W205 Sport to Comfort Suspension Conversion

[frankonline]

Hi, My car w205 C200 has stiffer sport suspension with lowered amg kit. Can you guys guide me to the right direction on how to replace my suspension with comfort/standard suspension?

Also how can I deal with the lowered part? Replacing shocks and springs will increase the lowered car? Also what are the good quality suspension parts brands can recommend?

Thanks!

 

[markjay]

You could change the springs and dampers (aka 'shocks'), and this will improve the ride, but you'd still have things like stiffer antiroll bar etc - I am not 100% sure what other difference there may be between standard and sport suspension in addition to the springs and dampers. .

The height ride is determined by the springs alone - though the dampers need to match the springs and have the correct corresponding length-of-travel.

So replacing the springs and dampers will give you a softer ride (though not necessarily as soft as the standard suspension), and the car will ride higher.

If not doing it DIY, factor in some labour costs and more so fo the front where you have McPherson struts (though in reality it might be worth replacing the entire strut including spring and damper). Other costs will be suspension bits (bushes, ball joints, drop links, etc) that might be worth changing either because they look tired or because of 'while you're in there'.

And last, your car will probably have low profile tyres on 18" rims, replacing these with smaller rims will also help (just make sure that the smaller rims clear the larger disc brakes)

As for brands, there's genuine MB obviously, then Sachs and Bilstein make good dampers, eibach make good springs, and Lemforder make good suspension bits.

And last, don't forget to inform your insurer.

 

[frankonline]

You could change the springs and dampers (aka 'shocks'), and this will improve the ride, but you'd still have things like stiffer antiroll bar etc - I am not 100% sure what other difference there may be between standard and sport suspension in addition to the springs and dampers. .

The height ride is determined by the springs alone - though the dampers need to match the springs and have the correct corresponding length-of-travel.

So replacing the springs and dampers will give you a softer ride (though not necessarily as soft as the standard suspension), and the car will ride higher.

If not doing it DIY, factor in some labour costs and more so fo the front where you have McPherson struts (though in reality it might be worth replacing the entire strut including spring and damper). Other costs will be suspension bits (bushes, ball joints, drop links, etc) that might be worth changing either because they look tired or because of 'while you're in there'.

And last, your car will probably have low profile tyres on 18" rims, replacing these with smaller rims will also help (just make sure that the smaller rims clear the larger disc brakes)

As for brands, there's genuine MB obviously, then Sachs and Bilstein make good dampers, eibach make good springs, and Lemforder make good suspension bits.

And last, don't forget to inform your insurer.

Thank you for the detailed reply. Highly appreciated.

 

[frankonline]

Any ideas?

 

[Petrol Pete]

Maybe get the VIN off a W205 C200 of the same vintage but without sports 'AMG' suspension , use that to search and see what pop's up

There will be more to it than that as MB will have calculated damping and spring rates taking into account unsprung weight that come with the 'sports' kit . If the kit included bigger wheels/tyres , discs and callipers the extra weight would have been taken into account so just fitting 'softer' springs and lighter valved/oil dampers could have an odd effect on the car.

 

[Tonye]

Interesting, my new to me w205 C250d estate came lowered and had the original springs in a box in the back, its on 17s and after a week and a bad back my indy swapped them over. All is now bliss. What possessed the previous owner to do it is beyond me, 35-40mm drop with nothing else changed could have done some damage luckily all is good.

 

[DSM10000]

Just change the car to one you find more comfortable.

Changing the suspension specification will have an affect on selling it in the future.

 

[rayaans]

It can be done but tbh if you're not happy with the ride you need to sell the car as it'd probably cost you a lot more than to just change it

These originally came with run flat tyres - so you can change them to non runflat- all 4. I did that and it massively helped with the noise and ride comfort.

Also, the dealers tend to pump the tyres up to 38psi. Knock this down to around 33-35psi and its much better.

 

[Benzowner]

What size wheels do you have? I they are 18" or 20" try much smaller wheels with higher profile tyres 16 or 17" A suspension change is not cheap, better, as someone suggest, change the car.

 

[frankonline]

Hi, Thanks for the replies. Selling and getting another car is not possible because I've got this at a very low price compared to market price. ( A rare chance). Also I can import the suspension parts from autodocs.co.uk and a friend of mine will do the fixing part for free. Therefore upgrading this car is the only option for me.

If i change the springs and shocks to standard suspension, will it make the car comfortable? Should I need to change other suspension parts as well?

Thanks

 

[frankonline]

It can be done but tbh if you're not happy with the ride you need to sell the car as it'd probably cost you a lot more than to just change it

These originally came with run flat tyres - so you can change them to non runflat- all 4. I did that and it massively helped with the noise and ride comfort.

Also, the dealers tend to pump the tyres up to 38psi. Knock this down to around 33-35psi and its much better.

Hi, Thanks for the info. Already using 32psi.

 

[markjay]

...What possessed the previous owner to do it is beyond me...

Aesthetics. Or, rather, perceived aesthetics...

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

So what size wheels are you on?

If they’re not 17’s, or even 16’s, there’s an immediate improvement.

The pubs are full of German car owners complaining about ride quality from large wheeled motors. (And sports suspension)

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Hi, Thanks for the replies. Selling and getting another car is not possible because I've got this at a very low price compared to market price.

Then you can sell the car “at market price” realise your profit, and take your proceeds to buy another normal car at “market price.”

If you buy the components, that’s money lost, even if the fitting is free.

 

[Benzowner]

Hi, Thanks for the replies. Selling and getting another car is not possible because I've got this at a very low price compared to market price. ( A rare chance). Also I can import the suspension parts from autodocs.co.uk and a friend of mine will do the fixing part for free. Therefore upgrading this car is the only option for me.

If i change the springs and shocks to standard suspension, will it make the car comfortable? Should I need to change other suspension parts as well?

Thanks

If you change the shocks and springs, what difference will this make to the castor and camber angles? Had a E300 Avantarde estate a few years back and took the car in for a computerised steering geometry check and they fed in the details for a same car but not Avantgarde. The result was that my suspension and tracking was miles out until I told them look at the badge on the side of the car. Correct details fed in and all was ok.

 

[Fastcar155]

Hi , on my C207E400 European model I have the sport suspension to comfort switch and cannot tell the difference in ride comfort. The car does not roll on the bends. I believe that tyre manufacture and pressure of the tyres does make on my car is the real difference.

I have changed from Conti 5P to Goodyear Asi 5s and it's a different car.

I would hate to think you spent money on upgrades and you still have a poor ride.

As others have said that experiment the tyre pressures , that would be first course of action.