Jshiuan

I have followed some of your posts involving your car. One finger gap with #2 pad - that's interesting. Whats your longterm verdict on the combo of the 18's, Bilstein and H&R's?. Got any pics.

Tolahouse
97 E420

I am very happy with the combo I have. The ride quality is good, the performance has definitely improved and the look is there. The front gap is less than 1 finger which is a little lower than I like so I will try a thicker pad. The rear is less than 2 fingers which is perfect for me. Here are the 2 pics...
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=180027&a=12138443&p=44042125
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=180027&a=12138443&p=44042128

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1997 E420

I have a little over 30,000 on my 2000 E430. I am considering getting some H&R springs, but am now wondering about the shocks. How much longer should I wait before getting new shocks?

Also, about how much should I be looking at to get the springs?

Taison,

I have recently changed my shocks, springs and wheels and at the point I changed I had about 33,000 miles on the car. It's been about 1,500 miles later and I still marvel and how the ride is now strong, sharp and awe inspiring, not to mention the grin on my face anytime I approach the car. I have spoken to people who have kept the original shocks well into the 60K mark and still like the caddy like ride but on the other hand I have read that the original shocks setup is relative to the original spring height on the car. That it is possible for your shocks to "bottom out" because of the shorter length of performance springs.
The springs should cost you about $265 - $280.
My .2cents - change your shocks, and go for the Bilsteins. I did mine and I love it.

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Tolahouse 97 E420
Azure Blue - Xenon Headlights
Pioneer HU/EQ/CD, PPI AMPS, MB Quartz Speakers
Brabus 19inch Monoblock5 2pc/245/275Yokohama AVS Sports
H&R Springs/Bilstein Shoxs
"Sound, Power & The Ride"
0o=|=o0

taison,
i would recommend changing to bilstein shocks. when i first installed the H&Rs, i kept the stock shock and it was ok. but after 2 months, i put on the bilsteins and it made a big difference. the stock shock with H&Rs at high speeds on the frwy was kind of tipsy/wavy (not confident) so i would definitely recommend doing the shocks at the same time, plus it'll save you on labor costs.

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1997 E420

Tolahouse & jshiuan

Hey Guys, the H&R springs are available thru Tire Rack. Are the springs "progressive rate" like the E55? Will the car be lowered just by using the H&R springs or is the lowering achieved by smaller spring pads?

Where did you get the Bilsteins? Are the Bilsteins "sport" shocks? Are they the same or similar to the E55 AMG shocks?.

Did either of you also upgrade the sway bars? Thanks.

H&Rs will lower the car 1 to 1.5 inches. Spring pads adjust in mm, so it is more for "fine tuning" the height.
I am using Bilstein Sport and the interesting thing is the Bilsteins actually lowered my car even more. (which I am not too thrilled about, so I will probably use a thicker spring pad to "correct" it)
Most of the tuners (AMG included) source from the same manufacturer (Bilstein) so the core of the shock is pretty much the same, it is just valved a little differently thus giving a slight variation in ride characteristic/quality. So, yes, I would have to say it is similar to the E55 shocks even though I have not compared the two set up side by side. The Bilsteins will run you about $450-$500.
I did not change the sway bars.

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1997 E420

I didn't change the sway bar either - I wonder how it will feel if I do? As rightly put above most of the tuners source the springs and shocks from the same place but just have a little variances put into them. I got my Bilsteins from http://www.shox.com for about $360ish and they are the Sport ones.
I haven't made any comparison to the E55 yet but if you're looking at changing springs, shocks and spring pads, most likely you'll be changing your wheels too. The combined effect of these will lower the car over what the springs alone will do and as I said compared to the E55 I don't know.

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Tolahouse 97 E420
Azure Blue - Xenon Headlights
Pioneer HU/EQ/CD, PPI AMPS, MB Quartz Speakers
Brabus 19inch Monoblock5 2pc/245/275Yokohama AVS Sports
H&R Springs/Bilstein Shoxs
"Sound, Power & The Ride"
0o=|=o0

Dropping the car 1 - 1.5" is enough for me. I want to get rid of the soft floaty ride. So, if I go with the H&R Springs and Bilstein Sport Dampers or the same from AMG I should leave the pads alone? I have 5 bumps up front and 4 bumps in rear. I am also going to 245/40/18 all around and need to get the fenders rolled up front, correct?

Kevin

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• My Website - www.E55AMG.com

I think the jury is still out on this fender roll issue. I have all the toys on mine but I have not had the fenders rolled and I don't have any rubbing. I have #2 pad in the front and #1 in the rear. I'll be changing the front pad to #1 soon to further reduce the gap. Have I driven it hard I hear you ask? All the time. What I haven't done though is to have 5 adults in the car, maybe then it will rub. But I hardly ever have 5 people in the car.

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Tolahouse 97 E420
Azure Blue - Xenon Headlights
Pioneer HU/EQ/CD, PPI AMPS, MB Quartz Speakers
Brabus 19inch Monoblock5 2pc/245/275Yokohama AVS Sports
H&R Springs/Bilstein Shoxs
"Sound, Power & The Ride"
0o=|=o0