W124 suspension upgrade - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

greasybenz · #1 10-16-2006, 02:23 AM

Dont know if this is the right place to put it but if it isnt ill move it.

I want to upgrade the suspension on my W124 diesel, i would go full out for a sportline but to many parts to upgrade and to much $$$

Ive come up with a combo that might work tell me what you guys think.

VOGTLAND springs with bilstein sports.

http://www.progressiveautoparts.com/servlet/Detail?no=78496

http://***************/search/productx.aspx?sid=b1hhjlrdvnwp4045asjb5gf1&partnumber=V360365

http://***************/search/productx.aspx?sid=b1hhjlrdvnwp4045asjb5gf1&partnumber=B36-1470

I can get the billy sports at a discount from my work but not the VOGTLAND springs, so as a alternative could i use real sportline springs with the billy sports or would i need all the other components to make them work.

Tell me what you guys think.

Ortolan · #2 10-16-2006, 09:45 AM

I bought a set of these on a whim:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Fat-Grip-Performance-Fahrwerk-Mercedes-E-Klasse-W124_W0QQitemZ230038330804QQihZ013QQcategoryZ70154QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

They're being installed by my mechanic this week so I'll let you know what they're like.

greasybenz · #3 10-17-2006, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ortolan

I bought a set of these on a whim:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Fat-Grip-Performance-Fahrwerk-Mercedes-E-Klasse-W124_W0QQitemZ230038330804QQihZ013QQcategoryZ70154QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

They're being installed by my mechanic this week so I'll let you know what they're like.

yeah let me know! for the price even with my work discount it will be $460 in total for vogtland springs and the bilstein sports. How much was shipping to the US? And please take some pics!

Ortolan · #4 10-17-2006, 09:49 AM

I'm in Australia and shipping them here cost AUD$310 (around US$230).
Once I get the new suspension and wheels installed I'll have to borrow a camera and take some pics.

gsxr · #5 10-17-2006, 02:59 PM

The problem you're going to have is that almost all the aftermarket spring sets are designed for the generic 300E, and usually for a pretty major drop in ride height. So, you may end up with the car lower than you want, even with the tallest spring pads. I had a set of Carat Duchatalet springs on my car for years but they were just too low. I recently bit the bullet and bought the factory Sportline springs, raising the car to where I wanted it (about 14.0-14.25 inches from the wheel center to fender lip.) The 1987 300D lower radiator support is the first thing that will kiss a curb stop, and when it does, it will shove the bottom of the radiator into the fan blade. I've seen this happen on several different cars, it's not a rare occurence. If you want the car in the weeds, great, but you've been warned about the clearance issues.

That said, why not just get the Sportline springs? There's a reason why Eibach, H&R, Vogtland, etc only have a few different springs while Mercedes offers a whole range of springs for the W124... they need to be properly matched to the exact year, model, AND options installed. Should only be about $250 for all four, not much more than the Vogtland stuff. The Sportline springs were also used on the late W124 AMG models (E36, etc) sold in Europe. So you can call them "AMG springs" if you want bragging rights, lol.

Bilstein Sports are good dampers, they should work fine. I like KONI as well. The 500E front struts with internal rebound limiting springs are way cool, but not cheap, and require a particular ride height to work properly.

gsxr · #6 10-17-2006, 03:01 PM

Also check out JB's W124 suspension upgrade in progress, with lots of photos, over at this thread:

http://www.***************/forum/showthread.php?t=860

He is using Sportline springs, 500E front struts, Sportline rear struts, and replacing just about everything that's a wear item while it's apart...