W124 320TE How do i know if its a Sportline

[bw2122]

My 320 TE has a broken front coil spring, doesnt seem to be that tricky a job, except which spring to buy. The chap I bought it off told me it had sport suspension, hence is lower to the ground than the standard, but how do i know if it is a sportline or just been lowered?

Any help appreciated

 

[JOB-BLACK-RAT]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Whip it into a tyre fitting place etc, ask them to get dirty and find out for you.

Then thank them and leave to look about for best price replacements for the pair, dont just do the one side, replace both units.

 

[d w124]

Whip it into a tyre fitting place etc, ask them to get dirty and find out for you.

How would that be exactly?Are you talking about the spring colours,as they`re not as helpful when ordering

 

[BlackC55]

And only buy them from MB

 

[d w124]

My 320 TE has a broken front coil spring, doesnt seem to be that tricky a job, except which spring to buy. The chap I bought it off told me it had sport suspension, hence is lower to the ground than the standard, but how do i know if it is a sportline or just been lowered?

Any help appreciated

Hi and welcome to the forum.As has been said before is best if you change the pair,and believe me I talk from experience is best if you buy them from dealers.
I had to change them twice on my one as only later Eurocarparts realised that they can`t find the right ones for my car

 

[Ian B Walker]

Maybe i can help here. To find out if you have sportline suspension look at the steering ball joint. If it is deep and is part of the wishbone, then its sportline. A non sportline ball joint sits in a collar and is changeable. Sportline springs are £62.50 each plus vat. To change them (if you have the proper tooling) takes all of 50 mins (on a bad day, my record is 11 mins per side).

 

[hotrodder]

Aren't the ball joints part of the wishbone regardless on the a w124 320? Heard the replacable ball joints thing be explained both ways i.e. to do with engine size and/or a sportline/sport chassis thing

Stick your chassis # in here http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.partscatalog.ru and it'll give you the build spec of your car. Just checked it with mine and it's working at the mo

As said change the pair and only buy them from MB if going for standard replacements

 

[Ian B Walker]

Aren't the ball joints part of the wishbone regardless on the a w124 320?

No they are not. Owning both sportline and non sportline 124's. You will find that sportline ball joints are not replaceable whereas non sportline ones are replaceable. The E320 came as either sportline and non sportline, depending on original owner build specification. Some people opted for standard suspension.

 

[hotrodder]

Fair enough, i've seen it explained so many different ways couldn't remember which was the most popular. Only ever had a close look at mine but that's a 320 sportline so not much use

 

[bw2122]

Interesting, i put the VIN code in and all the extras are listed, but no mention of sports suspension.

 

[BlackC55]

Just ask MB. It will show up on EPC (Electronic Parts Catalouge)

 

[grober]

My 320 TE has a broken front coil spring, doesnt seem to be that tricky a job, except which spring to buy. The chap I bought it off told me it had sport suspension, hence is lower to the ground than the standard, but how do i know if it is a sportline or just been lowered?

Any help appreciated

If it doesn't show up as having the sports suspension option from the VIN it may have been lowered as an aftermarket modification with non MB springs and shocks? If it wasn't lowered by much the self-leveling suspension at the rear may have been merely adjusted. I would contact the seller for more info if possible- however its also possible he didn't do the mod but bought the car like that??

 

[kth286]

No they are not. Owning both sportline and non sportline 124's. You will find that sportline ball joints are not replaceable whereas non sportline ones are replaceable. The E320 came as either sportline and non sportline, depending on original owner build specification. Some people opted for standard suspension.

That is just wrong.

Ian you do not have a 320 model so you have not had to get involved with the issue.

The 320 does have integrated ball joints whether it is sportline or not.

I have replaced my wishbones on my 320 coupe and I know.