C200-T Elegance AMG Wheels - (Dune Buggy Special Edition!)

[R2D2]

I've just rung MB parts and asked how much the parts will be and how much to fit them . He will get back to me on prices, but he reckons that nothing else needs changed, the cups at the top stay, obviously the wishbones and balljoints remain as do the rubber "thingies"??

I'm sure MB will fit them if they can relieve us of some dosh.

 

[V12]

Yeah, nothing else needs to be changed...

 

[R2D2]

Yeah, nothing else needs to be changed...

Do you do Sport/esprit springs for 202s??? If so how much??

 

[sym]

.... and are the saloon / estate springs the same, on the rears ?

S.

 

[V12]

If i had a set £40+vat to members.
Pretty sure the saloon and estate are different...

 

[i8000]

sym,

Where are the pics?
I've almost secured exactly the same rims to go on my C200T, and I'm dying to see your before and after pics! Any sneak previews?

 

[sym]

sym,

Where are the pics?
I've almost secured exactly the same rims to go on my C200T, and I'm dying to see your before and after pics! Any sneak previews?

Sorry about the pics - they disappeared with my old webspace, it seems !

Here's a couple of afters.

The before's don't really count, as I went from 15", to 16" SLK wheels, to the 17" AMGs !

 

[sym]

more...

 

[sym]

one more ....

 

[i8000]

Nice. Nice.

Am I right in thinking that you haven't done the suspension yet? There seems to be quite a large gap between the tyre and the wheel arch.

I think I'll get the suspension done first, then the wheels. My car's due for a service shortly and I'll see what the dealer wants to change the springs over.

 

[sym]

You are correct - suspension is still "Elegance" - i.e. not lowered ! It's on the list of "things to do soon" !

Let me know how you get on with the dealer - would be interested.

S.

 

[i8000]

Well, I just had the most disapponting conversation with my nearest MB dealership (W/London) regarding the suspension changes to my W202 estate. Sym, you'll be interested to note.

Went inside and waited for one of the service desks to become free. It was a Friday afternoon, and it was busy. One couple were having an argument with one of the service technicians. Not a good impression.

Didn't really want to wait or to listen to the argument, so I decided to wander down to the spare parts department where they looked a bit quieter. Had a good chat to one of the spare parts guys, who pulled up the details of my car on their system (I wrote down the VIN number before I entered the dealership knowing it may be needed).
I explained what I wanted to do - that is to replace the Elegance dampers and springs with Sport dampers and springs and make my car look better with my 17" AMG's.

Boy, what a response. We won't do that sir. Your car was not delivered with Sport suspension, and it is not an option to change it. We don't recommend it as there is more involved than just changing the dampers and springs. Most unbelievable at all was his refusal to sell me Sport suspension parts for my car because "they won't fit".
I could see there was no point in trying to convince him what I wished to do was possible, despite him saying it wasn't. I thanked him and walked away.

On my way out, I passed the service desks which were much quieter. Sat down and spoke to a service consultant. Explained my requirements again, and like before, was presented with a barrage of horror stories of bodged suspenion changes, destroyed ball joints and other suspension problems. Good grief! Is what I'm asking impossible? Other people have done it.
Annoyed, I left but let them know that if they won't do it, I will get it done elsewhere.

I really don't know why I'm too surprised to hear all of this.

What I need to do now, like yourself Sym, is to find a reputable place to lower my car just that little bit to make it aesthetically appealing with the 17" AMG's.

I'd love to hear how other people have done it.

 

[pluggers]

A mate of mine did lower his W202 estate by about 40mm,Cost was IRO £100 for springs he didn't touch the dampers.The rear he did himself and I seem to think he got a mate in the trade to do the front for him.Everything was perfect with his 17" wheels on,the only problems arose when he put 19" wheels on! The car sat a little to low and he had some scrubbing.

 

[i8000]

Thanks pluggers.

£100 is pretty good. I would really like the dampers done at the same time. Just need the right place to do them both now.

I don't plan on doing any of it myself. I have visions of Homer Simpson with "Springy - the Springfield Olympic macsot" caught in his eye. Those of you who watch the Simpsons will know what I mean.

 

[sym]

What they probably mean , is that it was never an option when ordering an elegance spec car.

A bit shortsighted of them to say that its impossible though . . . however doesn't surprise me at all !

I was at a specialist exhaust / wheel place in Aylesbury today (where Graham had his exhaust fitted) and am going back next week for some work to be done. The person I spoke to said that they undertook a lot of work for Mercedes Performance in Watford - I don't know whether they do suspension work as well, but I'll find out next week / get a decent recommendation in any case, and let you know.

That price quoted by pluggers certainly sounds good - the problem is finding somebody with the right spring compressors to swap the springs over !!

S.

 

[i8000]

Just by chance I'm looking at the Mercedes Performance website at the moment. Looks like they supply the suspension parts, but not fit them. Perhaps that's why the place in Aylebury does the work.

Let me know how you get on.

 

[sym]

A quick glance at their website www.topgear.co.uk confirms that they do sell the springs and suspension parts - and I'm guessing that they fit it too - will confirm for sure next week. They have several other locations around the UK as well.

S.

 

[jimmy]

I can supply lowering springs by Kilen they claim to lower MB's by 40mm but this can be adjusted with the use of different spring pads. I would like to lower mine by about 20mm at the front and 10mm at the rear to give a nice look. I could achieve this with just the use of thinner spring pads but we need the special tool, back to the group buy idea.

As I inderstand it, looking through the various aftermarket suspension catalogues, there are differences between the Classic, Elegance and Sport suspensions other than just the springs and shock absorbers. I am sure the upper and lower arms have different geometry to keep the wheels and handling the same. Simply lowering the car will affect the geometry of the suspension and steering, it will affect the way the wheels travel up and down.

I am sure you could just change the springs but you will compromise on handling. Fine tuning with spring pads is a better compromise.

 

[i8000]

Thanks for the offer jimmy.

I want to do the springs and dampers. If I remember correctly, R2D2 mentioned the best way to go is OEM.
I'd really love to do the MB Sport springs and dampers, but I'm a bit put off going into the dealers at the moment. Then I'd have to find somewhere to fit them, do the alignment etc... All I'm after is a drop of about 30 - 35 mm.