Perennial issue getting the right springs for C250 TD Sport estates... could someone with EPC help>?

[charlysays]

Done the springs on both my C250 TD sport estates now and both times had different issues with the springs supplied by mercedes benz neyland.

First time they gave me SLS springs which were obviously a distaster on a non SLS car. This was for a 1998 car. They took them back and supplied A202 324 1704 RBW (one grey blob of paint). I like these springs, nice and firm and good ride height. The old springs were so rusted that there was no identifying them.

I just did the rear springs on my 1997 car (note both are facelift Sport estates) and this time they supplied A210 324 31 04 with 2 X yellow stripes and 1 blue stripe. The old springs also had 2X Yellow and 1X Blue stripes.

Here's the problem: the A210 springs still look low to me. The tyre place which just did the wheel alignment and tracking agreed.

I'd like to be sure these A210 springs are correct before I try to return them (having been used for a few hundred miles). If they are correct I'll keep them but swap to the A202 springs because a find the increase ride height more useful for towing and generally nicer feeling all round.

If anyone could help/ advise that would be great. The MD are quite uninterested and I don't trust that the parts are correct.

Many thanks

 

[charlysays]

Ah... chassis no for the 97 car with the questionable springs just supplied is WDB 2021882F676706

 

[om613]

I'd expect the opposite with 210 springs in a 202. A higher ride height, due to less engine and car mass.

I upped my AG/Sport to '5 pip' front spacers for a c.10 mm increase. After new springs and shocks.

 

[Some guy on the internet]

 

[charlysays]

Cheers mate... so maybe the 31 04s need a thicker pad to ride at the right height? Soo many options... bizarre. Once I get my transmission jack back I'll put my old 31 04s on my other C250 to free up the fairly new 17 04s, compare the pads and see whats what I guess. Think I'll probably just have to keep these new 31 04s as they are defnitely not the wrong spring.

Is the info on EPC avaible to allow me to choose a pad and accurately work out what raise a different pad will give?

cheers

 

[LostKiwi]

The thinnest pad is 8mm and each successive pad is 5mm thicker.
On each pad (if you're lucky) will be a series of lumps or dots. 1 dot or bump is 8mm, 4 is 23mm.
The effect of each pad is multiplied by 50% approx as the spring is inboard of the wheel. Therefore going up one size (8mm) will have an effect of 12mm.

 

[charlysays]

Ah I see! Both cars have 3pip pads. So a 4 pip would raise it 12mm and a 5 pip would raise it 24mm?

 

[LostKiwi]

Yes in theory. Not sure if there is a 5 pip one. There isn't for R129s.

 

[charlysays]

Does look like they only go up to four burls. Only the fronts can take 5. Looking at the car another 12mm isn't going to give much room.
Dammit. Looks like a spring swap to the 1704s and 120 quid I could've done without spending.

 

[om613]

The thinnest pad is 8mm and each successive pad is 5mm thicker.
On each pad (if you're lucky) will be a series of lumps or dots. 1 dot or bump is 8mm, 4 is 23mm.
The effect of each pad is multiplied by 50% approx as the spring is inboard of the wheel. Therefore going up one size (8mm) will have an effect of 12mm.

202 and 210 'should' be the same?
You can feel the dots when you know they're there.
Part #s for the spring pads for W210 are:

Front
210 321 01 84 5mm (1 dot)
210 321 02 84 9mm
210 321 03 84 13 mm
210 321 04 84 17 mm
210 321 05 84 21 mm (5 dot)

Rear
210 325 01 84 5 mm (1 dot...)
210 325 02 84 9 mm
210 325 03 84 13 mm
210 325 04 84 17 mm

 

[LostKiwi]

202 and 210 'should' be the same?
You can feel the dots when you know they're there.
Part #s for the spring pads for W210 are:

Front
210 321 01 84 5mm (1 dot)
210 321 02 84 9mm
210 321 03 84 13 mm
210 321 04 84 17 mm
210 321 05 84 21 mm (5 dot)

Rear
210 325 01 84 5 mm (1 dot...)
210 325 02 84 9 mm
210 325 03 84 13 mm
210 325 04 84 17 mm

Ah different to 129 setup then.
If it's only a 4mm increase it definitely won't help the OP to change pads.

 

[charlysays]

Spring swap then I guess and try to ebay the as new 3104s. They do seem to be "correct" for the car but as you can see from the pic it's riding too low.

 

[charlysays]

So I put the 1704s on and now it looks right and feels better.
Anyone want a brand new pair of 3104s? lol

 

[LostKiwi]

So I put the 1704s on and now it looks right and feels better.
Anyone want a brand new pair of 3104s? lol

Just looking at that spring chart the 1704 are the correct spring and the 3104 are too soft.
Your car is a 202.188 so you start at 50 points.
Then add 1 for radio, 1 for autobox and you're at 52 which is the bottom end of the 1704 springs before you add any further kit the car has (sliding roof? cd changer? electric seat?)

 

[LostKiwi]

So I put the 1704s on and now it looks right and feels better.
Anyone want a brand new pair of 3104s? lol

Just looking at that spring chart the 1704 are the correct spring and the 3104 are too soft.
Your car is a 202.188 so you start at 50 points.
Then add 1 for radio, 1 for autobox and you're at 52 which is the bottom end of the 1704 springs before you add any further kit the car has (sliding roof? cd changer? electric seat?)

 

[turbopete]

this always makes me laugh. I mean, how much difference can a radio make to the suspension? or a CD changer?

as far as I'm aware, ONLY MB do this. ive never heard of it anywhere else. a colour coding, yes, but that's generally related to the 'general' spec of the car (eg. a base escort (years ago I know) would have different springs to an escort ghia, which would be different again to the XR3.)

I know electric seats and auto boxes add a bit of weight over manual seats and gearboxes but SURELY it would work and no one would know the difference if there were 1 spring to fit, say, a 202 estate with auto box and manual seats, another for the same car with electric seats, and a 3rd 1 for cars with manual box, uprated versions at the rear for the estate, and lowered for avant-garde/sport models. another example of making life overly complicated IMO.

 

[charlysays]

So you reckon I should be able to return these springs seeing as they're not correct? I will have a go!

 

[LostKiwi]

So you reckon I should be able to return these springs seeing as they're not correct? I will have a go!

Add up your points and see what you come up to.

As a minimum its 50 for the base car.
Then 1 for Auto transmission
Then 1 for radio.

Thats 52 so above the 51 needed for 1704s. Good luck!

 

[charlysays]

It all makes sense now. There's no way the 3104s can be correct.
The odd thing is that the two yellow and one blue stripes appear to denote the 3104s, and the old springs were in good enough condition cosmetically for these stripes to be present.
1704s have one grey blob.

So either the car was supplied new with springs which were too soft or the spec for the 3104s has been changed?

 

[charlysays]

Maybe its a ruse so they can sell loads of incorrect springs and bank on people 1. taking a few weeks to fit the springs and 2. using the springs so they're more difficult to return lol.