124 Spring Part No's

[WDB124066]

Is there any difference between the E220 & E320 Sportline Cabriolet Rear Spring Part No's?

Is there anyway to tell what the spring rate is for a given part number on the EPC?

Thanks for your help, W.

 

[grober]

The part no for the "sports undercarriage" as they so coyly put it is the same for the 220 [124.062] and the 320 [124.066] cabriolet AFAIK.------ A1243243404 Its the same for all the points system values too. This makes sense really since the rear of the these cars is going to be basically the same weight [ possibly a slight change in differential casting weight ? but little else] The major changes are going to be at the front where differing engine+gearbox weight and ancilliaries are going to be much more significant in comparison to overall body weight.
We may also be kidding ourselves that a true full range of spring rates even exists any more for these older models- we may be getting closer to the "one size fits all" situation despite the differing part nos.

 

[WDB124066]

I see. E200 Cabriolet by any slim chance.

I'm about to replace all my rubber and shocks and I know the car is going to rise from where it is now - which is factory with 200,000 kms on it.

I don’t want it to rise any more than what it is now which is 10 mm lower than factory bottom limit for Sportline. Here it is with a loaded full size suitcase in the boot (Yes you can get one in there, roof up or down with plenty room to spare) and a half tank of gas.

I want to retain the same height after the new parts are installed. I am currently on No1 pads. Thought I'd start with a shorter spring and higher pads and that a E220 or 200 spring might be a good starting point........??

 

[219]

We may also be kidding ourselves that a true full range of spring rates even exists any more for these older models- we may be getting closer to the "one size fits all" situation despite the differing part nos.

That may well be the case .

When I replaced the rear springs in my W126 , I got my dealer to look up the springs for maximum points and also ordered the thickest spring pads - to take account of the towbar I had fitted and all the audio electronics I had put in the boot ( together with the sheets of MDF it was all mounted on ) .

Unfortunately , the back end still sits low ( although not as low as before ) , so I am still planning to retrofit SLS to take care of this .

Autobalans did help to a small extent , but are reluctant to stay properly in place .

 

[grober]

Here's the table for the E200 coupe top pic and E320 coupe middle pic with points allocation table bottom pic, associated spring pads and heights. There seems to be no distinction for the cabriolet from the coupe except for the addition of 3 points for the semi automatic folding top! there are "starting points" differences for the different models as you can see. Changes in suspension rate/ride height seem to be mainly achieved by the spring pads rather than the springs themselves. Looking at the points allocation on the top table it would appear spring rate goes up with the number?
One thing you could do is to cut the spring length slightly- this would lower the car slightly but increase the spring rate iirc, but I would be reluctant to do this. Other option would be to explore the drop offered by after market suspension tuners H and R and Eibach but you will run into the problem of increased rates with these ove r the factory sportline springs. But as I said this may be akin to "counting angels on the head of a pin" since availability of all the listed parts may be decreasing ?

 

[WDB124066]

You're a bl00dy diamond Graeme,

You have helped a lot of people out on this forum & I for one have learned a lot from your goings on


I make it three spring options.

I will cross reference with a document out of the States, check to see what colour springs I have and go from there.

E36 Cabriolet springs might be an option, for the whole car. Sounds expensive!!