal is to not drop it so much where I have trouble going over large speed bumps or have trouble scrapping the front air dam. Need direction from you guys in what I should do.
Also, looking for a local shop to purchase items I need to lower my car and do the installation. I live in the Los Angles area. I probably can lower my car myself, but I am at the point where working on my car or anyone elses car is not an enjoyable task.
Wreck
Anyways,
I want to lower my E55. But I dont want to lower it to much. I estimate I have 2-2 1/2 inch gap between my tire and fender right now. All I want to do is drop it 1 inch. My main goal is to not drop it so much where I have trouble going over large speed bumps or have trouble scrapping the front air dam. Need direction from you guys in what I should do.
Also, looking for a local shop to purchase items I need to lower my car and do the installation. I live in the Los Angles area. I probably can lower my car myself, but I am at the point where working on my car or anyone elses car is not an enjoyable task.
Wreck
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,583
Likes: 212
From: Washington D.C.
2024 GLE63s / 2016 GLE63s (traded) / 2016 E63s / 2002 E55
Congrats on you E55. I like the E46 M3 also but that 'high-strung' engine maybe to fragile. Lots of failures - www.mfailure.com.
I also want to lower only 1 inch maximum. Any lower would be too low for me. Two days ago I had myself and 4 passengers and a empty trunk and the car was low in the back and now I have second thoughts about lowering at all. I will use my E55 to travel in with a full load of people and luggage. I could swear I heard the rear suspension 'bottom out' with a dip in the road. The 3 rear passenger total weight was only 500 pounds.
The ride height is also determined by the spring pads thickness. I checked mine last weekend and I have '3 bump' pads all around. I could change all pad to '1 bump' to lower a little.
Caution - most aftermarket suspensions are upgrades for E320/E420 & E430 models and really on par with the E55 setup.
I also want to lower only 1 inch maximum. Any lower would be too low for me. Two days ago I had myself and 4 passengers and a empty trunk and the car was low in the back and now I have second thoughts about lowering at all. I will use my E55 to travel in with a full load of people and luggage. I could swear I heard the rear suspension 'bottom out' with a dip in the road. The 3 rear passenger total weight was only 500 pounds.
The ride height is also determined by the spring pads thickness. I checked mine last weekend and I have '3 bump' pads all around. I could change all pad to '1 bump' to lower a little.
Caution - most aftermarket suspensions are upgrades for E320/E420 & E430 models and really on par with the E55 setup.
Out Of Control!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 21,014
Likes: 2
From: CA, NV, CO
Re: E55 Suspension Question/Local Shop
Originally posted by Wreck
Hey people. I just bought a used 1999 E55. I was saving up for an M3, but that would have taken me a few more years and I needed a car right away. So far I am pleased with the performance of the E55. Reminds me of the days I use to go street racing with my 84 Mazda RX-7. Although beleive it or not, my RX-7 was quicker in the Quarter Mile than the E55. And alot cheaper to modify.
Anyways,
I want to lower my E55. But I dont want to lower it to much. I estimate I have 2-2 1/2 inch gap between my tire and fender right now. All I want to do is drop it 1 inch. My main goal is to not drop it so much where I have trouble going over large speed bumps or have trouble scrapping the front air dam. Need direction from you guys in what I should do.
Also, looking for a local shop to purchase items I need to lower my car and do the installation. I live in the Los Angles area. I probably can lower my car myself, but I am at the point where working on my car or anyone elses car is not an enjoyable task.
Wreck
Hey people. I just bought a used 1999 E55. I was saving up for an M3, but that would have taken me a few more years and I needed a car right away. So far I am pleased with the performance of the E55. Reminds me of the days I use to go street racing with my 84 Mazda RX-7. Although beleive it or not, my RX-7 was quicker in the Quarter Mile than the E55. And alot cheaper to modify.
Anyways,
I want to lower my E55. But I dont want to lower it to much. I estimate I have 2-2 1/2 inch gap between my tire and fender right now. All I want to do is drop it 1 inch. My main goal is to not drop it so much where I have trouble going over large speed bumps or have trouble scrapping the front air dam. Need direction from you guys in what I should do.
Also, looking for a local shop to purchase items I need to lower my car and do the installation. I live in the Los Angles area. I probably can lower my car myself, but I am at the point where working on my car or anyone elses car is not an enjoyable task.
Wreck
First of all congrats on your E55! As far as lowering your car i definitely agree with how you want it lowered which is NOT the slammed look.
I see you are in LA maybe we can meet one of these days once my project is done and check out each others car?? As far as local shops there's a few out that's close to the LA area. You can try these shops
www.f1motorsports.com
www.d2technik.com
www.sprewellracing.com
All are good shops. Hope this helps. Let me know if you have more questions or you can also PM me.
Good luck!
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles
E55
Thx for the warm welcomes Kev/Jam
I enjoy the driving the E55. It is refreshing to have a quick car again compared to my last car which was an BMW 328is.
Kev,
The website link make me aprehensive in buying an M3. But keep in mind I still love BMW's. I think they are more stylish and sportier looking. But Mercedes have more class. Keep in mind I only had my MB for a few days and my need time to appreciate it. That is my 2cp.
Jam,
I would love to check out your car when you are done. I can't say I have any projects for my car. I really don't expect to have this car for more than a few years. Why? Cause I always want something new (assuming I don't go broke or still have a job). But if I did have a project list it would be.
1. Figure out how to lower my car 1 inch cost effectively (MAX spending limit $ 1k ).
2. Tint my windows.
3. Figure out how to disable auto dim on my rearview mirror. I hate that.
4. Figure out how to get the stock AMG Sub's working again (the person who installed the Alpine Multi/Navi Head unit must of disabled them. I am assuming cause bose is a propierty system he had to bypass them and run everything off the alpine)
That is about it. I would love to squeeze some more HP out of it, and get some nice RIM's, but from what I noticed since I got the E55 is that we pay a premium price after market part. I would rather spend that electronic toys like HD TV's, DigiCams, Computer, Console, etc. =)
Thanks for the links, been to 2 of the stores, they are less than 10-15 minutes away from me. Going to have to check them out again, but instead of purchasing stuff for a BMW it will be for a MB.
My quest countinues in how to lower my car 1" correctly.
Wreck
I enjoy the driving the E55. It is refreshing to have a quick car again compared to my last car which was an BMW 328is.
Kev,
The website link make me aprehensive in buying an M3. But keep in mind I still love BMW's. I think they are more stylish and sportier looking. But Mercedes have more class. Keep in mind I only had my MB for a few days and my need time to appreciate it. That is my 2cp.
Jam,
I would love to check out your car when you are done. I can't say I have any projects for my car. I really don't expect to have this car for more than a few years. Why? Cause I always want something new (assuming I don't go broke or still have a job). But if I did have a project list it would be.
1. Figure out how to lower my car 1 inch cost effectively (MAX spending limit $ 1k ).
2. Tint my windows.
3. Figure out how to disable auto dim on my rearview mirror. I hate that.
4. Figure out how to get the stock AMG Sub's working again (the person who installed the Alpine Multi/Navi Head unit must of disabled them. I am assuming cause bose is a propierty system he had to bypass them and run everything off the alpine)
That is about it. I would love to squeeze some more HP out of it, and get some nice RIM's, but from what I noticed since I got the E55 is that we pay a premium price after market part. I would rather spend that electronic toys like HD TV's, DigiCams, Computer, Console, etc. =)
Thanks for the links, been to 2 of the stores, they are less than 10-15 minutes away from me. Going to have to check them out again, but instead of purchasing stuff for a BMW it will be for a MB.
My quest countinues in how to lower my car 1" correctly.
Wreck
Out Of Control!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 21,014
Likes: 2
From: CA, NV, CO
Wreck
I also love BMW's especially the E46 M3's and the old E36 style M3's. Both are great cars! As far as you lowering your E55 i would highly recomend the kleemann springs and suspension if your budget allows but since it doesn't get the H&R and Bilstein setup. I've rode on a Benz with that kleemann suspension and it's pretty damn sweet! Since this is a high end car ofcourse there's always a premium in aftermarket stuff but you just need to know where to get them and get some hook ups!
I also love BMW's especially the E46 M3's and the old E36 style M3's. Both are great cars! As far as you lowering your E55 i would highly recomend the kleemann springs and suspension if your budget allows but since it doesn't get the H&R and Bilstein setup. I've rode on a Benz with that kleemann suspension and it's pretty damn sweet! Since this is a high end car ofcourse there's always a premium in aftermarket stuff but you just need to know where to get them and get some hook ups!
