SportI/SportII settings and negative camber
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Joined: Sep 2008
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Porsche 991S, Cayenne S, 1972 BMW 3.0CS E9 Coupe
Is excessive neg camber from Sport II only when you're lowered? What if you're stock? I drive in Comfort most of the time. But I want the stiffer damping while driving hard in the twisties so I use Sport II.
I always thought it was a minimal lowering affect when in Sport II and primarily it was just making the suspension stiffer. I saw a diagram from MB that showed less air volume in the struts on Sport I and II.
It doesn't make a lot of sense to me that Sport II would create tire wear on a stock car. Because when you're at high speeds (above 75) the car automatically lowers to Sport II levels if you're in Comfort mode. So that would mean a lot of freeway driving would create tire wear. And if you put in Sport II mode yourself, then your adding the less air volume thing and getting a stiffer ride.
I'm thinking the excessive negative camber is introduced only on lowered cars. Is this right or wrong?
edit: I guess then a lowered car will get maximum tire wear if driven a lot on the freeway (since the airmatic lowers itself at higher speeds) right??
I always thought it was a minimal lowering affect when in Sport II and primarily it was just making the suspension stiffer. I saw a diagram from MB that showed less air volume in the struts on Sport I and II.
It doesn't make a lot of sense to me that Sport II would create tire wear on a stock car. Because when you're at high speeds (above 75) the car automatically lowers to Sport II levels if you're in Comfort mode. So that would mean a lot of freeway driving would create tire wear. And if you put in Sport II mode yourself, then your adding the less air volume thing and getting a stiffer ride.
I'm thinking the excessive negative camber is introduced only on lowered cars. Is this right or wrong?
edit: I guess then a lowered car will get maximum tire wear if driven a lot on the freeway (since the airmatic lowers itself at higher speeds) right??
Last edited by 220S; Aug 1, 2010 at 01:57 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2006
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'03 E55, Range Rover Sport Supercharged, Ducati 748R
i know not many people are using them but i've never heard anything bad about mbarts products before this...not to mention there's no other choice if i want to correct the camber and toe problems associated with lowered e55k.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,909
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From: San Diego
F-250
When I search the Part Number shown in the picture (Crash Bolt), I get returns on the regular bolt. I just wanted to make sure anyone who orders this makes sure the bolts they order are the adjustable version.. I cant imagine why it would share a part number...
A 000 330 00 18
A 000 330 00 18
Last edited by Bramage; Aug 1, 2010 at 03:15 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,916
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From: Northern VA
2006 E55
IMHO....
Lowering a car, even a little, can have a very detrimental effect on tire wear and reliability. The lower the 55, the more neg camber you carry.
I have been concerned about this and one idea I have been throwing around is using a tire designed for lowered cars, like the Neo Gen by Nitto. OK, this tire is a more year round performance tire than summer only rubber, so I would def lose a little to the PS2's I am currently running on the stock 18's.
However when I put the 19's back on I want a little protection from uneven tire wear and a little stiffness on the inner wall to help avoid the small dents I suffered with the bigger rims and softer tires.
The bigger rims and summer tires were a dd nightmare. The Neo Gens have a stiffer inner sidewall to support the added weight a lowered car puts on that part of the tire. I am also hoping this will not only help increase tread life, but put an end to even the slightest pot hole costing a small fortune in tires and rim repairs.
My last car was truly slammed, with nearly 3 degrees of neg camber in back...it looked great, but eat tires and rims like they grew on trees (well ok tires come from rubber trees...lol). Once i put the Neo Gens on I had 10,000 miles of trouble free daily driving.
Just a thought
I have been concerned about this and one idea I have been throwing around is using a tire designed for lowered cars, like the Neo Gen by Nitto. OK, this tire is a more year round performance tire than summer only rubber, so I would def lose a little to the PS2's I am currently running on the stock 18's.
However when I put the 19's back on I want a little protection from uneven tire wear and a little stiffness on the inner wall to help avoid the small dents I suffered with the bigger rims and softer tires.
The bigger rims and summer tires were a dd nightmare. The Neo Gens have a stiffer inner sidewall to support the added weight a lowered car puts on that part of the tire. I am also hoping this will not only help increase tread life, but put an end to even the slightest pot hole costing a small fortune in tires and rim repairs.
My last car was truly slammed, with nearly 3 degrees of neg camber in back...it looked great, but eat tires and rims like they grew on trees (well ok tires come from rubber trees...lol). Once i put the Neo Gens on I had 10,000 miles of trouble free daily driving.
Just a thought
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 626
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From: UK
E55K AMG
the mbarts parts are getting ready to be installed so any tips would be much appreciated. i also need to replace the rear driver's side airmatic due to a slow leak and was going to do this as two seperate jobs. it sounds like maybe i should do it all at the same time...right???
I honestly could not see how to access the rear camber arm bolts closest to the subframe without removing the air struts on my car, as they had not been undone for 100k/7yrs, both bolts were seized and were hot from friction when I removed them from the car.
Are you doing the fronts with kmac? I could not press these out/in without a large ton press. If you need any other info just message me and take your time .............good luck.
People are talking about the C comfort setting, if you mean the button next to the gear stick I am 99% sure that has notrhing to do with suspension settings.
If people are exsperiencing bad tyre wear and are not lowered, I sudgest you get the car aligned with the sportII setting on or atleast sportI.
Last edited by £ C43 £ AMG £; Aug 3, 2010 at 08:05 PM.
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 626
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From: UK
E55K AMG
these do the job.................but if your lowered its prob still not enough to get back into spec.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 385
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From: Arroyo Grande, CA
w205 C63s, w212 E63,w219CLS500-SOLD! w211 E63, 2006 E60 M5 (KABOOM!)
People are talking about the C comfort setting, if you mean the button next to the gear stick I am 99% sure that has notrhing to do with suspension settings.
If people are exsperiencing bad tyre wear and are not lowered, I sudgest you get the car aligned with the sportII setting on or atleast sportI.
If people are exsperiencing bad tyre wear and are not lowered, I sudgest you get the car aligned with the sportII setting on or atleast sportI.
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Senior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 376
Likes: 2
From: The Bay Area...Cali
05 E55 AMG
OK this may sound like a stupid question but how do you change from Comfort/Sport I/ Sport II. I see the the button next to the gear selector but that is only for the transmission as far as I thought.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,909
Likes: 4
From: San Diego
F-250
The bolts (often refered to as "Crash Bolts") allows a small adjustment. The KMAC provides a greater level of ajustability.
With KMAC, it is hard to get back to stock settings if you are slammed, but would probably be OK for what you are doing.
However: I would reccomend you do the KMAC now. It costs more, but you will go lower. (Yes you will)
You will do SDS, then you will be like: Wow, maybe a little lower, then you will buy links or ELM.. Then, you will be very glad you have the KMAC
------------------------------------------------------
Comfort/Sport I/ Sport II- Is the button under the Shifter (shock settings). It has two red lights.
No lights = Comfort
1 light = Sport I
2 Lights = Sport II
See the button with the little shock absorber?
With KMAC, it is hard to get back to stock settings if you are slammed, but would probably be OK for what you are doing.
However: I would reccomend you do the KMAC now. It costs more, but you will go lower. (Yes you will)
You will do SDS, then you will be like: Wow, maybe a little lower, then you will buy links or ELM.. Then, you will be very glad you have the KMAC
------------------------------------------------------
Comfort/Sport I/ Sport II- Is the button under the Shifter (shock settings). It has two red lights.
No lights = Comfort
1 light = Sport I
2 Lights = Sport II
See the button with the little shock absorber?
Last edited by Bramage; Aug 25, 2010 at 08:44 AM.
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 953
Likes: 2
2004 E55
Has anybody used the rear KMAC camber kit instead of the MBarts? Seems to be a good price.
Here is the link http://www.iapdirect.com/product.php...cat=400&page=1
Here is the link http://www.iapdirect.com/product.php...cat=400&page=1
