W124 Suspension rebuild

[WDB124066]

Yes, ever thought of using Koni adjustable as an alternative to the Bilstiens.

What is the consensus of opinion on these.

Only ask because I am off to see the agents in Auckland to have a chat sometime this week, would appreciate a bit of feedback if anybody has them fitted. Seems to me that you are not stuck with one setting, if you don't like the change then you can adjust accordingly without having to remove them from the car.

 

[Niks]

Yeah Koni's are also supposed to be very good too. I know Talbir has Koni's on one of his 500E's and he hasnt any problems with them. I think Bilstein is a household german name, hence its popularity but then Koni have also had a very long motorsports history too.

 

[Niks]

Update - Got my car back, there is a noticeable difference straight away! I need to the camber, toe and wheel alignment done though.

I've decided to go for the Koni Sport Adjustable dampers all round (8741-1092 for front, and 26-1198 for rears). These will take upto 35-40mm lowering all round and I can adjust the ride handling according to MB Sportline springs. I'll stick to the Sportline antiroll bar too.

 

[WDB124066]

I was wondering if they were the best option. How much are they incidentally.

 

[Niks]

Just ordered the MB Sportline springs for my car yesterday. They should arrive from germany on Tuesday. I know they wont be as low as the Eibach springs I have at the moment, but thats a good thing for me. I'll never go back to Eibach, absolutely rubbish!

 

[bh13coupe]

Just ordered the MB Sportline springs for my car yesterday. They should arrive from germany on Tuesday. I know they wont be as low as the Eibach springs I have at the moment, but thats a good thing for me. I'll never go back to Eibach, absolutely rubbish!

Can I ask what cost are the sportline springs, I am after set for my coupe instead of eibach's. also how do u confirm the correct part codes if the chassis VIN was not a sportline when it left the factory.

I am intersted to hear your feedback on the Sportline in comparison to the eibach's.

thanks

 

[WDB124066]

There are a range of Sportline Springs for your car based on it’s weight. Weight is translated into "Points”, the number of points will determine what Sportline Spring & Isolation Pad is needed.

Translating weight into points is done by tallying up options like Sunroof, A/C Climate, even the Stereo. I had a quick look for the chart the other day but only found the Bilstien points chart, not the MB one.

I could go on another hunt if nobody else can post it if you like......

Regards, W.

 

[WDB124066]

I can go measure ride height of the Cabriolet so you know at least where a Sportline Cab sits.......

 

[Niks]

Theres a chap who works in the parts department in MB Milton Keynes who was really helpful. He basically took the VIN number of my car, then had a look on one of his systems to do a comparison against a sportline version of my car with the same options. So now basically, if my car was a sportline version with all the current options it has on it according to the points then these are the springs the car would have come with.

I paid £285 for the set of four. I know the H&Rs werent that far away from this price tag but I just dont want to mess about with aftermarket springs anymore, it just ends up costing more in the long run.

 

[WDB124066]

Height from flat level floor to underside of mudguard lip measured perpindicular to the floor through each wheel centre.

Car has almost no fuel. I know the way MB specify to measure is with a full tank, will do that later if I get the chance. Anyway here are the numbers,

FR & FL = 645 mm
RR = 650 mm
LR = 652 mm

Here is a picture of how the car sits with an empty tank. To me this car would look ideal if the height dropped by 10 to 20 mm in the rear only. Even with a full tank the rear still looks high and it is not till it is loaded with luggage will it sit level with the road. They look nice when loaded up.

 

[Niks]

I really do hope the sportline springs will be much better than the eibachs in terms of comfort and long term reliability.

When I first got the eibachs installed, they were great and the whole car just drove far more better, it was more responsive and felt so much tighter/firmer (also had Bilstein HD shocks put in at the same time). 7 months and 6000 miles later, my car is feeling softer, back to the nose diving, body roll, sagging and acceleration drag.

10,000 miles later, now my car sits a further 18mm lower compared to the 35-40mm drop it stated everywhere...close enough to 55-60mm. The car literally feels like its driving on the bump stops, wheels are hitting the wheel arches when going over bumps and I can forget about having passengers in the rear all together.

Knock on effect, the power steering pump has to work a lot harder and it is stressing all the rest of the suspension/steering components, so it robs more power from the engine (hence car feeling sluggish). Final effect, I find myself looking for petrol stations more often!

 

[WDB124066]

Here is how it looks loaded with baggage and half a tank of gas. I will be going for the thinnest pads in the rear. I think 10- 20 mm lower than standard Sportline in the rear & leaving the front where it is would be ideal. I use my car as a mobile batch (holiday home) and I like to know that when it is loaded it is not too low for gravel, out of the way places & those annoying humps in car parks. No problem with those at all at the moment, I figure I will just go for a thinner pad in the read and that will be my lot.

All the best to one and all, W.

 

[bh13coupe]

I really do hope the sportline springs will be much better than the eibachs in terms of comfort and long term reliability.

I agree, I have in the last 18months removed some 45mm drop aftermarket springs fitted by previous owner, fitted OEM std spring with new bilstein HD's. the car looked like a stilted joke and i had to remove the springs asap. For a quick fix i fitted some cheap ROK springs with a 30mm drop which seem to have dropped a little more and the car isnt looking quite right. I have speed bumps near my home which have made me raise the ride height and i cant use the readily available 45mm drop springs which wont go with the bilstein hd's, just not an option. All i want is a slight drop in height and maintain some comfort. I will be following your progress closely and will proably follow suit with sportlines. I am sure we will have a lot to talk about at the GTG in july

BTW my coupe has all options except cruise and heated seats.

 

[bh13coupe]

Here is how it looks loaded with baggage and half a tank of gas. I will be going for the thinnest pads in the rear. I think 10- 20 mm lower than standard Sportline in the rear & leaving the front where it is would be ideal. I use my car as a mobile batch (holiday home) and I like to know that when it is loaded it is not too low for gravel, out of the way places & those annoying humps in car parks. No problem with those at all at the moment, I figure I will just go for a thinner pad in the read and that will be my lot.

All the best to one and all, W.

Thanks for the pics and info

the drop on your cab is what i am looking for on my coupe, not slammed just a little lower.

 

[BlackC55]

I really do hope the sportline springs will be much better than the eibachs in terms of comfort and long term reliability.

When I first got the eibachs installed, they were great and the whole car just drove far more better, it was more responsive and felt so much tighter/firmer (also had Bilstein HD shocks put in at the same time). 7 months and 6000 miles later, my car is feeling softer, back to the nose diving, body roll, sagging and acceleration drag.

10,000 miles later, now my car sits a further 18mm lower compared to the 35-40mm drop it stated everywhere...close enough to 55-60mm. The car literally feels like its driving on the bump stops, wheels are hitting the wheel arches when going over bumps and I can forget about having passengers in the rear all together.

Knock on effect, the power steering pump has to work a lot harder and it is stressing all the rest of the suspension/steering components, so it robs more power from the engine (hence car feeling sluggish). Final effect, I find myself looking for petrol stations more often!

Why would the PS pump be working harder?

 

[WDB124066]

Crickey Niks!

If your springs are sagging that fast I would have to wonder if they have been heat treated, after forming, properly or some such thing. I think, given what you have outlined, that there might be a chance of a claim if it is the springs. And I would imagine it would be taken very seriously by the transport authorities. Certainly these days in NZL it would.

The springs should not sag like that so quickly all things being equal.

 

[coupe deville]

MB Wakefield are doing £50 per hour labour and 25% off service parts for older cars. Speak to Sean in parts and see if he will agree that springs are service parts. [well they seem to break on a regular basis]
I paid £120 + vat for a pair of fronts before the offer was introduced.

 

[WDB124066]

Here is a standard non Sportline car with very low kms in the US.

The blue car is just about right for a sporty look without being too low IMHO.

 

[grober]

You should always fit the shorter Bilstein "sports" shocks with lower ride height springs [HD =heavy duty shock absorbers are designed to operate with normal ride height springs] such that the operating range of the shock absorber corresponds to spring travel. Its possible that your car was virtually suspended on its shock absorbers for the last 16K miles [operated out of their design range?] and its their performance that has suffered rather than the springs??

Eibach springs certainly had a good reputation in the past.

 

[d w124]

Nick:Eibach can`t be that bad mate,are you sure your springs are for 6 cyl car?