who has there car lowered?
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It would be less high from the ground. 
It is an option many have chosen. In most cases handling does get more responsive, but
at the cost of ride quality. If you do it with an airmatic then the options are limited until
a 3rd party like Arnott completes the air to metal spring conversion kit in 2011.
It is an option many have chosen. In most cases handling does get more responsive, but
at the cost of ride quality. If you do it with an airmatic then the options are limited until
a 3rd party like Arnott completes the air to metal spring conversion kit in 2011.
Aw nice, and how does the ride feel?
Mine is Airmatic and lowered with the washer mod and 20s from the previous owner. Ride is still quite acceptable in all the positions, but I have never taken the washers out to see what it was like factory. It is sitting <1" above 245/35s Toyo Proxies, but I am looking at downsizing in the spring to 18s or 19s, as it feels slightly numb when throwing the car around corners.
The W211 was never noted for sports car like handling. It will hold the road well in
high speed corners and quick direction changes at speed is very good for a 4000lb car.
However it will take a lot more than wheels and an adjustment to the OEM air springs to get that
crisp handling it sounds like you want.
high speed corners and quick direction changes at speed is very good for a 4000lb car.
However it will take a lot more than wheels and an adjustment to the OEM air springs to get that
crisp handling it sounds like you want.
Oh ok,
Noodle's i've orderd Sway bars to reduce body roll for my car, I've done this because i've got camshaft, ecu, extractors, exhaust, (soon to get sprint runner), So thought i might make the handling better to because as you know its a hobby of mine lol.
You might think its uselss and my moneys going down the drain but i need a car to drive for 2 and a half years to suit my needs on the road (not for racing) untill i get the c63.
Do you think sway bars will help handling wise?
Bigger sway bays are the kinds of things needed to get the handling feeling more crisp.
We all have to keep in mind that these are 4000 lb cars. They do pretty darn well for
that category of car. The bigger wheels you are getting will help. A sport handling
alignment will help, but I have no track data on the W211. You would be looking at
changing the camber and a tiny bit of toe to really make turn in reaction faster, but
at the price of a little more tire wear and the car may lose its very well planted feel on
the road at highway speeds.
I would stick with the sway bars and tires and see how it feels. More can be done form that point.
We all have to keep in mind that these are 4000 lb cars. They do pretty darn well for
that category of car. The bigger wheels you are getting will help. A sport handling
alignment will help, but I have no track data on the W211. You would be looking at
changing the camber and a tiny bit of toe to really make turn in reaction faster, but
at the price of a little more tire wear and the car may lose its very well planted feel on
the road at highway speeds.
I would stick with the sway bars and tires and see how it feels. More can be done form that point.
Here is my wagon, lowered using the SDS. It drives a lot better than stock and I keep it in Sport 1 all the time unless I'm on a mountain road, then I use Sport 2. To get over speed bumps I just push the button to raise the car.
I'm very happy with this setup and would never drive a car that's not lowered!
I have 18X8,5 in the front with 245/40/18 and 18X9,5 in the back with 275/35/18.
I'm very happy with this setup and would never drive a car that's not lowered!
I have 18X8,5 in the front with 245/40/18 and 18X9,5 in the back with 275/35/18.
awh nice, whats SDS n where did you get it from n how much?
SDS = Star Diagnostic System
My E500 wagon has airmatic suspension and the SDS can change the ride height. The other option (more expensive but more options) is to buy a lowering module from any Mercedes respectable tunner.
My E500 wagon has airmatic suspension and the SDS can change the ride height. The other option (more expensive but more options) is to buy a lowering module from any Mercedes respectable tunner.
yeah true,
But then what if i dont like the drive? then that would just be a total waste of money.
Wish my car had air matic.
By the way whats better, Air matic or springs? both quality and performance wise and drive too.
But then what if i dont like the drive? then that would just be a total waste of money.
Wish my car had air matic.
By the way whats better, Air matic or springs? both quality and performance wise and drive too.
For everyday use airmatic is awesome, you can change the character of the car in a couple of seconds. If you want to track the car or don't want to deal with the airmatic related issues, then you're fine with springs, or go all the way and chose coilovers!
If you can find others that have them and match a good set to your car you won't be wasting money.
From a race tech chat place.
Coilovers
The term coilover is short for a coil-over-shock setup, where the coil spring is installed around the shock. Coilovers were originally designed for race cars so that the suspension height and dampening settings could be easily changed. Coilovers are installed as one unit instead of a separate spring and shock setup. Though they may look similar in some ways to a Macpherson strut assembly, which is also a spring and shock assembly, coilovers are far more sophisticated.
The springs in coilovers are normally either a single progressive spring or a multi-spring setup with a primary spring and what is known as a helper spring. The helper spring is much lighter and only comes into play when the suspension is at full droop during aggressive cornering. The helper spring ensures the main spring remains stable.
Advantages and Disadvantages
By far, the main benefit of coilovers is the range of adjustment they provide. Coilovers are height adjustable via the spring perches that are threaded onto the shock body. The shocks normally offer a range of adjustability that can include shock compression (the downward stroke) and rebound (the upward stroke of the shock as the suspension unloads) with as many as 15 or more settings for each.
Some coilovers such as Motons feature a remotely mounted reservoir that provides the oil for the shock and also allows easy adjustment without having to jack up the car to access the suspension.
The biggest downside to coilovers is the price, which usually starts at just under $1000 and goes up to over $5000 for some of the higher-end brands.
From a race tech chat place.
Coilovers
The term coilover is short for a coil-over-shock setup, where the coil spring is installed around the shock. Coilovers were originally designed for race cars so that the suspension height and dampening settings could be easily changed. Coilovers are installed as one unit instead of a separate spring and shock setup. Though they may look similar in some ways to a Macpherson strut assembly, which is also a spring and shock assembly, coilovers are far more sophisticated.
The springs in coilovers are normally either a single progressive spring or a multi-spring setup with a primary spring and what is known as a helper spring. The helper spring is much lighter and only comes into play when the suspension is at full droop during aggressive cornering. The helper spring ensures the main spring remains stable.
Advantages and Disadvantages
By far, the main benefit of coilovers is the range of adjustment they provide. Coilovers are height adjustable via the spring perches that are threaded onto the shock body. The shocks normally offer a range of adjustability that can include shock compression (the downward stroke) and rebound (the upward stroke of the shock as the suspension unloads) with as many as 15 or more settings for each.
Some coilovers such as Motons feature a remotely mounted reservoir that provides the oil for the shock and also allows easy adjustment without having to jack up the car to access the suspension.
The biggest downside to coilovers is the price, which usually starts at just under $1000 and goes up to over $5000 for some of the higher-end brands.
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