Just wondering if anyone has had the opportunity to compare the suspensions of a sportline equipped 124 sedan and the 500E?
If so, I am curious to know how they might compare in terms of ride comfort and performance.
Also curious to know how the technical specifications of the sportline and 500E compare. For example, the 500E struts have secondary springs built in to provide greater damping over the initial/ final range of damper travel. Gives the damper a more progressive fluency as opposed to a heavy duty sport damper. I also wonder if the damper used in the sportline option was based upon a similar principle...
farrukh

E500
E320T

Sportline is way happier and more fun to drive. 500E is the ultimate, but only feels really good when pushed near the limit. I like Sportline better. It is just happier all around. With the M104 3.2L engine, you can still have lots of fun with it. That said, ideally I'd want both.

Sportline is happier at less than go straight to jail speeds, 500E is better up high.

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1988 Mercedes-Benz 260E

The 500E suspension was designed and specified by MB in conjunction with Sachs / Boge, the manufacturer. All the Benzes I have owned and worked on over the last 20 years have had Sachs hydraulic control units. I have not seen the units on a SportLine model. Sachs even does the suspension for the F1 cars. AMG in certain applications employs Koni as does RennTech.

I have a set of used 300E SportLine dampers (about 2K miles) and they are manufactured by SACHS.

Since I went to shorter H&R springs (front & rear), I had to go to Bilstein Sports in the front, which are the same model number if I had a 500E.

Although my lower control arms are 300E specific with SportLine bushings, I had to fit 500E hubs in order to properly fit the 500E brakes & calipers.

I also have the SportLine front swaybar, but may change to the 500E one front & rear.

Good luck,

:-) neil

If I remember correctly, I was told mine were made by Bilstein at the time I ordered the kit. Also, M.B.Doc noted in his thread Bilstein VS. Boge Shocks that both Bilstein and Boge are found on MBs from the factory, sometimes on the same car. At any rate, they work as advertised, and that is all that matters to me.

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John

2003 Firemist Red/grey leather SL 500
2015 Palladium Silver/black mbtex GLK 350
1987 Smoke Silver/burgundy mbtex 300E Sportline (SOLD)

Click to see 87 300E

Dear All,

I cannot opine about the relative virtues of the SPORTLINE vs. 500 suspensions. I can tell you that my previously Cadillac-ish W124 was modified late last year to 500 specs and the result is superb. It was also "bolt-in" and had only minor adjustments to get around my strong desire NOT to have the 500 hydraulic self-leveling system. The result is my lowered, "*****in'" hot rod that corners very flat and has astounding high speed stability. There was also no "guess work" to the results, something that cannot be said of most mods.

Is it too stiff? Stiff but not too much so but then look at my other car....I am happy to provide any pariculars to anyone interested.

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Charles Cleaver
1975 350SE + 1992 300CE-24 SportLine 5-speed + 2002 SLK320 6-speed + 1974 W114 280
1986 190E 2.3-16 (Decomm rear self-leveling suspension; Euro-code headlamps) sold
2004 Audi S4 6-spd - sold
1969 (2) and 1980 Porsche 911T, S, and SC - alas gone
1987 300SDL - Graf Spee; Euro-code headlamps; 16-inch 8-hole wheels - sold
1994 E420+(E500 suspension/E-code headlamps/PAD chip) sold
1968 250SE 4-speed (NICE car) - long gone
1962 220S 4-speed/column mount - long gone

What would you recomend: the sportline suspension kit offered on mercedes shop, go with Eibach springs new bilstiens etc, or a 500e suspension conversion. Going to do a suspension up grade this summer and appreciative of any input you all may provide. Thanks!

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Dean

Just sold em all !! Curently driving a, 06.5 VW GTI

90' 300CE
Euro Lights w/wipers, Clear corners, 17" Monoblocks, K&N Airfilter, Sportline Suspension, Custom SS single muffler exhaust
80' 300D
96' Harley Davidson, XLH 1200

Dean:
I don't think there is any "right" answer that anyone can give you, as only you know your needs and preferences. The Sportline handles extremely well, and lowers the car all told about 1/2 - 1" - a very subtle look. It also keeps a large amount of the MB comfort, and to me improves that comfort on smooth surfaces.

If your goal is a slammed lowered look and you don't care about the handling or comfort that much, this probably won't be enough, and aftermarket is probably what you need, along with a camber kit. However, if your main goal is to create an SCCA autocross car and don't care as much about ride quality, you may get more performance out of the 500E setup, bearing in mind it was designed for a heavier car than a 300E.

If both performance and comfort are important (weighted towards the performance ), and having something that was designed at the factory is more reassuring than tinkering with various antisway bar sets, spring rates, bushing specs, camber kits, allignment specs, and shock/struts, then Sportline is the way to go, IMHO.

[Edited by JCE on 04-08-2001 at 09:26 PM]

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John

2003 Firemist Red/grey leather SL 500
2015 Palladium Silver/black mbtex GLK 350
1987 Smoke Silver/burgundy mbtex 300E Sportline (SOLD)

Click to see 87 300E

JCE lays out the decision criteria admirably. My E420+ weighs the same as a 500, what with that big ump of an engine up front, unlike your superbly balanced 300CE. If you want a really stiff, superbly handling track car, go with the stock 500 parts. Otherwise the SPORTLINE is the safe, fool-proof choice. Both will give you that feeling of not jumping off the metaphorical cliff into the suspension unknown. Nothing worse than spending a bunch of money and hating the result.

__________________
Charles Cleaver
1975 350SE + 1992 300CE-24 SportLine 5-speed + 2002 SLK320 6-speed + 1974 W114 280
1986 190E 2.3-16 (Decomm rear self-leveling suspension; Euro-code headlamps) sold
2004 Audi S4 6-spd - sold
1969 (2) and 1980 Porsche 911T, S, and SC - alas gone
1987 300SDL - Graf Spee; Euro-code headlamps; 16-inch 8-hole wheels - sold
1994 E420+(E500 suspension/E-code headlamps/PAD chip) sold
1968 250SE 4-speed (NICE car) - long gone
1962 220S 4-speed/column mount - long gone

Thanks guys, I'll probably go with the Sportline kit, I was leaning that way anyhow, and wanted to get an expert opinion. Thanks again for your input.

__________________
Dean

Just sold em all !! Curently driving a, 06.5 VW GTI

90' 300CE
Euro Lights w/wipers, Clear corners, 17" Monoblocks, K&N Airfilter, Sportline Suspension, Custom SS single muffler exhaust
80' 300D
96' Harley Davidson, XLH 1200