W124 Sports Chassis

[hitt]

I've just been on our favourite Russian site and noticed that my car has option code 653 - sports chassis with 8-hole light alloy rims

The rims were certainly on the car when I got it. However, 'sports chassis'? in what way would this differ from a 'normal chassis', or was it the case that all coupes had the sport chassis?

Would be interesting to know the difference.

 

[Gollom]

I've just been on our favourite Russian site and noticed that my car has option code 653 - sports chassis with 8-hole light alloy rims

The rims were certainly on the car when I got it. However, 'sports chassis'? in what way would this differ from a 'normal chassis', or was it the case that all coupes had the sport chassis?

Would be interesting to know the difference.

Do a search for Sportline on this forum. Lower and stiffer (as the bishop said to the actress)

 

[ADY1983]

Yep , stiffer springs, shocks, thicker anti roll bars, different wishbones and from what I can see on my 2 an extra brace accross the front chassis section...

 

[janner]

an extra brace accross the front chassis section...

Oooh, tell me more...

 

[hitt]

Very interesting . . because I'm almost certain I had none of that

Car was on stilts when I got it . . I purchased lowering springs.

No idea about the extra brace, I would like to know more! If I see that there then I guess I am somewhere closer to the sportline spec :bannana:

The car is certainly great on cornering . . very direct and very level (although I can't say the same about the passengers!)

 

[ADY1983]

Oooh, tell me more...

Well on the saloon I just broke up there was an extra brace going from one side to the other at the front, I can only assume it was for extra stiffness, I would take a pic but with any luck it will be gone when I get home...:bannana:

 

[BTB 500]

Very interesting . . because I'm almost certain I had none of that

Faked VIN no. ?!

 

[hitt]

Faked VIN no. ?!

oi oi I'll have none of that

I know the car is genuine as I've known all the owners since new. Up until it came to me it was still completely standard, on stilts,m orange indicators, cloth interior, 15" alloys and until a week ago it did not have an electrochromatic rear view mirror

 

[BTB 500]

Just stirring

I don't know that the 'Russian site' is 100% reliable ... it has no record of my '97 car for example, although the datacard comes up fine in EPC.

 

[ADY1983]

My Coupe comes up with no leather, alloys etc. but I guess If Carlsson did do the conversion it wouldn't be recorded there anyway?

 

[Howard]

Would it be possible that one of the previous owners has stripped the sportline stuff to go on another car and replaced it with standard stuff ...

Hence it being on stilts for a while ...

 

[hitt]

Would it be possible that one of the previous owners has stripped the sportline stuff to go on another car and replaced it with standard stuff ...

Hence it being on stilts for a while ...

No I know for sure thats not the case, its always been in my family. It was a company car all its life before I got it, and they would never have done anything like that to it for sure.

As mentioned above it is possible that the russian site has some slight issues with accuracy. I guess the only way to find out is to see if there are any telltale signs on the chassis

 

[Howard]

Could you order a Sportline that wasn't a 300 or the later 320 ...

I thought it was only an option on the top line model ?

 

[bolide]

I think Sports Chassis and Sportline were options on all models

I quite like that approach - if you want a 2-litre car with wind-up windows, a purple interior and sports suspension, you can have it!

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk