W212 front coil spring OE vs kilen kyb Sachs

[kingkhan]

Hi guys
So i fitted some new aftermarket coil springs on my e250 cdi (4 blue dots on oe coils) with bilstein b4 struts. they are known to be comfort springs so the car sits higher than standard and sport. The distance between the tyre and front arch is 85mm.

Has anyone had problems with good branded aftermarket Springs?

I replaced them with KYB springs first, the car was sat very low and became extremely bouncy, felt like the coils were bottoming out and touching each other over speed bumps. I noticed the coil design being a little different from OE so i decided to remove and swap to Kilen 17295 (with comfort suspension). This improved slightly but the car was still sat low and the distance between the tyre and wing was 55mm. After 4months of driving with the kilen springs,i decided to refit my old springs and it feels normal again and the height is back to normal. I called Kilen and they said the springs should sit almost exactly like oem, so return them to the seller and they will have to warranty claim.

This is the kilen spring gap between coils




Below is oe comfort springs

[td width="197.786px"]

MERCEDES-BENZ​

[/td][td width="197.786px"]

A2123210404​

[/td]​

 

[kingkhan]

UPDATE- Kilen sent the springs back to the factory and they admitted that they had printed the wrong product code on the coil springs so they have refunded me. what are the chances of that happening!

 

[markjay]

UPDATE- Kilen sent the springs back to the factory and they admitted that they had printed the wrong product code on the coil springs so they have refunded me. what are the chances of that happening!

I was going to say that the most likely issue with ill-fitting non-genuine springs, is incorrect cross-referencing of the P/Ns, rather than 'poor quality' of the non-genuine product.

 

[kingkhan]

I was going to say that the most likely issue with ill-fitting non-genuine springs, is incorrect cross-referencing of the P/Ns, rather than 'poor quality' of the non-genuine product.

its a good fit but just the wrong springs in the box

 

[ALFAitalia]

I could not live with those comfort springs.......looks wise.....looks like a 4x4! Mine has 18 inch rims and factory sports suspension.....but I still think the rear sits a tad too high....
Not the best pics as I'm at work but it should give you an idea.

Front..


Rear

 

[350cls]

How is your car now op. My new to me car sits lower than the first photo you attached. I don't think the SE/avantgarde suspension is made to sit as low as mine does.

Is it likely shorter/ different non OEM springs have been fitted to the car.

 

[Trickythemerc]

I think most Mercs sit tail up. I have been down the cheaper end of aftermarket springs and finished up fitting Eibach with Bilstein dampers. Never looked back, even going back through the invoices and waiting three months for the front top mounts to be made, I still think it was a good move.

 

[MSG2004]

I could not live with those comfort springs.......looks wise.....looks like a 4x4! Mine has 18 inch rims and factory sports suspension.....but I still think the rear sits a tad too high....
Not the best pics as I'm at work but it should give you an idea.

Front..
View attachment 163333

Rear
View attachment 163334

I agree about the "rear sits high" - a nephew many years ago, around 2015 a 350 car - it was white and had larger black wheels and red seats looked good but the side profile of all of these car, sits too high as does the older c classes - IMO, its the shape of the car that makes it look like a wedge

Even my gle, amg-line, in my view sits too high at the rear as did my two previous c classes.

The cls is the only car I can think of that sits well at the front and rear imo

 

[350cls]

I think most Mercs sit tail up. I have been down the cheaper end of aftermarket springs and finished up fitting Eibach with Bilstein dampers. Never looked back, even going back through the invoices and waiting three months for the front top mounts to be made, I still think it was a good move.

Do you have much gap between top of tyre and and wheel arch. Mine sits almost level. I could get my fingers in just to sit on top of the tyre. My hand being flat. Not like 4 fingers high. The car rides really well I'm happy with that side of it. But it definitely sits tail high as you have said. The front looks low and the rear high.

 

[Trickythemerc]

It sits lower all round than a standard sportline set up. I dropped rear at touch by changing the thickness of the top pads. I can just get a flat hand between the arch and the tyre.

 

[350cls]

I think most Mercs sit tail up. I have been down the cheaper end of aftermarket springs and finished up fitting Eibach with Bilstein dampers. Never looked back, even going back through the invoices and waiting three months for the front top mounts to be made, I still think it was a good move.

 

[350cls]

I know it's hard to tell with a photo but would you say the car is sitting low at the front and high at the rear. I'm not sure that's the specified height for the SE/avantgarde set up. . As said it rides really well.

 

[350cls]

Another question, is it possible to have the self leveling suspension lowered on the rear of these cars. I think I would prefer the rear lowered slightly.

 

[kingkhan]

your car looks identical to my brothers car - SE spec. check the springs you have, if genuine they will have colours on them

mine sits fine now with OE normal springs

in you autotrader pic its looks fine but measure the gap between the top of tyre and the wing- if its one finger with hand flat thats too low- i think it had the wrong springs fitted

you can lower the rear using diagnostic computer

 

[350cls]

your car looks identical to my brothers car - SE spec. check the springs you have, if genuine they will have colours on them

mine sits fine now with OE normal springs

in you autotrader pic its looks fine but measure the gap between the top of tyre and the wing- if its one finger with hand flat thats too low- i think it had the wrong springs fitted

you can lower the rear using diagnostic computer

Appreciate the advice thanks.

So if the front sits lower with a flat hand and 1 finger you think it's to low. I think they must be the wrong springs on the car then as I can just get a flat hand on top of the wheel to avoid touching the wheel arch. Will try and have the rear lowered slightly. As said the car rides really well cushioned.

 

[ray_hennig]

mine sits fine now with OE normal springs

Many could learn from what you say. My impression is that aftermarket springs are a bit of a lottery. If you're doing the work youself, why not experiment? If not, one can spend loads of dosh fine tuning are replacing; dosh that could have paid for the right ones.

Just my 2c worth.

RayH

 

[kingkhan]

This is the is my car with springs that have 4 green dots.. sits nice. Doesn't have a massive bounce like aftermarket springs. I have done lots of work ony car due to springs. Tried KYB and kilen springs, OE have more tension and the bounce is not sloppy, OE are have a perfect balance.

4 blue dots are comfort springs but car sits at 4 fingers 80mm i think

Kilen actually gave me the wrong springs, they were labelled wrong at the factory! So maybe if they had given me the correct ones, they may have been fine.

 

[ALFAitalia]

To my eyes thats a big gap....

 

[ALFAitalia]

Just snapped a couple of pics to better show stock Avant-garde/Sport ride height. It's on the stock 18s but 17s with bigger sidewalls are about the same overall height. I'd like the rears 10 or 15mm lower to be honest...just to lose a bit of the tail up stance. But I'm in no hurry as she looks good as is.

 

[350cls]

Timeless shape/ design the w212 pre facelift. Car looks well . See what you mean about a little drop at the rear would really set it off that little bit more than already does. But still a beastly looking set up the w212 sport.

Had my e250 SE out this afternoon went to the tip and drove around with our youngest little fella. He was nearly asleep on our return home lol. Is a quality ride/drive the s/w212 whatever suspension set up one is running. Really chuffed with the new to me e250 SE.