Lowering my w210 E320 cdi elegance

[richip]

I have recently purchased a 1999 (facelift) E320 cdi elegance estate. I'd like to improve the appearance and handling by lowering the suspension to avantgarde levels. Is the only difference the spring specification?

I notice GSF and Eurocarparts sell a spring kit that lowers the car by 40mm which seems about right. However the kit is only £70 and this seems a little cheap.

I'm trying to retain a modicum of comfort whilst eliminating the spongy handling. I would be grateful for any thoughts/advice on this matter or direct experience of these kits.

Many thanks,


Richip

 

[television]

From the problems encountered by some members with after market springs the genral consensus is that it is better to buy them from MB. use a VIN number of a similar spec car.

Malcolm

 

[richip]

Thanks for that.

Can I clarify that you are suggesting I purchase Avantgarde springs from MB and these should give the performance/appearance I require with no further mods.

 

[type49]

It is possible to lower your car & keep your existing springs. The spring cups that they are mounted on can be bought in different heights at a cost of about £6 each (X4). Turn the steering on full lock & look at the top of the spring with a torch. You will see a rubber cap between the spring & the car. See how many "pips" or dots are on the rubber cap. 1 is lowest, 5 is highest. Each pip is equivalent to about 5mm. If you have 5s & put 1s on, it will lower the car by 20mm ( about the difference between an Elegance & Avantgarde ).

 

[richip]

Thanks type49 thats very interesting.

 

[television]

Thanks type49 thats very interesting.

We are lucky having Type49 on the forum

malcolm

 

[turnipsock]

There are a number of springs and several rubber spacers for the top of the springs.

I wouldn't go down the route of fitting a weaker spring as this will bind and break very quickly.

If you must lower your car then do as Type49 says and change the rubber spacer, you should really get the geomtry checked after that...and watch out for speed bumps.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

To get any real benefit you will need to replace the springs with the stiffer ratio Avantgarde (sport) springs (as TV says only use MB sprngs). I can recommend this but I wouldn't go to a lower profile tyre and bigger wheel size (standard Avantgarde 16in wheels with 55 ratio tyres are best) or you will get to know every pothole in your area intimately.

The Avantgarde set up allows for brisk driving and I find is about right, the car feels very stable in high speed corners and suffers less wind buffeting with 20mm less air gap under the car.

As Turnipsock says you will have to give speed bumps and car park curbs some respect or loose chunks off the front spoiler and undertray. The first owner of mine wore a hole in the front undertray which I have subsequently replaced.

Bearing in mind the above I can wholly recommend spending the money.

 

[Mike J]

Hi Malcolm
I can bear witness to the advice about treating kerbs with respect!!!!!
1 moment’s inattention and I now have half a front undertray.
The rest is in the boot. Rattan Fratten Rattan.
When you replaced yours what was the costs.
Regards
Mike J

 

[Blobcat]

Excellent advice above ^

 

[richip]

What a wonderful resource this is.

That horrible feeling in the pit of your stomach, when you realise you've payed good money to ruin a perfectly decent car, is one I'd very much like to avoid. Therefore access to this type of advice is invaluable and much appreciated.

I'll let you know how I get on and thanks again to everyone.

 

[television]

What a wonderful resource this is.

.

.

It is said that this is one of the best forums going from a technial point of veiw.


Malcolm

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Hi Mike J,
The front undertray was about £80 and I asked my garage to replace it during a service.

If you go ahead with the replacement I would ask the garage to waxoil the front crossmember while they have access and use 5mm spacers at the rear fixings to allow for water drainage (this should help stop this known water trap causing corrosion to the crossmember).

 

[Mike J]

Thanks malcolm
Mike

 

[chrislarkin]

W210 Suspension height problems

Hi guys, this site is one of the most useful sites i have ever come accross.

I have a '97 300 TD avantgarde with 113k miles. Like some of the many comments i've read mine has suffered from low ride height damage. I'm a taxi driver and have been using the car as a taxi since april this year. I've gone through an exhaust and have damaged the radiator by pushing it back 4 or five times because of the ride height when going over speed bumps or against kerbs when manouvering. I want to increase the ride height but depending on expense might opt for the softer elegence "comfort" springs. Any info on conversions you know of especially with prices would be appreciated. The car is only worth about 5k gbp so i don't really want to spend a grand gbp on her. what do you reckon to getting a complete elegence setup from a breakers.

Thanks

Chris
Dublin
Ireland

PS, try a site called www.micksgarage.ie

Got a radiator for 298eur incl vat and delivery which i thought was pretty good value.

 

[hmang]

Hi Malcolm
I can bear witness to the advice about treating kerbs with respect!!!!!
1 moment’s inattention and I now have half a front undertray.
The rest is in the boot. Rattan Fratten Rattan.
When you replaced yours what was the costs.
Regards
Mike J

the undertray for my 210 was only £20 ish but the sound deadening mat was extra

 

[robs-mbz]

re- lowering W210 suspension

I did just that on my E300 Elegance. I went down the route of changing the rubber cups. My car had 5 pip rubbers fitted to the front and 3 pip rubbers to the rear so I ordered 1 pip rubbers to replace them all. The front looked great but the rear still looked a bit too high so I committed the cardinal sin of taking an angle grinder to the springs, I cut off just half a coil from the top of each one, the ride height was spot on, ride comfort is exactly the same, as is the handling and general 'feel' of the car.

I've since fitted a set of Avantgarde wheels, (£60 off ebay!) and an Avantgarde grille, the look of the car has been totally transformed, I always thought it looked a bit 'pipe and slippers' before!

Have attached a few pics to demonstrate, appologies for the state of the car, got to get the shampoo and sponge out this afternoon!

 

[chrislarkin]

Just to update you on this one. I've fitted heavy billstein duty springs and shocks at a cost of 600eur for the parts from OTTO and whilst the car nnow floats over speed ramps it has rissen the car too high at the rear end. The weight load with just me in the car is all up front and it now feels "wooly/vague". Maybe i should have gone for standard rather than heavy duty springs. Also on the radiator side try www.radiators.com there in the states but have live instant assistance and including international posting came in at 240eur which i would have jumped at but given the car is my income i needed a rad quick but if your arent in a hurry it could save you quiet a few quid with the current dollar FX rate.

Cheers

Chris.

Hi guys, this site is one of the most useful sites i have ever come accross.

I have a '97 300 TD avantgarde with 113k miles. Like some of the many comments i've read mine has suffered from low ride height damage. I'm a taxi driver and have been using the car as a taxi since april this year. I've gone through an exhaust and have damaged the radiator by pushing it back 4 or five times because of the ride height when going over speed bumps or against kerbs when manouvering. I want to increase the ride height but depending on expense might opt for the softer elegence "comfort" springs. Any info on conversions you know of especially with prices would be appreciated. The car is only worth about 5k gbp so i don't really want to spend a grand gbp on her. what do you reckon to getting a complete elegence setup from a breakers.

Thanks

Chris
Dublin
Ireland

PS, try a site called www.micksgarage.ie

Got a radiator for 298eur incl vat and delivery which i thought was pretty good value.

 

[nia-ja]

Is it only the springs that are different on an avantgarde? Are the dampers the same?
I just got a 98 E240 elegance a month ago. It came with some aftermarket springs installed and was even lower than normal avantgarde height. Ride and handling was nice and looked great.

Then I found a broken spring on the back( the dealer changed out the two rear springs on warrenty) But now the ass is a mile up in the air and handling is not as good

Was planning to fit Bilsteins B12 kit, 35mm lower than standard and matched dampers. Anybody have experience with these?

Or I'm I better off just buying 4 MB avantgarde springs and some thinner pad's

 

[nia-ja]

Thats ride height when I got it. Now the back end is at least 20mm higher

And yes its parked on a sheet of ice, it was -15 over here in Norway when I took the photo