suspension?

[chriskasik]

I've got a 300E and I'm planning to get some new rims but first I would like to lower it. The gaps above the wheels are way too big for my liking should i put 17s or 18s on. How do I go about dropping it 1.5"-2"?? I have no idea what parts I need, where to get them, where to install them, or how much this will cost. Could somebody who's been through this already give me a bit of info? Thanks.

[andy_k]

OK, let's look at this one, any suspension mod is a "big" job and not one to be undertaken lightly.

1, dropping the suspension completely alters the geometry so it will need to be professionally realigned afterwards. By professionally I would suggest at either a dealer or suspension specialist. Setting up W124 suspension is not an easy job and setting up a modified one will need someone who really knows what they are doing.

2, You need a new set of springs for a starter, these are relatively easy to get hold of and are not too expensive. Fitting them on the other hand is a job that I would advise you left to the experts. The rear springs on a W124 are a walk in the park, and will take you no time at all with the aid of a couple of decent spring compressors, axle stands and a trollley jack. the front ones are a completely diffferent kettle of fish. They are very highly compressed and taking them out incorrectly or without the right tools can lead to injury (possibly fatal) there's a thread I read somewhere where one popped out of the spring compressors and shot about 10 feet in the air leaving a hole in the ceiling - now imagine if that had happened working in the closed confines of the wheelarch or whilstyou were above it. So unless you are absolutely sure of what you are doing DO NOT touch those front springs.

3, the best case scenario is that you just need springs but whilst you are under the car with the suspension stripped down it's worth replacing all the bushes etc. They are going to be facing a whole new set of stresses from different angles after you have lowered the car so they will not be working at full efficiency unless you replace them all for that you'll need a bush puller and possibly a bench press depending on your mechanical aptitude. Polyeurathane or neoprene bushes will give far more rigidity than the stock rubber ones. Personally i'd replace the shock absorbers as well - certainly the rears.

4, lowering the ride height will affect the cars ride quality, it will handle better but there is a trade off, it will be harsher so less comfortable, if most of your driving is long distance cruising just leave it as it is, if it's spirited driving down country roads then lower away just don't expect the same standard of luxury.

5, wheels, the bigger the wheel, the lower the tyre profile - you need to keep the same rolling circumferance otherwise your speedo will read wrong - so don't just put 17" wheels on with the same tyre typ to "fill out the arches". Low profile tyres also cause a harsher ride, they can be prone to tramlining where they follow white lines and imperfections in the road surface and the tyres are going to cost a lot more money than your stock ones. As an aside here - fitting aftermarket wheels can affect your insurance as they are a modification. Fitting genuine Mercedes ones shouldn't be a problem.

So, my simple answer is that being as you have had to ask these questions is that you shouldn't even consider doing the job yourself. it's not one you are going to be able to coplete alone so it's better to get it into a mechanic at the beginning rather than waiting until you have an immobile car with half it's suspension missing outside your house or in your garage.

Andy

[chriskasik]

Thanks for the reply. Believe me, I have no intentions of completing this labor on my own and honestly wouldn't have the slightest idea where to start as I have very little experience working on cars. I'm going to need to pull some money together first, so i'm really mostly wondering about the costs and where I can get the new parts I'll need installed.

[andy_k]

try a search for sportline on here, there are loads of threads that have covered lowering the suspension.

here in the UK all the original MB parts to do a full conversion to the sportline package come in at about £1500, add about 15 hours labour to do the job fully for an experieced tech then the cost of steering/sus[ension alignment on top of it (about £150 in the UK for a full set up).

Of course it can be done a whole lot cheaper buying aftermarket gear - just don't expect the same levels of "refinement" from the finished job. The original MB sportline gave a good stance and ride whilst sacrificing very little. From what I know about the aftermarket ones - not as good by a long stretch. cosmetically they may look the same but driving them you'll immediately know.

Andy