BG_Benzo27

So I've finally decided that I want to lower my car, those stupid gaps in the back are just waaayyyy to big and it looks majorly ugly. The thing is though, I'm not really sure what I need to get to lower it. Some of my friends have told me to just get some lowering springs but I'm not sure which ones..any suggestions??

Anatoly

You can get SSI Springs off eBay. One of the members just purchased them. As far as he can tell, they work great. I'm pretty sure stock shocks will work. I'll wait for other members to give you more input.

Strigoi

it's generally a good idea to do shocks at the same time.

if you do a search on this you should find plenty of info.

snooozie

You can get fairly cheap springs on ebay to the expensive euro amg oem springs. There are quite a few choises. Check the threads here. There are plenty of write-up. Also, don't forget the pads.

DRBC43AMG

A change of pads can be cheaper than a change of springs

CTE55AMG

I used H&R with Konis and they were great.

snooozie

I check the shims at the dealer yesterday and they quote $7 for the front a piece and $8 for the back. For about $30 if you do it yourself you can get about 0.63 inches off. That's not bad. You know with the settling in would be closer to an inch. I think the original springs are low enough. The shims are thicker for NA cars some where between #3 and #4 so you just bring them down to #1 and keep the oem springs

MBFLO

can the pads wear out because my driver side seems to sit lower then the pass side or would that be direct shock or spring failure ..

snooozie

figure for a 10 year old car....I would say there will be some wear on the pads as your springs are sitting on the pads. Like an office chair which was sitted on everyday. If you are going to DIY on the pads, I would change the pads and see how the car sits before getting new springs. That's the cheapest way to do it before investing on springs.

MBFLO

I've owned the car for a year .. Previous owner stated they were changed within a year before i got the car .. OEM suspension differnt pads , i think #2 or 3 .. The driver side front seems kinda slammed if i look directly at it then when i see other side doesnt seem much lower but the more i look at it the more it seems . Will get it checked out . hopefully its just pads n not springs or shock . doesnt seem to make noise or mess up the ride but you can tell the ride is differnt just cant explain it ..lol

this is driver side




pass side

cudaized

check the spring perch/frame area.

snooozie

I would take a yard stick and measure both sides...front and back and compare. The previous owner might have mixed the shims and that's the reason your car is not sittng right. Your car seems to be sitting lower...the previous owner must have switch to lower pads.

MBFLO

yea it was .. its seems that my driver side is sitting almost 1/2 inch lower then passenger side .. its only been like this for week or 2 before they were good all around ..

AMGPARTS18

Your car is sitting low for sure.

MBFLO

wish it was this easy , id do it myself lol
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...95583838776006#

snooozie

Yeah the stupid video makes you thing its a piece of cake. Too bad you leave in MI, I would have let you borrow the compressor. That thing weights a ton. I have a similar one like the guy was using.

snooozie

BTW I read in the benzworld forum, get the #2 pads for the front and #1 pads for the rear. Given the weight of the engine, the front will settle about an inch over time.

MBFLO

I seen that also , thanks .. was gonna goto dealer and order the pads .. was thinking order some springs for the front since i believe you gotta take off the spring anyways to install pads . just not sure where to get them atm .. also after looking through some older service recipts from previous owner seen that in late 2007 the shocks were replaced and there was a note for minimal rust on the spring perch .. havnt drove the car in couple days so havnt had a chance to get it looked at yet . Couple weeks ago i was driving home late night and heard a bang like a ran something over but I didnt see anything in the road not im beginning to worry if it is my sprinf perch .. But my car still drive normal no bad pull to either side except for fact it sits lower then passenger side.. Again if the spring perch rusted off would the car be driveable . would something have shot out from under the car .. thanks ..




EDIT: i guess after reading the wiki it seems the car is still controlable .. but i still dont hear any clink or sounds but now im really gonna get it checked out .. Anyone know how much INDI'S charge to reweld if this does turn out to be the problem ..

Front Spring Perches - Some owners have reported rust problems on the front spring perches - the top perches, which hold the tops of the springs for the front suspension. The perches are spot welded to the chassis, and factory coated in a weatherproof mastic to stop them rusting, however in some rare occurrences, water gets behind the mastic causing the perches to rust, and eventually to fail - leading to collapse of the suspension. The car remains controllable. This is a problem that Mercedes USA have acknowledged. The issue is not identifiable without first removing the mastic to check.[7][8]

snooozie

You might have a rusty spring perch That been said, I will not spend money on the springs as the springs are still fine. Probably get two new pads for the front and check the welds on the underside. I had that problem with my 190D a few years back and I had to get AAA to tow it to the garage. I will not drive the car until you get a look at it because you don't want the spring to cause any major body damage to the wheel well while driving it. That was what happen to my car and I had a dent on the back of the wheel ach in the 190D and broke the plastic cover on the underside of the wheel.

MBFLO

wheres best place to buy stock OEM springs ? checked online all i get is the H&R lowering springs everywhere .. is there any better place online compared to getting them at the dealer ..

MBFLO

so is the dealer only place i can get oem AMG springs >??? been lookin all over internet cant find none except aftermarket >??wtf

snooozie

you sure it's the spring and not just the spring perch that needs rewelding?

ulovemybenzo

i can ask some guys at the euro junkyards out here they got all sorts of mb parts...

or have u checked the net? ebay? etc..

how much are the dealer quoting you?

503C43 ////AMG

I would suggest Vogtlands (that's what I have and LOVE them) but for some reason they do not make a set for the W210 E55

Next best bet is H&R
http://hrsprings.com/scripts/appguide.php?Mode=Application+Guide&SubMode=Find2& Year=1996&ModelID=320&q=1996%20|%20Mercedes-Benz%20|%20E55%20AMG

I could of sworn Eibach made springs for the W210 E55 but I cannot seem to locate them.

I suggest you change out your shocks as well to some bilstein sports as they have a shorter travel to accommodate the shorter springs. If you keep your stock shocks you will eventually blow them up plus if they haven't been changed by now they are past due.

Depending on how low you want to go I would also suggest going with the largest pad offered, I am running #5 up front and #4 in the rear and my car is SLAMMED (a little more than I would like but I can live with it)

Hope this helps

MBFLO

I stopped by a local garage had them lift and look at it , stated spring perch seems intact and solid still . So i figure might as well replace springs , but i cant find any new OEM for life of me anywhere only aftermarket . Dont really want togo aftermarket but seems i might have to .BTW this garage is not MB certified and i heard MB dealer will do complimentary inspections so might take it up the and get it checked out and get a quote and what not ..

Thanks , i think id prefer to throw some new springs as most i have seen used have close to 100k miles on them and rather not spend for install and have them go bad in near future . But definetly let me know if u come across . Cant find any OEM on the net , will see how much dealer wants when i take it in for inspection .. Thanks again