W203 spring advice please

[quasarman]

OK now that my otherwise solid car has broken its third rear spring in two years I'd like to get some advice if anyone can offer.

I have a W203 C320 Estate (2002) with factory sports suspension. I'm getting very tired of this recurrent problem and as a result am thinking about aftermarket springs as I can't help feeling that the Mercedes supplied ones I keep replacing with are not manufactured to a suitable standard. In nearly 20 years driving (lots of it spirited) I've never before broken a spring and these certainly aren't cheap to replace every 10 months or so.

Apart from any general advice anyone can offer I would like to ask;

By how much do the factory sports springs lower the car?
Could I fit some progressive springs that would lower less than the above but retain some of the stiffness?
How bad a job is it to do?
Can anyone recommend an alternative that would last a bit better?
How much should I be paying?

Wow that's a lot I know but this problem really has got my back up now and I would love to know if anyone else has found a solution...

Cheers

 

[whitenemesis]

I think the drop is 25mm. Many fit Bilstein kits (B12 or B14 complete with new shocks) and recommend them highly. Not cheap ranging from £600 - £1000. You need s special spring compressor to work on the fronts