W210 Avantgarde Coil Spings on an Elegance ok?

[LawrenceMB]

Hi, I've got a 2000 w210 e320 elegance estate. Is it ok to fit a pair of front springs (or indeed a set of 4 springs) from an Avantgarde estate to my Elegance estate? Anyone had any experience or heard anything about this? My understanding being more 'sporty' the Avantgarde springs may make it sit a centimeter or so lower, but will it alter the ride (ie make it harder) at all? I will be retaining the elegence shocks/dampers.
Thanks

 

[DSM10000]

Mercedes list a range of springs depending on vehicle specification and options fitted. If you are going to fit lower springs then you need to lower the car evenly.

If the springs you wish to fit are compatible then any change in ride quality will depend on the spring rate. Often a "sportier" set up will have a trade off in a firmer ride, some springs are variable rate which may offer a better compromise for maintaining some of the original comfort of the Elegance setup. It is the springs not the dampers that define ride height and comfort. Dampers are there to provide control of the springs relative to body movement.

 

[renault12ts]

It depends on the engine fitted to the donor car. The 320 cdi is a heavy engine, therefore springs from, say, a 200 may not be up to the job at the front...otherwise OK.

 

[Dieselman]

You will need the dampers as well due to the Avantgarde ones being shorter.

 

[LawrenceMB]

You will need the dampers as well due to the Avantgarde ones being shorter.

Ok, thanks, that's really useful I thought they'd only be 10 or 20mm shorter - have i got that wrong? Is the difference really enough that the origional elegance dampers I have fitted won't work with these avantgarde springs?
Thanks, Lawrence