Update on my Euro Sport 420 setup: (in response to an emailed question about the rear springs.)

Actually, I originally purchased the wrong rear spring set- it was for the E420 euro sport with auto leveling (which I do not have.) That is why it required a 4 bump pad! I subsequently went back to my original rear spring with a 2 bump pad in the rear, but have the correct euro sport springs in the front, correct sway bars all around, correct rear subframe mounts, and correct struts (actually the E500 front, and E320 sportline rear are correct for the E420 euro sport setup in the case of the struts.) A friend of mine purchased the firm option of the correct springs for this car, and he liked it just fine. We used the one bump pads, but I would have probably used the 2 bump pads if I were to do it on my own car. There isn't a whole lot of difference in the rear springs from the stock so I left mine alone. Here's the caveat: your rear camber will be pretty far off, and will toast those wide tires pretty fast. I suggest biting the bullet and purchasing the rear camber adjustment kit from Australia (about $300- ouch). Now,if you do that, be sure to trim fit the poly bushings on the eccentric adjusters- mine were too large and tended to bind.

Then is time to fight with the dealership to get the alignment settings right. If/ when you get that far, have them use the E500 settings and point out that your rear can now be adjusted and please set the rear camber roughly equal to the front, AND keep the toe in set at the upper limit of the range (more toe in for wide tires.)

You will now be 60% of the way to a really great car. The other 40% comes from swapping in a 2.65 rear end from a 90-93 500sl (with or without ASR depending upon what's in your car now.) I absolutely love this car and it now has 170,000 miles on it.

Bob

__________________
Bob Johnston
03 E55
Comand/Nav/Bluetooth/Ipod added
Black/black
(Oh man, this car is sooooo fast.)

Bump...

Don't know If I'll do the conversion but I'm interested in assembling the parts list and getting an Estimate. I just want to make sure I have everything down correctly before I send it in. For my 420 without a self leveling suspension I have the following.

2xSwaybars
500E Front - 124-323-70-65
500E Rear - 124-326-25-65

4xFront Swaybar Bushings
2xE500 Front Bushings 124-323-51-85
2xE500 Front Bushings 124-323-47-85

2xRear Swaybar Bushings
E500 Rear Bushings 201-326-16-81

1xFront Struts
500E with Internal Springs 124-320-57-30

1xRear Struts
Sportline Model 124-324-28/28-04

1xFront Springs
E420 Front Springs 124-321-42-04

1xRear Springs
Sportline Model 124-320-23-31

1xFront Spring Pads
201-321-09-84

4xRear Spring Pads
201-325-12-44

I noticed in your listing you only list one rear swaybar bushing and don't suggest how many? Also the spring pads, do they come as a set of two? So then two in the front and eight in the back? Do the Struts and Springs come in sets of two or individually?

That negative camber in the rear will probably handle the corners better than stock. If you are not wearing tires, don't worry about it.

__________________
95 SL500 Smoke Silver, Parchment 64K
07 E350 4matic Station Wagon White 34K
02 E320 4Matic Silver/grey 80K
05 F150 Silver 44K

I think your list is mostly complete, but with the following corrections:

Rear Swaybar Bushings
E500 Rear Bushings 210-326-08-81 (qty = 2)

Front Springs
E420 Front Springs 124-321-42-04 (qty = 2)

Shaft buffer front 500E front strut
124-323-06-44 (qty = 2)

Rear Springs
Sportline Model 124-324-28-04 (qty = 2)

Rear Shock
Sportline Model 124-320-23-31 (qty = 2)

Front Spring Pads
201-321-09-84 (qty = 2)

Rear Spring Pads
201-325-12-44 (qty = 2)


Springs, shocks, struts, sway bars, bushings, and spring pads all come individually - one each. The Sportline front control arm bushings come as a kit (one per side, 2 required).

My W124 suspension cheat sheet has been updated recently, here's the link to the current file:
http://www.w124performance.com/docs/mb/W124/124_suspension.txt

Details on the K-Mac rear camber kit installation are here:
http://www.***************/forum/showthread.php?t=584

I installed the Sportline bushings as well, but haven't yet uploaded the photos to my website. Remember that you don't necessarily just order the thinnest spring pads. The spring pads are to make minor adjustments in ride height, to balance the front or rear, and to compensate for slightly different spring lenghts. New springs will come in either a long or short version, denoted by a color stripe on the spring. A "tall" spring would get a thinner pad to achieve the same ride height as a "short" spring with a thicker pad, even though both springs are the same part number. This is explained in the factory service manual - please see attached PDF file.

Rough cost for the complete package above (springs, dampers, sway bars) will likely be $1200-$1400 wholesale, plus labor to install if you don't DIY (spring compressor can be rented if you want to do the work yourself). Try FastLane for a quote, and also check with Rusty (800-741-5252).

Attached Files

32-0250.pdf (64.8 KB, 130 views)

__________________
Dave
Boise, ID
Check out my website photos, documents, and movies!

Very much apreciated Dave

E420/400E Sportline Conversion

Just posting this for the forum record. A number followed by x indicates the quantity required.

With SLS - You should use the E500 Kit on the rear as well as the front. Those parts numbers are not included in this post.

Without SLS - There are several models of Sportline rear strut, you should choose the one calibrated to your average load. It will be necessary to correct the rear camber after the install. See gsxrs post above.

Wheel Size - The European E420 was sold with 16 inch Eight Holes. You can try to import them from Europe or find a suitable replacement in the North American Market.

Differental - It also suggested that you swap your Differental out (2.26) for a 2.65 or 2.82 unit. The Euro E420 used the 2.65, the E500 the 2.82. This will sharply reduce acceleration times. There is however some loss in fuel economy, perhaps two to four mpg. More at the following - Differental Swap

Parts Required

2xSwaybars
500E Front - 124-323-70-65
500E Rear - 124-326-25-65

4xFront Swaybar Bushings
2xE500 Front Bushings 124-323-51-85
2xE500 Front Bushings 124-323-47-85

2xRear Swaybar Bushings
E500 Rear Bushings 210-326-08-81

2xFront Struts
500E with Internal Springs 124-320-57-30

2xShaft buffer front 500E front Strut
124-323-06-44

2xRear Struts
Sportline Model 124-324-28/28-04

2xFront Springs
E420 Front Springs 124-321-42-04

2xRear Springs
Sportline Model 124-324-28-04

2xFront Spring Pads
201-321-09-84

2xRear Spring Pads
201-325-12-44

Total Cost

Thanks to gsxr for assembling the numbers