justinwrock

Has anyone received the finalized parts list? I have had the coils sitting in my garage for 4 months and am just waiting for the parts list


I might pull the trigger on all the parts from spinn's post just to give the conversion a shot.

grimm

I just had the conversion done 2 weeks ago over at AutoTalent and I am EXTREMELY pleased with the result and totally convinced that it was worth the cost. The car now finally drives PROPERLY.

The list of parts I used was that sent out by Serge as well as a parts list posted here by spinn. A few of the parts I ended up requesting to be purchased were not needed at the end (and I can find that out later this week what they were--cost was minimal <$20 iirc)

Thanks, Serge/Benz-Works, for your guidance on the install as well.

iLLuZioNz

Whats a rough ball park when its all said and done for those of you who have made the switch? The thing looks hammered to the earth in post 1. Its got to be a way better solution than replacing airmatics if they go bad. I always thought 'air ride' type suspension was more show than anything... but I digress.

jay_55

Great work man!!!!

might actually concider doing this as i have just been told my airmatic system is leaking

citylightva

Most disjointed thread ever....

spinn

Grimm, if you would, please verify what parts from my list were NOT needed. Were there any parts not on my list that WERE needed? Thanks!

BenzoBoi

So that was your car that I saw pics of! Congrats on doing the conversion! Car rides so much better, doesn't it?

Bramage

DIS JOINT?

spinn

After messaging Grimm, he basically confirmed that my list vs Serge's list, only lacked the rear shock-to-control arm bolt. I updated the list to include that. Also, there is a rear shock shim that comes in different sizes. My list only lists one size, which Grimm couldn't confirm whether it was the correct size used or not. A different size may be needed. Hope this helps everyone.

BTT

thanks for sharing. now I need to figure out how much this is all going to cost installed.

GT-ER

Saved! THanks!

spinn

Figure the OEM parts, the shocks of your choice, plus a day's garage work if they've never done the conversion before (per Grimm). Should just require removing airmatic system and rear control arm and then installation of all your parts. I would guess that it could be done in 4-6 hours time, if they've fooled around with removing the airmatic system previously.

emoving

So again.......ballpark price installed?????

spinn

Based on Grimm's install, it was around $3500. But do your own research...the parts list is there. You pick the shocks. You pick the shop. I would guess I could have it done for about $2K-$2.5K with non-KW shocks, in my area.

emoving

That is excellent news! I no longer worry about the airmatic!

KLR CLS

Yep, you could easily switch the coilovers to H&R's and save a grand too!

GregMB

Beers to you for this research!

I haven't spent much time doing the background research, but I remember reading that the 2005 and 2006 E55s had some upgraded front suspension parts over the '03 & '04 models (CLS steering rack, and possibly different front A-arms?).... I was curious if those changes would have any effect on this parts list or if it's 100% identical for all years ('03 - '06)???


-G

spinn

Best to compare the front axle/suspension of a '06 E55 and '03/04 E55 using EPC. If you want to PM me your VIN, I can compare it with my '04 E500 to see if there's really any difference.

grimm

Just checked back in on this thread. Thought I'd snap a quick pic of the car with the KW's installed (including one that one of the guys at AutoTalent that did the install took) and the car both aligned and balanced. May not be of much information but it might provide those an idea as to how "low" you would be able to go with this configuration (and this isn't all the way down)

Incidentally, I do not rub either.

emoving

Awsome!

OCKlasse

How is the difference in handling?

AKnight55

WOW, thats sick.. Im hoping to do this conversion one day.. I think im going to own this car forever

grimm

The handling is what one might expect from a typical coilover system. The "twitchiness" associated with highway driving, where I actually was somewhat scared to push it too much, is now gone. I often find myself going "faster" than I would have before because I don't have that "bouncy" feeling in the car.

Most importantly though is that the car is predictable. I'm more confident that it will go where I want it to rather than where it might "lean over to".

I currently have my compression & rebound settings set to 6/12 in the rear and 5/12 in the front. If I set it back to a 6 or even dial things up to a 7/12, then the car will have that same highway feel as it did with the airmatic. Those people that are running 20" wheels with very low profile tires may want to set it up that way. I, on the other hand run the continental extremecontact dws's with the forgestar 19's and so what I have it set to right now feels good for highway/city driving.

AKnight55

Do you know how much weight you lost?

grimm

I didn't measure, but I know that Serge did when he was installing them into the black E55 in post #1.

Going by the photos (and obviously there may be a pound or two difference in my totals), here is what I came up with:

Each of the airmatic shocks and air spring assemblies weigh in at 19.5lbs and 16lbs. So that comes out to 71lbs. The two control that are replaced weigh in at 4.5lbs each and are replaced with ones that around 6.5lbs each. Then take into consideration that each KW coilover (with perch, etc) is around 13.5lbs and 14lbs, which is 55lbs. So 59lbs total installed

So...~12lbs total? Anyone else that has done this conversion, does this sound reasonable?