CL500 2004 C215 - Body Sitting High

[Meatfeast]

Hi all.

I'm not 100% that its an illusion but I'm convinced that the body of my CL500 is sitting high off the wheels?

Does anybody know what the gap between the wheel arches and tyres should be?

I have a misting ABC Damper which is due to be replaced but the ABC is working fine (or certainly appears to be) so I'm at a bit of a loss. Would a misting/leaking damper cause a rise in body height?

I bought some lowering links for the car but as yet haven't attempted to fit them, I don't want a slammed look or anything of the sort, but I'd like the car to sit lower than it does.

Any suggestions?

Cheers.

 

[Blobcat]

Pictures?

@Craiglxviii

 

[Craiglxviii]

At lowest (standard) ride height the wheelarch centres should be 700mm off the ground, with the car parked on flat level ground.

Edit. DON’T fit drop links. 215s and ABC do not like them.

 

[Craiglxviii]

No drop links fitted here, 18” wheels filling the wells nicely.

 

[Meatfeast]

Photos

I haven't measured the height yet, the outside of the tyre sits just over 3” below the rear wheel arch.

Just doesn’t seem right to me?

 

[Craiglxviii]

Photos

I haven't measured the height yet, the outside of the tyre sits just over 3” below the rear wheel arch.

Just doesn’t seem right to me?

Measure from the ground to the inside centre of the wheelarch. 70cm.

You have the standard light alloy 5 spokes on, mine came with those. I replaced them with multi spokes with greater offset on the rears.

 

[Meatfeast]

Measure from the ground to the inside centre of the wheelarch. 70cm.

You have the standard light alloy 5 spokes on, mine came with those. I replaced them with multi spokes with greater offset on the rears.

The wheels on mine are 19” AMG - staggered 245 front, 275 rear.

 

[alexanderfoti]

Measure from the ground to the inside centre of the wheelarch. 70cm.

You have the standard light alloy 5 spokes on, mine came with those. I replaced them with multi spokes with greater offset on the rears.

+1
70cm

 

[Meatfeast]

Just measured the height and its just under 75cm - So I guess I have an issue.

 

[alexanderfoti]

Just measured the height and its just under 75cm - So I guess I have an issue.

On all 4 corners?

 

[Meatfeast]

On all 4 corners?

Only at the back

 

[Craiglxviii]

Only at the back

Ok, so the ABC needs calibrating, need Star for that. Whereabouts in the country are you?

 

[Meatfeast]

Ok, so the ABC needs calibrating, need Star for that. Whereabouts in the country are you?

I’m in New Mills, Derbyshire/Cheshire border bud

 

[00slk]

+1 for not fitting the lowering links, 55 had them on when I bought it, it made it look good but caused a lot of damage to the front panels and undertrays because of the lower stance. I put standard ones back on and have no worries about speed bumps or driveways now

 

[Craiglxviii]

I’m in New Mills, Derbyshire/Cheshire border bud

Damn, don’t know any ABC guys that way.

Anyone know who John Laidlaw used?

 

[Meatfeast]

+1 for not fitting the lowering links, 55 had them on when I bought it, it made it look good but caused a lot of damage to the front panels and undertrays because of the lower stance. I put standard ones back on and have no worries about speed bumps or driveways now

I must admit I bought my links because the car sits too high, all I wanted to do was make it look better in the way it sits, I certainly don’t want it to look pimped out. I fancied dropping it by 20-30mm to how it sits currently but if the ABC needs recalibrating then that should offer some changes?

 

[Meatfeast]

Damn, don’t know any ABC guys that way.

Anyone know who John Laidlaw used?

There is SPR in Stockport, not cheap but very good. I have to say I’m very curious as to why the car is sitting so high off the body? I wonder if it’s got anything to do with the misting on the ABC damper and if that leaking has caused it to sit up?

 

[alexanderfoti]

Should be 50mm!

You maybe find the rear level sensor linkages bent, there may have been some suspension work where the rear subframe was dropped. They are easy to forget.

 

[Craiglxviii]

Also, over time the ABC does lose its “zero” so the occasional recalibration is a good idea. If you look at images of my old car, I used to have the rear struts calibrated at 715mm to give a bit of additional clearance to the rear tyres when going over bumps, due to the wheel offset.

 

[Blobcat]

Damn, don’t know any ABC guys that way.

Anyone know who John Laidlaw used?

He used someone York way IIRC