spinn

Got some pics of your car's current ride height? How much gap do you have? Did Serge install the rear pins to center the rear spring perch to the body?

Htownbrother

Aw man, are you going to make me post pics of my car? I sent you that PM telling you I hate my rims, lol. I wil get pics but have to post a disclaimer first.
Disclaimer: Right rear tire developed a slow leak over a week or so. Took the car to discount tire. Right rear rim is CRACKED!!! I was forced to purchase rims/tires on the spot.

I will get pics today.

spinn

LOL. Just curious if your finger space is equivalent to sticking your hand(fingers) in level with the tire/ground. I had to install the factory shims to get my rear up that height, otherwise my wheels were slightly tucked before that mod.

Htownbrother

spinn

They look OK...but not my style. :P Can you provide a non-angled side shot to show what your gap is f/r?

Htownbrother

Front, sorry, it's a sh-itty pic


Rear

spinn

yep...****ty is right. :P Looks like decent clearance. Thx for the info!

audi2nr

Thank God i found this thread! just wondering if anyone has used H&R coil overs for their conversion? i know they are a good brand and i have used them on other platforms but i was just curious as far as our w211 goes. we are a distributor at my work and i can get a good deal on a set so i figured i would go give them a try. almost forgot is there anyone here that is in the seattle area with access to a star? i would gladly pay for your assistance



thanks!
marc

timeToy

Coilovers baby!

BenzoBoi

Sad to see that it went, but glad to see your building it better and stronger with coils! Can't wait to see and hear your impressions!

spinn

I almost pulled the trigger on some H&R, but went with the KW's. Tirerack had a pretty good deal on the H&R. I talked to one of the H&R reps and I think at the time there was low stock on them in their factory. If you can get a good deal, they wouldn't be bad way to go. The shocks are not adjustable though...if you're OK with that.

cij911

TimeToy - Is there a way to trick the system into thinking your air suspension is fine ? I would suspect if left undone, it will set the car into limp mode. (Just a guess based on other MB items...)

spinn

it really depends on the situation of the warning message. It could just be that the compressor is unable to pump up the air springs fast enough due to a leak; it's not a complete failure. Concern would be if it's dropped on one side (or all) and it doesn't go up when you press the lift button or the compressor burns out due to trying to compensate for the leak continuously.

audi2nr

Got a hell of a deal on these, just waiting of the lower arms, and upper strut mounts ect... If anyone wants to share info on the stuff needed to reprogram the gateway please shoot me a pm, I'm also looking for the official parts list, I see what's needed from the pictures but it would be nice to have, i know the rear lower spring mounts/arms are needed, the front upper strut mounts but not sure if there's anything else I'm missing...


Thanks,
Marc

timeToy

So I have an E63 Wagon.

The W211 sedan KW v2 kit doesn’t quite go on the Wagon. The rear suspension on the wagon is different that the sedan, the shock is shorter and there is more weight on the back, so the spring rate has to be different.

ACG in San Diego did the install, the front fit in, no issue, but the back need a different set of components, KW built me a custom spring with a higher rate, it took them 3 or 4 weeks. The real difficulty was to find a shock that can be installed in the back. Right now I’m running a H&R shock built for the E350 Wagon, while KW is building me a custom shock (don’t hold my breath...). As always a huge thumb up for James and crew at ACG for taking care of business and make sure that a solution was found.

I spare you the other issues that I have encountered along the way, that are not related to the coilover install, like failing K Mac rear toe and camber bushings (3 sets) or road hazard that ruined a PSS tire and an HRE wheel (currently running temp 17” in the back).

So I got the car back a couple of day ago, and even with the wrong size tires in the back, the ride is so much better; More compliant, much less crashy on pot holes and uneven surface roads. I found the ride to be overall much more comfortable and more sure footed. I have not tried high speed cornering yet, as the 245’s all-weather tires in the back are screaming for mercy even at moderate load and medium speed.

I am not out of the barn yet, as I still want to get KW v2 shocks for the back and I’m currently waiting for HRE to build me a new wheel. I will post pictures when the car is sorted.

Overall even with the hassle, this is not time nor money I regret to have spent, the ride is so much better...


The airmatic system didn't went bad (I just have 30k, it just went out of the car. I'll sell it classified soon)


STAR has been coded for steel springs. I was told by numerous people that one can’t remove the warning on the instrument cluster on E63. The reason, I was told, being because the cluster is AMG specifics and that all AMG comes with the air suspension, and that the air suspension is coded directly in the cluster. If someone has a solution, I’m all ears. Also all the airmatic components have been removed from the car.

cij911

It can't be that hard - you just need to find the trigger or sensor that is setting the warning and figure out how it operates - voltage or ground. If you have a schematic, I'd be happy to look at it for you.

timeToy

I have an EE degree, but it's all CAN bus theses days...

cij911

I'll see if I can find a schematic ...My guess is a sensor was disconnected (when they removed all the air suspension bits) causing the fault...

Peter_02AMG

Why waste your time trying to hack the system, you're going to end up witha a can of worms if you mess up. Just get someone with STAR and code it for you. My installer did it for me when he install my coil overs.

cij911

That is what I asked originally or meant to imply....It sounds like it was programmed via STAR but is still throwing the error code. I am pretty positive Serge (he did not do the install) knows how to eliminate the error message, so probably best to start with him ...

timeToy

Yes it IS properly coded with STAR, I was told on E55 the error can be cleared but NOT on E63.

cij911

Your tech may want to speak with Peter's tech ......

audi2nr

in case anyone is still curious this is what i have found as far a oem parts needed goes.

audi2nr

just realized the green line that says spring insulator is wrong, that is actually pointing to the rear spring height adjuster. the rear spring insulators are far left on top of the upper strut mounts and those prices listed are supposed retail cost. not what you could find online or wholesale

spinn

The rear spring insulator is only necessary if you desire to use the shims that come with it, to provide a little more clearance than the coilover's highest setting. The insulator itself is not utilized as the coilover's spring perch/height adjuster replaces that. The shims fit on top of the perch, as it would the insulator. A maximum of 3 shims is all that my installer recommended based on how the perch sits within the body well.

That being said, I think there's a problem with my shocks after installing the shims, which I hope it does not mean they're blown.