I just put new shocks on my '85 300D and was wondering if I should get new coil springs as well. Has anyone had experience with new coil springs? Are they worth the extra money?

Also, Mercedes made different sets of front coil springs for this car depending on whether it had a sunroof. Without a sunroof, they are about $80 each. With a sunroof, they are about $200 each!! Are they really different? If they are different, there's no way I'm going to pay the extra money (my car has the sunroof).

As far as rear springs, my car doesn't bounce in the rear or anything with the new shocks. Would it still be worth having new rear springs put on even if I don't do the front?

Any opinions are greatly valued.

Thanks,

Scott

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Scott
1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000)
1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold)
1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!)
1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold)
1995 Ducati 900SS (sold)
1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold)
1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.)
1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold)
1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold)

This is a very good set of questions.
I wouldn't mind finding out the stock fender lip height to compare to what ours is now almost 20 years later.
Many people do buy the coil spring spacers/ bushings and they can be bought in different sizes. I bought the 9mm ones for the rear but haven't done anything yet as I wonder the same thing you do.

Unless your car sits uneven, too low, or one of the springs is broken, I see no reason to change them.

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Diesel-guy

My experience with a 190.

The 190 rode slightly higher in the US than in europe, from my understanding based upon the old headlight height requirements.

At 365kmi, when I changed the shocks, I replaced the three bump shims with one bump shims ( a change in spring length of about .25-.35 inches.

In my opinion, the car looks better. I do not think that handling was affected, but I did not like the ride height of the early 190's in the US -- the did not look right.

My understanding is that the difference in height (depending on the equipment with which the car comes with) is regulated by the use of the shims.

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Jovan

'84 (11/83) 190D 2.2 5-Speed; Silver/Blue; Motor No. 00354, 402k mi (340+kmi mine)

'89 Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe; Black/Black; 53kmi
'05 BMW 530i 6-Speed; 302kmi
'19 Range Rover; 30kmi