Lowered my car

[Niks]

So here it is... Standard springs replaced with Eibach Pro Kit all round and still using the standard 8mm pads with standard MB Shocks for now. Have also got new Bilstein Shocks for all round which will be going on the car on monday.

 

[LTD]

Looks perilously close to the arches

 

[Niks]

It is! but for some reason only the front right has rubbed on the top of the wheel arch, the rest are fine. Hopefully these new Shocks will raise the front just a little more as the standard ones are well worn out now.

 

[glojo]

It is! but for some reason only the front right has rubbed on the top of the wheel arch, the rest are fine. Hopefully these new Shocks will raise the front just a little more as the standard ones are well worn out now.

I would SERIOUSLY think about what you are saying..

If that wheel has rubbed against the wheel arch under normal conditions then what will it do under more 'adverse' conditions.

Do looks supercede safety?

 

[Niks]

Lol, that was an adverse condition when it happened...Milk Float. Anyhow, Ive got 18mm spring shims which will be going on, a sway bar is on its way and rubber coil dampers. Should be interesting!

 

[BenzedUP]

Looks nice, when you going to supercharge it then?

 

[lynall]

That looks about the same as mine with std susp with amg wheels

Ps unless you are fitting gas shox they will make no difference to the ride height.



Lynall

 

[Niks]

Yea they are Bilstein Gas shocks which will be going on tomorrow.

 

[Dee-124CAB]

The front sits nice, maybe lower the back a touch to give it a nice even stance....

Or alternatively raise the front a little & dont touch the back to give a even stance again.

How much lower does the Eibach springs you fitted lower the car by?

There should really be no rubbing regardless how agressive the lowering is, if it does rub, the offset of the wheels you have may be wrong.

 

[Spoonman]

Arch Rolling? solves all your problems. Im loving the offset I cant stand it when cars are lowered without the right stance.

 

[Niks]

Dee - The Eibach kit claims to lower the car by 35 - 40mm all round. I think its gone down by the right amount at the back as theres enough clearance, but the front seems to have dropped by 50mm!! I was advised before I changed the springs that this would happen as my front shocks are well worn out and needed replacing anyway. The new Bilstein gas shocks will hopefully raise the front end a little more and sort the problem out, ultimately balancing the whole car out evenly.

Spoonman - Everyone told me to go for the E500 front fenders and roll out the rear arches a little more. This could be done pretty easily but its not as simple as it sounds. If I put new E500 fenders on, I'd need to change the front bumper, lower fender claddings and sideskirts to keep the look consistent, then perhaps the rear bumper too along with the rear claddings! Otherwise the wider fenders on a standard chassis without changing anything else would look odd! I guess it'd be cheaper just to buy a E500.

Here are a couple of lowered examples ive found and I dont know the hell they get away with this...

 

[Spoonman]

Arch rolling can look great...

 

[d w124]

That look`s sweet.

 

[detomaso]

Here are a couple of lowered examples ive found and I dont know the hell they get away with this...

I know what you mean but you would be surprised.....

My 190e has rolled front arches but not the rears as they are fine, I've had 5 up in the car and it hasn't rubbed at the rear, though like you the offside front will rub on very rare occasions and that is due to a worn front shock which will be shortly replaced. Those pictured are probably very stiff or driven very slowly

I should post a couple of pics up so you can see how low mine is.

Also I agree with an earlier comment that it is all about stance
Most (though not all) people lower their car primarily for the looks, not because of the lowered centre of gravity, handling etc. etc.

 

[Spoonman]

Most (though not all) people lower their car primarily for the looks, not because of the lowered centre of gravity, handling etc. etc.

Depends how you drive your car. Although with Mercs its more often looks as theyre not often modified to be track or drift cars. On the other hand getting a set of coilovers for a merc is actually gonna make a more dramatic difference to the handling of a merc than say a BMW which tend to be stiffer as standard.

 

[d w124]

I don`t understand the song,but i love this video.For all w124 fans http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f63UsVYHjJ4&feature=related

 

[glojo]

Arch rolling can look great...

Those arches look VERY nice but are those front wheels too wide? It certainly looks illegal. The stick on palstic side skirts look a joke

I would love to see that car trying to get off a field where the grass is wet

 

[detomaso]

Depends how you drive your car. Although with Mercs its more often looks as theyre not often modified to be track or drift cars. On the other hand getting a set of coilovers for a merc is actually gonna make a more dramatic difference to the handling of a merc than say a BMW which tend to be stiffer as standard.

It does indeed, and the impression I get of this forum (still a newbie, be gentle) is that the majority, but not all, prefer their cars standard with maybe a few subtle mods. I haven't really come across any full on suspension/engine mods other than tuner cars (Brabus, Kleemann etc etc) or engine swaps. I suppose it may be that, as you say, Mercedes are a bit softer in both driving and reputation so may not attract the kind of person to do that. Or it cost too much money to modify....

 

[Niks]

Update....

Just returned from having all 4 new shocks put on with a full wheel alignment by wheels in motion.

Firstly all I can say is WOW! WHAT A TRANSFORMATION!!! Here are my before and after results..

Before.... Steering was heavy and it felt like there was no power steering left in the system. On motorways and even driving around 30-40mph on normal roads the car swayed and bobbed up and down like a boat. During breaking, the front nose dived excessively. I was scared to even put more than 2 people in my car as it would just drop to the floor! When I put my foot down, it felt as if the car just couldnt be bothered to go, as if it was towing an anvil!

After.... Steering feels a hell of a lot lighter now and makes the so easy to turn effortlessly. The whole car in general feels a lot lighter so when I put my foot down, I can feel all 197bhp firmly plant my butt into the seat! (This could be the start of a new addiction! Oh no!) It dampens bumps extremely well and there is a significant difference from the swaying and bobbing up and down which I used to experience before. Theres no more towing of that anvil, now it just pounces away from the lights. Overall, it is a perfect well balanced comfortable ride, not too soft but not too harsh either...its bang on! Finally its raised the front end by 10mm as expected

So thats the Eibach Pro Kit lowering springs together with Bilstein B4 Gas Shocks all round...fantastic.

Would just like to say thanks for everyone who has helped and had their input on this one, its all been much appreciated! Especially to the lads at Wheels In Motion, I couldnt thank them enough! Brilliant and fantastic to deal with so I highly recommend them to anyone!

 

[blondebier]

Any more shots? (Not that I need convincing...) It does make a huge difference to the look.

Well done.