W203 sports suspension or not

[BCar]

Hi Forum,
I am about to take delivery of a lovely grey avantgarde SE estate with 5 arm star wheels (I think are 17"). How will I tell if it had the sports pack?

I have the original brochure and I'm confused as to the spec and the Indie dealer didn't even notice the xenon lights or phone prep so couldn't tell. It does have the rubber studded pedals and the 3 arm steering wheel but it doesn't have sport seats or the chrome tipped exhausts. Confused. I'm getting rid of my mini as the ride is too hard the trim is rattling itself off!

The very limited test drive was over some lovely roads. Do I have the sports suspension or not and if so is there anything I can do to soften it?

Thanks
Ben

 

[BlackC55]

Does it have the large cross-drilled discs?

 

[BCar]

I'm not sure. I dont pick it up till next week and it wasn't obvious. Is that a definite sign of the sports pack?

 

[BlackC55]

Yes, I think so.

 

[BCar]

Is it possible to tell from this pic. Its all I've got

 

[BlackC55]

It has sport pack brakes so likely to be suspension too. I can see the big caliper.

If you don't like it buy an Elegance spec. They are much softer or retro fit Elegance springs and shocks.

Alot of the firm ride will be from the tyres too.

 

[Rory]

If it has the Sport pack then I think it would have sport seats, but it could have had sport suspension on its own. Sport pack did include 17" wheels, so would be slightly bonkers for a buyer to get those on their own, rather than just buy the pack.

I have an Avantgarde Estate on 16" wheels and the ride isn't great, to be honest. My car has 55 section front tyres and 50 rears and the orginal Bridgestones were just horrendous - more like iron rings than rubber tyres, even when run on the minumum pressures. It's noticeably better on Michelin Primacy HPs.

One slightly bizzare thing I've figured is that a lot of the "crashiness" on poor surfaces is noise from the load cover flapping about - so I generally drive now with it retracted.

 

[v6conv]

If you have the vin number you can tell by using a online option checker.

Mine has 486 sports chassis (с 01.04.1997) it has the same wheels and brakes.

 

[x332race]

From the brakes and wheels it looks as if you ahve the sports pack but as v6conv says, use VIN checker to confirm this. You should have "sports" seats but to be honest, these do not look much different to standard seats in my opinion.

The ride is firm but relativly pliant. You are stuck with using 17" inch rims as 16" rims will not clear the larger brakes. Tyre choice can make a difference...choose a tyre with a softer sidewall.

 

[jonm]

looks like its got teh sports pack to me...wheels & brakes

 

[gatty]

I currently have W203 C320cdi with sports pack and indeed ride is firm. However have previously had 2x BMW Minis which were both more harsh than W203 but believe a contributory factor was the 'run flat' tyres, which are not on the w203.

 

[Insain]

yes yours is the sports pack

you can tell by the wheels, size of calipers, drilled discs, chrome exhaust tip etc...

 

[Insain]

Go for the Avantegarde if you want a stiffer suspension and more sportier drive

IF not go for the elegance with softer suspension and a softer drive

 

[whitenemesis]

A bit late Insain the OP asked in February!

 

[Palfrem]

I wonder if OP liked the car?

 

[Insain]

sorry i was merc-less for about 5 months....

so only back onto the forums now....

 

[withey]

How much would it cost to change the sports suspension to elegance?

 

[rhud]

From the brakes and wheels it looks as if you ahve the sports pack but as v6conv says, use VIN checker to confirm this. You should have "sports" seats but to be honest, these do not look much different to standard seats in my opinion.

The ride is firm but relativly pliant. You are stuck with using 17" inch rims as 16" rims will not clear the larger brakes. Tyre choice can make a difference...choose a tyre with a softer sidewall.

Is there any consensus about which tyres have softer sidewalls? Was told that 'Far East' tyres have stiff sidewalls,but not sure.

 

[RandS]

If you have the vin number you can tell by using a online option checker.

Any clues on where to access an online option checker?

Steve