It's time for me to lower my car now. Ever since I put the 16x7 wheels on my 300cd I have had to look at the gap above the front wheel. I don't like it one bit. The wheels look great. I need to come down at least 2 , but less than 2 3/4 inches in the front and 1 1/2 to 2 inches in back. I talked to a guy that had a set of after market springs for this car. He said they would slam the car about two and one half inches,but also give it a very stiff ride. He also said that springs from a 420 SEL would fit right in and lower the car about 2 inches. I then could use different size spring pads to go from there. Does anyone have any advise as to what I should do? The aftermarket springs are about $240 for whole set. New 420 SEL springs are about the same. I can get used 420 SEl springs much cheaper. Also, What do I need to do about the shocks? Will the stock shocks be too long? Money is a little tight right now since I'm about to move. I would appreciate any advise. Thanks, andy

hi andy,

lowering has been a VERY discussed topic. if you haven't you might do a search on the subject...

[alon] ashman just lowered his car.

he's always got a ton of ideas.

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*92 400e 124.034, SOLD

*92 300e 124.030, SOLD

I did just lower my car.

It is noticably stiffer than before.

I left the stock shocks in, until I decide to do the bilstein sport shocks.

I don't mind the stiff ride, I only really notice it over dips and bumps in the road.

Cornering has improved greatly, and the look of the car has improved so much, I catch other benz owners staring at it, especially other CE owners I pass on the roads.

If the 420SEL springs will work, then you could use those.

I think the shocks might be too long, but that doesn't mean you can't use them, but the ride wont be as nice.

You could also look into getting your current springs cut, but I never thought that was a good idea, otherwise I would have just cut mine instead of installing aftermarket ones.

I think the 420 springs wont be as stiff as the aftermarket springs, but part of the stiffness might be associated with the lng shocks being partially compressed all the time. This is what I think is with my car.

But I like it.

You can see pics on my site of my car, in the old pictures section, you can see the gap I had, it was a good 4 fingers or more. Now the gap is less than 2 fingers, the car does not look slammed, it sits like it probably should have from the factory.

Alon

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'92 300CE - Sold
2004 C240 - 744 - C7 Wheels - Android Radio
2002 C320 - 816 - Sport Wagon

hey alon, did you lower your car yourself or a shop did it? i was wondering how difficult it is to install lowering springs myself.
james hsu

Actually when my car was int he shop two weeks ago for the Tranny rebuild, I had my mech do it at the same time.

I attempted it myself, but did not get the right spring compressors, and did nto have the right tools, so I left it up to him otherwise I would have tackled it myself.

Alon

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'92 300CE - Sold
2004 C240 - 744 - C7 Wheels - Android Radio
2002 C320 - 816 - Sport Wagon

One of the easiest ways to lower the car is by cutting a coil from the existing spring, of course they have to be removed before they can be cut.

__________________
MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

Thanks for your replies. If I were to cut the springs, how much do I cut to get a 2 1/2 inch drop? Does it come out the same( 2 inch cut = 2 inch drop?) Does anyone advise against this? Why? I could just get the aftermarket springs. I just want to be sure the stock length shocks will fit. I don't have the extra cash right now for all new springs and shocks installed. Thanks. andy

My car has the stock shocks with lowering springs, my car has gotten at least a 1.5 to 2 inch drop.

The shocks are probably compressed a little, and the ride is stiffer and a bit bouncy over bigger dips, but body roll has been reduced a good amount, and the car has improved in handling.

I will get better shocks a little later.

I think the long shocks will be ok for the time being, but I'm not a tech.

Alon

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'92 300CE - Sold
2004 C240 - 744 - C7 Wheels - Android Radio
2002 C320 - 816 - Sport Wagon

Have found that 1-1.5 coils will drop by 2", after that the compression rate changes & wouldn't recommend doing that!

__________________
MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

Anyone have any thoughts for/against cutting one coil out of my front springs and replacing the standard shocks with a set of bilstein's on my 560SEL?

Matt,

Use a cut off wheel and not a torch, the heat will alter the spring rate. Also, get the proper spring compressor. The one from Discount Auto or Autozone wont work the the front, but the rears are pretty easy to do. The springs in the front are strong enough to be dangerous to someone without the proper compressor. Of course, there is a method that uses three jacks and a steel retaining rod up through the hole in the control arm and into the spring perch, but I think its best not attemped unless its an emergency.

Jason

Thanks Jason. I assume that the only negative to this is the reduced spring travel however I would imagine that in general use the full travel is not required. I am looking at installing #1 spring pads and cutting one coil out of the front springs. The rears are sitting right where I want them.

My problem is a bit different and I would appreciate your advice: Sportline is not available for my 1992 300E 4Matic, due to the front end configuration. I would like to lower the car slightly, but primarily improve handling. Bilsteins and Konis are available for this application, but not high performance springs. If I were to replace shocks alone, and retain stock springs, would the handling improve significantly? Also, may I use a thinner pad to lower the vehicle? Since everything must come apart at the same time, I'd like to do this operation only once. Thanks for your comments.

Bob have you checked with the partsshop here to see if they can get you hooked up with the sportline?

I think sportier shocks will definately assist int he handling. Stiffer springs and a good sway bar, will definatley tighten it up.

And for spring pads, you need to check which ones you have. if you have the one bump pads you are on the lowest ones. Thinner pads will lower you a little, but not by much.

Alon

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'92 300CE - Sold
2004 C240 - 744 - C7 Wheels - Android Radio
2002 C320 - 816 - Sport Wagon