WTF why would he be scamming anyone, you should be grateful he stepped up and put time and money into this project to help us all do it easier by learning from him, have some patience. I'm pretty sure he has a life outside the forum. Jesus Christ

 

No joke. It's an improvement all the way around. More reliable, weight loss, more control of handling plus the overall improvement of the handling. Theoretically if you went with an electronic adjustable shock you wouldn't even lose much in the comfort department either. Benz boi for prez!

 

parts list, prices, photos, diy, impressions...????

 

Great thread Sun.... this may transfer the E55 from a drag monster to a road course warrior

You gotta take her out to a road course and feel the difference

Any chance of a buttonwillow visit soon

 

It's "Worth the wait"...

 

I think if someone spends good money on it it can be very track potent. Remember that whole "it's a bad chassis altogether" is BS. It's not a bad chassis, it's an excellent chassis. It was just SETUP by the manufacturer for comfort. I bet I could make the STi handle like a boat if I added extremely soft suspension, fitted sway bars made of cheese and messed with the camber and added weight. The point is if the car's weight is reduced and handling components get put in it will be BETTER than an M5. I've seen people make muscle cars handle with enough money. Now coilovers are far from the only mod for handling. So if they have helped like the way BenzoBoi says I say it's worth the attempt.

PS. Don't say the E Class was made for comfort or find another car to start working on etc etc. To each his own, some people WANT to "waste" their money on cars. This is what separates the enthusiasts from the posers and lazy accountants.

 

I just got back from a track event this weekend. I'll try to compile some pics and give everyone my impressions. I'm still workin on getting a hold of my guy about the parts list, pricing and the DIY. We've been playin phone tag.
I just hit up Chuckwalla Raceway this weekend. Pretty fun track. Definitely going there again. Buttonwillow is definitely on my list.

Oh how I realized just how BAD our cars are on the track. Weight I think is the number 1 hinderance before the lack of better parts. I definitely felt more planted on the track but I could still feel just how heavy the car was. Coils was a start, now we slowly start seeing what else we can change/upgrade.

 

Any new updates?

 

So how much weight savings do you think is needed before real results start appearing? Do you think 400-450 lb would help?

 

Umm yea.. I think 400-450 would make a dramatic difference.

 

Luckily the car has some parts that save ALOT, I actually like the Airmatic because it's so heavy, that means when changed it gives back alot for what you paid in reliability, weight savings (fuel economy ie less weight) better handling.

 

So I guess this thread is dead? What happened?

 

Hey guys! Sorry for the MIA status. Had some things I needed to take care of. Everything is a-okay. Car is running absolutely fantastic! planted and stiff.

After talking to my guys for some time, I decided to respect their wishes and not post up the parts list. I apologize to most of you as you guys were waiting for the parts list. My friend has spent quite a bit of time working on it and he would rather hold onto that info for the time being. At first I was all about posting it up, but after a few talks, I will respect my friend's request.

I've hit up 2 different track events up to now. Chuckwalla Raceway and Streets of Willow. Car is still a boat but it is definitely a night and day difference on the coils. I figured that I should beat the coils to see how much it can handle. Thus far, it's taken everything I've given it and it's great. Next trip is Laguna Seca towards the end of June. Can't wait!

 

I am trying to figure out what he is trying to accomplish? It is not like they built a proprietary suspension swap? This was all accomplished using OEM parts and a set of coilovers right?

Do they plan on offering a kit for the rest of us or will we just be left to figure it out on our own?

If we can't get a parts list, put the car on a lift and take highly detailed pictures of the suspension and we can figure out the parts list.

 

As far as I know, they plan on possibly becoming vendors on here...if/when they do, I think they will offer a package for all the parts necessary. I will find out where they plan on going with it and IF they do not plan on becoming vendors, I'll push to get the parts list out.

***EDIT***

To be honest...I haven't really spoken to my guys in a while. Just been really busy with personal things and tracking the car. I'm suppose to go down next week sometime, I'll see where this goes...

 

Someone already put a parts list in the other coilover thread that was started quite a few months back.

 

Great! I guess that covers the parts list then.

 

Here's what I got from the other thread:


Rear. You need 2 of everything.
A 211 325 00 74 pin #40 on the picture
shim of your choice #30 on the picture
spring of your choice #10
SHOCK ABSORBER of your choice on #70
A 211 325 05 84 metal shim #12
A 211 350 18 06 left guide
A 211 350 18 06 right guide

here is the link to the picture of a rear suspension:


Front.
All the parts from the picture (left part), exept #120, 130 and 140

the picture of a front suspension:


This is if you want a regular coil/damper setup. A coilover setup will eliminate the need for a lot of these parts, especially up front.

 

Become a vendor? Does this shop have any other notable builds, you don't just "explode" into the spotlight without having some credit. I respect your friends wishes and all but I mean any good suspension shop that works with euros should be able to put the KW's on. Then STAR would take care of the software issues. It's really not hard, the only question that used to exist is would the non-Airmatic kit fit the Airmatic, some people assumed the towers wouldn't go in etc etc. I don't know about others on the forum but I don't think many people would pay a premium just to "know" this mysterious parts list. This mod is supposed to save us money from failing Airmatics and help handling, so dishing out money for a "kit" is a little far fetched but hey, maybe that's just me. Good job Benzo-Boi, you took a little risk making your car a guinea pig just so it would be easier for us. Cheers to Benzo-Boi

 

The shop has been around for a few years now and they do great work. Only guy I let under the hood of my car.

And it's just business. The guys spent a lot of time trying to figure out the STAR codes and everything else, I can't exactly blame them for wanting to be compensated for their hard work.

And maybe they won't be asking people to pay a premium to know the parts list, maybe they figure that this way, if you want the job done you'll have to go to them. Again, a very basic-and respectable- business plan.

 

I would think you as the guinea pig and the end customer could do what you want with the information. You may not have paid a full $ balance, but you paid something and also provided the test mule. When you leave a shop after they've done work, they tell you what they did, what they replaced, and what they charged, so I don't doubt that you have the information. But of course, it is your call if you want to share with the forum members if you've built a relationship with this Indie shop and respect their wishes to enable them to make money on this project. I hope they share the wealth in that respect since you had something to do with it.

And...congrats. I've always hoped something like this would be available after I experienced my left airmatic going out (covered under warranty, thankfully).

 

If you went to a shop that took care of you like these guys do you'd want to help them out too. I took my cousin there for his SL500 (just a brake change). They kept finding small things to fix (at cheap or no cost to him). On the drive home my cousin said he'd never left a whorehouse that satisfied.

 

The guys that have done the work on my car have been around for quite a while. There are quite a number of people on here that have either have their cars worked on by them or have had direct contact in getting hardware/information for their rides through them also. A few vendors/sponsors on here know them also. They are the guys who have helped my car become what it is today. They are my go to guys and they know my car better than I do. ANYTIME, I have ANY problems with her, I don't hesitate to call them because I know they'll take care of it. They are usually able to figure what the problem is VERY quickly since they did all the work on the car. You could consider my car as their shop car. We are always trying new things here and there with them.

I completely agree that many on here will not pay a premium on the "kit" of needed parts, don't quote me on it, but I don't think they plan on adding any benz taxes on the needed hardware. Like I said, don't quote me on it. I'm about to go down to the shop in a few days for some maint. stuff so I'll see what I can find out.

Thanks again for always givin me a positive outlook.

Well said...

To be completely honest, when I dropped off the car, I just told them to make it work. Don't care about weight savings or what not, I told them to get it in there, make it roll and well go from there. It's a long work in progress but I figured why not. Learn as we go. I'm just having way too much fun with the car taking full advantage of the suspension at different track events as of late to go in and get all the other things taken cared of. I do have to go back in soon for some maint. stuff so I'll see what else needs to be done to have the ideal setup for our 211's. I completely trust my guys and have never second guessed anything they have done.

Like I said, I don't know to the true extent of what was taken out and what wasn't. At this point, I know that there are things that could have been taken out but wasn't only because I told them to make it roll without taking EVERYTHING out. That's as far as I know and I don't mind because that is what I wanted. Even with all the things they could have taken out, my car drives fine so I have no complaints with it. When I have time t o go down to the shop is when I'll have them rip out all the other things that aren't needed.

My car running as strong as it has up to now is a testament to their hardware and service.

 

"become what it is today"
we are still talking about an automobile, right?

no disrespect, but bolting bits onto a car is hardly innovative. now, if this shop was designing, testing and manufacturing bits to be bolted onto cars, then that's something.

can't quite imagine what sort of proprietary voodoo this unnamed shop is looking to capitalize on. since there is basically zero information shared here, i wonder what the point of the thread is. to add to the silliness of it all, the name of the shop is even secret. i'm fondly recalling the spinal tap scene in nigel tufnel's guitar room: "don't touch it. don't point, even. it can't be played, never." positively hilarious.

sounds like the advice here is that if you wish to convert your airmatic to coil-overs, take it to your indy and say you want a set of KW's. if your indy needs a parts list and instructions, then they probably shouldn't be wrenching on your merc to begin with. just a thought.

 

Thank you for your thoughts.