[BrooklynCLK]

Well, to tell you the truth, I'm way past starting to hate it and more at the point where for the past 3 weeks I've been contemplating either getting a truck or an 02 Lexus GS400. Let me explain...

As many of you that have been here a while know, my ride went through transformations. The most significant were the H&R drop and the 19" wheels. About a month after those changes I moved to NY and i didn't even think about the road conditions. I'm one of those guys willing to sacrifice "some" comfort for the appearance of my ride. And let me tell you...I LOVE the appearance. But I just can't take it anymore.

I swear to you all, for the past 8 months it's felt like I've been driving on metal with no tires. I know that I have to be prepared for some lesser degree of comfort but this can't be right. My car feels like a fuckin 1982 ford escort. It's not even potholes man, its the slightest bump in the road. I hit a pebble and feel it in my back. I'm actually at the point where I would take an altima over my car just so i can have a smooth ride. My office is right on the same street that i live and I really only drive my car on the weekends. I get down when i have to drive somewhere because I know the ride is going to be horrible. I go back to Philly sometimes on the weekends and hate driving my own car, no matter how good it looks. I feel like I'm getting older or something and just want a smooth ride.

That's why i mentioned the 02 GS. I've just heard from friends and family that lexus rides are uncomparable. Nothing touches the comfort. I dont even really like the look of their cars but I cant stand feeling the road anymore.

This post is an attempt to save my car. I keep thinking that this is abnormal. Even with the drop and the 19's, I cant believe the ride should be like this. Is there a possibility that the springs were put on backwards? Would they have lasted this long if they were? I never replaced the shocks that came with the car which had 48K miles after I replaced the springs. Could that be it? Could my shocks be bad? Would that be an explanation for a horrible ride? And one of the dumbest things i did...or didn't do...was I never got an allignment after putting the springs on OR after putting the 19's on. I know, I'm an ass. I don't think a lack of an allignment would cause such a harsh ride though, maybe just the steering.

I need technical advice. I love my car and dont want to have to part with it but it's giving me no choice. I just cant take it anymore. I need help. I live in brooklyn and if anyone has any suggestions on where I can take her to get examined for potential problems, Id appreciate it. I wish i could get into another 208 with the same mods (springs & 19's) to see if what Im feeling is normal. If my ride is normal than i simply need a new one. Any help would be appreciated guys. Thanks.[]

 

[Phade]

yo i'm start to feel everything now too.. it was nothing like this when i first got the rims and the car lowered the ride was smooth as shit.. now it feels like any tiny ass little bump i go over i feel it.. wonder wtf..

 

[BrooklynCLK]

Yeah, I remember when I first got the 19's on after having the 18's I actually thought the ride got smoother somehow. That could leave 2 things. Either it rode smooth as hell in my mind because it was a new awesome look, OR, something has worn over time to make it worse.

 

[Phade]

i'm thinking the ladder.. another thing i didn't think of is that i usually ride with my music loud as fuck.. and i got 2 12w6's that hit hard as fuck.. so i may have just never noticed it... .. if you want a smooth ride get a lincoln towncar lol.. or a caddy

 

[BrooklynCLK]

My girls father has a lincoln towncar. Thats all he'll drive, lol.

 

[BKLYNbenz]

i think its a combo of the car/setup and our great nyc roads. i cant even imagine what my car would be like with 19's on these roads. right now my 18" lorinser lm5's are getting fixed and refinished from last years roads. im not even looking forward to putting them back on, the stockies feel so nice - the butter ride, like driving on air, lol. heres a few examples of what nyc roads can do to a nice, expensive set of wheels:

 

[BrooklynCLK]

Jesus man, rear #2 looks like it hurt when it happened! Mine are starting to get there. I noticed my first wave in the rim a few weeks ago. Luckily I didn't buy "authentic" wheels so mine are one piece which makes em a bit stronger. So whats the solution. Whats the fix? Am I going to just have to get a new car?

 

[BKLYNbenz]

linh - 5/2/2005 12:54 AM


Based on those pictures damages wheel, it the driver at fault not the road. []BrooklynCLK, here's your two option dog. Trade your 19" for mine 18" Carlsson 1/5 plus cash or GET NEW SHOCKS !!!

yeah ok jerkoff, come drive over here and youll see

 

[BrooklynCLK]

Linh, he's right man. The only way to avoid all the bad roads around here is by driving on the sidewalks (I've tried, lol). So do you think the shocks could be a major problem? How can i see if they're bad? Any way of knowing without having to pay some mechanic to tell me they are?

 

[bbearden26]

Brooklyn,
I can understand why you're sick of your ride being so rough. My ride has the Eibach sport kit and I kept the factory 17's and its still very rough over the slightest of road imperfections. I've never changed the shocks so I don't know if that will help much. The roads in LA suck cock and/or balls so I know how you feel bro about the roads. Your state tax dollars hard at work, right? I like the LS 430 but I do realize that the Lexus is nothing more than a nicer version of a Toyota with a better interior, more powerful engine, and complete lack of smoothness that the benz has. Granted a good set of rims and low stance can make them look nice, but its not a Benz. If only we could afford a new E55, right?

 

[BrooklynCLK]

Bro, honestly, right now I would take a new ES 330 with black on black over my car. The ride would be amazing compared to my car. Id probably fall asleep behind the wheel.

 

[BrooklynCLK]

I think one of the main reasons that I'm starting to see things this way is because I rarely drive my car. I really don't get to show it off much. If I lived in Miami or something like that it'd be different. Im getting married in a year, dont go out much anymore (maybe once a week on Thursday or Saturday), and I guess I'm starting to get a little older (grrr).

My thinking towards cars has always been based on showing it off to other people and now I'm starting to lean towards accomadating myself. And I want comfort.

 

[Castorpimp]

trade your 19's for 18's, get new shocks, trade h and r for eibach to increase your ride height. phade, if my lorinsers ever get like that i think i would cry.

 

[0209 CLK]

I went from 20" to 19" and it doesn't feel that much of a difference. My car is lowered on H&R springs and stock shocks with 48k on them. I haven't felt that "harsh" ride yet but I do feel a difference from being stock to now. I'm just like you..appearance over function but so far so good it still feels good to me, maybe because I drive like grandma but hey I'd rather be safe than sorry. If you still want to keep the car I suggest you go with better shocks, 18" wheels with bigger tires and don't forget to get your alignment. I wouldn't switch over to a Lexus after owning this MB..I'd just upgrade to an E or S class even if the price is more but still you'd have an MB and not a lexus..(not hating on lexus owners) just my opinion..

 

[Gorilla Beast]

When modding a car we all make sacrifices which is always in comfort such as ride quality, and if playing with the motor or ecu one may pay extra in the long run for more fuel consumption and/or more maintenance either preventive or repairs from a particular modification. We all want to go faster and look cool, we all agree.

With this said if you get a Lex GS, and you have the mod itch in your blood, you will run either 19 or 20's which fit fine w/o problems. In this case you will be running again a 35 series tire up front and a 30 series tire in rear. Since the GS has enourmous wheel wells and a lot of gap you will need to lower the vehicle or else have that nasty look having cool wheels with a 4x4 look gap. Along with bad road conditions in NY and most other major cities in America you will be back in the same boat as you are feeling currently with your Benz.


IMHO, if you really enjoy your CLK, I would run a 17" or 18" wheels at max, have your shocks checked (I doubt they are bad), this will not totally solve the bad ride, but combat it somewhat and give an improved ride quality.

If you do get a GS or truck, the best thing would be to keep it stock height with stock wheels and tires and call it a day. Trucks ride like trucks, they ride rough, they are not cars.

Maybe you should just park the CLK for your recreational time and buy a cheap beater to use daily?

Just my 2cents........

 

[fortyfive]

Brooklyn - I asked you about your ride quality a while back.

As I mentioned in a previous post - the way to modify the car without destroying the ride per my Benz mechanic was to :

Install eibach Springs with #4 pads front and rear
Install new high performance shocks at the same time
Install new wheels no larger than 18"

This set up provided performance gains and looks without destroying the ride quality.

Just me two cents...

 

[Frank]

Sup bro,

Ride in mine. I drive in Manhattan everyday. My ride is nice and soft I run +40 on all tires.

I have the H&R cup kit. The only problem is it was too low even with the thickest pads so I swapped the front springs with eibach. Same ride only a little higher.

 

[BrooklynCLK]

If I put extra air in the tires it would help the ride?

I agree with going down to 18's with bigger tires but money is tight right now and I can't afford to really spend anything on her.

 

[Phade]

BrooklynCLK - 5/2/2005 1:51 AM

I think one of the main reasons that I'm starting to see things this way is because I rarely drive my car. I really don't get to show it off much. If I lived in Miami or something like that it'd be different. Im getting married in a year, dont go out much anymore (maybe once a week on Thursday or Saturday), and I guess I'm starting to get a little older (grrr).

My thinking towards cars has always been based on showing it off to other people and now I'm starting to lean towards accomadating myself. And I want comfort.

you wouldn't really be showing it off in miami.. considering when i went i prob. saw more clks in 2 days than i've ever seen in my entire life and most people turn their heads for the bentleys and ferrari's down there..

 

[frankiev]

BrooklynCLK,
Tough to compare since I haven't mounted my 19's yet, however, speaking from experience (previous Porsche, Rx-7, Trans-Am, and buddy's Vette)I did the following to avoid/improve a rough ride.
- Lowered the car the least necessary. Which is why I went with Eibach vs. H&R. Just wanted to eliminate space in wheel well space.
- Changed Shocks (To an adjustable type for different ride conditions)
- Tried out different Tire preassures ensuring I did not compromise wear too much.
- Compromised on Tire sidewall dimension to where I was happy with look and support of sidewall. I have noticed that the lower profile a tire is the worse off you are on feeling the road.

Keep in mind that almost any ride will be affected if you mess with suspension items. I know a couple of giys with Lexus and BMWs and once they went with 19" and 20", lowered, got reall low profile tires, their ride is no longer as smooth as it used to be.

Cheers,
Frankie