Sitting too high???

[UniqueTouch]

Hi,

I've just had a set of 18" rims put on my w202 99 C200 Elegance.

I'm concerned about the height of the front of the car - there appears to be a massive gap between the front wheel and arch...it was the same with the stock wheels. The back looks ok to me though.

Is anybody else's Elegance sitting this high? What could be wrong?

Would it help if I lower it? What do I need to get to lower it? Springs? Shocks?

Can anyone recommend how much I can lower it without anything rubbing or causing me agro over bumps.

Many thanks

 

[MondeoMan]

That looks way too high! Elegance models have more ride height than Esprit/Sport, but something isn't right there. Perhaps the front springs have been changed at some point (using V6 or diesel ones)?

 

[nicky]

The three yellow vehicles behind your car seam to be sitting level....lol.

 

[c13tay]

Yes - my elegance doesnt sit that high at the front - would have to agree about the springs too

 

[UniqueTouch]

Yes - my elegance doesnt sit that high at the front - would have to agree about the springs too

Chris, do you think it could be the spring pads? Do you know what numbers you have installed?

Cheers mate

 

[c13tay]

Anyone here feel free to correct me but I think that most of the parts making up the front suspension are the same throughout the 202 range. The difference is the springs.

As said, the espirit/sport had slightly lower stiffer springs and the oil burners had significantly stiffer jobbies to take the additional weight of the lump.

If the car has any history check back to see if it has ever had the springs replaced.

 

[blassberg]

The three yellow vehicles behind your car seam to be sitting level....lol.

and the C-Class behind has the wheels I am waiting for which is causing a 4 week delay...

 

[UniqueTouch]

If the car has any history check back to see if it has ever had the springs replaced.

Just found out from the trade dealer I bought it from that they sent it to a local garage for a service/mot and that the front springs were changed. So maybe they fitted the wrong ones? Is there a way I can check what the standard springs/pads should be?

 

[c13tay]

Dont really know how to check without possibly removing them to look at part numbers - I know that on VW's they used have a couple of blobs of coloured paint on the springs to identify the type and fitment etc.

Maybe the spring part no will be visible without removing them ?????

Wouls seem to indicate that the springs are the problem though - maybe they have been incorrectly fitted ???

 

[Bolide]

Springs

I may be cynical, but...


Don't bother looking at the springs - they won't have a part number. They'll have come from the local parts factor and will have cost nothing. They'll be the wrong part, or the right part but the wrong length, depending how you look at it

You bought it as it stands so either buy the right springs & have them fitted or live with it...


Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[UniqueTouch]

I think you're right Nick

Anyone know where I can get the H&R lowered springs from?

Thanks

 

[c13tay]

Prefer Eibach springs myself

 

[UniqueTouch]

Prefer Eibach springs myself

I've been told H&R are the best aftermarker springs for the Merc because they still give a nice smooth ride. Don't want it to be too stiff.

Can someone please recommend where I can get an set of H&R springs from as I can't find them on ebay.co.uk or ebay.de.

Thanks

 

[c13tay]

Try here

http://www.europerformance.co.uk/H&R_Suspension.htm



Chris

 

[UniqueTouch]

Try here

http://www.europerformance.co.uk/H&R_Suspension.htm

Thanks Chris

 

[turnipsock]

Does anybody know if there are any ride hights specified anywhere? I have a feeling that my 320CE is sitting low at the front. The ride doesn't feel as good as the 230TE.

There is a dip in the road, that I travel every morning, that if I hit it at anything over a 120 it feels like the front suspension is bottoming out. Does anybody else have a similar problem?

 

[Bolide]

320CE bottoming out

Turnipsock


Your 320CE is probably not in the first flush of youth - and it has a frickin' great big six-cylinder engine propped over the front springs

So I'd suspect the front springs are past their best. Just replace them with factory 320CE springs and I reckon everything will be OK

Of course if it's a Sportline car then bottoming out seems to be standard - particularly at 120 mph!

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[turnipsock]

That is what I was thinking, I could then just pass my old springs onto Unique so he could try them on his speed bump special...:smile:

I had a look at Eurocar parts and there seems to be a load of different springs...me wonders if they were replaced in the past with a shorter spring. The bonnet does seem a bit lower than the 230TE which I know is set up correctly.

I have also noted that the 320CE seems really bad in tight town situations, it's like the front end is triping over itself.

I guess I have to go and buy the dealers springs to get a point of reference.

 

[Bolide]

Re springs

There's unlimited amounts of bull**** talked about springs and shocks. Obviously not on this forum, but...

There are only two parameters that really matter for a spring: length and poundage (rate) in lb/inch. Length determines the static ride height and rate determines how stiff the spring is. Deflection is measured in pounds per inch for single-rate springs

Obviously if you reduce the spring length (and so ride height) then you need to increase the rate to prevent bottoming out. Determining the "best" rate would occupy a team of crack German test drivers being paid danger money on the Nurburgring for a couple of weeks, so we choose brand names (Eibach, H&R, etc) and "settings" (sport, comfort, etc) rather than simply specifying a spring rate like racers do

The Japanese aftermarket manufacturers take this to the logical conclusion for "drift spec" suspension - they don't reveal rate but just "specify" a suspension type (A, B, etc)

It's all bollocks. Either use the standard spring or research the Mercedes models & specs to find a shorter and/or stiffer spring

Obviously Mercedes specify different (frequently shorter) shocks, different rate antiroll bars and different bush compounds to complete a suspension setup (Sportline is a good example) but we frequently ignore that and change just one part. Not a good idea, IMHO, particularly for a car where the suspension has undergone such careful development as a Mercedes


Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[turnipsock]

From the official workshop manual

This is the official line...

General of Springs
Springs are always subjet to production tolerances. However, in order to obtain uniformity on the vehicle, production tolerances are compensated with spring length or installation hight. The springs are marked with a coloured stripe on the last bottom coil to indicate the various spring lengths (colour codes in the centre of the spring are contol marks for the manufacture and have no significance in terms of spring length) The part no. and MB company symbol are embossed on each spring on the last bottom coil.
The various spring lengths (installation hights) are marked on the springs with the following colour codes:

red = short spring
blue = long spring

The various installation hights of the springs and the various resulting axle loads for the individual vehicle models and versions are compensated by installing rubber mounts with various hights.

Match-up between springs, rubber mounts and vehicle model can be made with the aid of the parts microfiche.