Hi,
I am seeking to improve the handling of my 95 wagon, while limiting decrease in ride comfort.
I am considering Sportline and Eibach springs, along with sportline shocks (not including rear shocks or Sportline springs). Anyone know the relative effect of each. Not sure which set to use in the front.
Thanks in advance
farrukh

ps. what are the sportline part numbers for 94/95?

Wether you sportline or eibach, I think you should do it to both. If your afraid about rubbing, then do it to both, and use the highest shim/perch in the back.

Sportlines will deff give you the least ride loss. However, if you use Eibachs with Bilstein Sports (same shocks/struts as the MB OEM Sportline from what I've been told by both the dealer, suppliers, and Bilstein) then your Eibachs won't be that much harsher, and the handling improves about 25% more then sportline. I think a good combo might be Eibachs in the Front, and Sportlines in the back if your afriad about height, but either way, don't leave it stock, as the suspension is probably doing to be too out of balance.

Good Luck.

__________________
Chirag (Charlie) Patel
--------------------------------------------
- 03 Mercedes S600 Sport TTV12
- 97 Acura NSX-T
- 99 BMW E36 M3 w/500+ HP
- 04 Lexus RX330
- 04 Dodge Dakota Quad 4x4 V8

4 Sale:
- 99 BMW M3 E36 Coup with Dinan SC, Upgraded to an RMS Stage 3 with Aftercooler, 12psi, and 500+hp @ flywheel.

I have a wagon. There is no factory sportline spring. One could use the sedan/ coupe rear spring, but this might be suboptimal in cases where the vehicle is loaded beyond the limit associated with a sedan.
Besides which, the factory spring is designed to work in conjunction with the hydropneumatic rear shock found in the wagon. There is considerable evidence to support the fact that the shock is load bearing. Eibach for one, designs its rear springs for the W124T with a lower initial spring rate than that of its sedan counterpart.
So you are suggesting that the sportline spring is likely to have a lower rate than an Eibach spring (front only)?
thanks
farrukh

some thoughts fwiw-
seems its in vogue to randomly swap lowering springs, shocks, spring pads, sway bars, plus tire/wheels.... (witness there's a ton of unwanted used suspension upgrade stuff for sale - readily available)

where's the engineering knowledge and documentation to support these apparent upgrades?
....effective suspensions are engineered (to a target) and all parts work in harmony to achieve this end (or not)...this requires knowledge of numerous vehicle specific and part specific factors: weight, weight ratio, rebound rates, struts/shock specs, bushing material characterics, g-force cornering targets, sway bar characteristics etc. I'd suggest intimately knowing as much as possible about each non-OEM suspension component effect vs swapping blindly just becuase it's made for that application (ie see data cards like comparitive R&D dyno charts truly measuring performance differences, g-force comparisons, cornering load increases, etc.)

on an older car, unless the entire suspension is at least 80%+ healthy conditon- tweaking individual parts in the suspension appears to be a blind crap shoot and may ultimately end up making a vehicle's handling characteristics worse

other things to consider:
>lowering a car via springs and shocks does not ensure a car to handle better (springs and shocks may not be compatible to each other or the balance of the suspension/ steering)
>a +1 to +3 tire/wheel upgrade in itself does not ensure a car to handle better (worn suspension/ worn bushings/ loose steering linkages, inadequate tire specs, etc.)
>different manuf/ model springs have different (&progressive) spring rates that may or may not be matched to the rebound rates of the shocks/dampners and tire/wheel package

....in sum, the 'engineered' suspensions like the Sportline, etc. appear to be the most kosher in delivering true handling improvements - ask to see the R&D specs

good luck
-fad

PS- Neil w/ his C36 motored 300TE wagon is probably the best contact re: your inquiry- you can ask him what improvements he did given the wagon's self leveling rear suspension

Well done, -fad. Thanks for your insights

Farrukh, I'm thinkin' you need to pop in an '88 suspension

__________________
"If God had meant for us to walk, why did he give us feet that fit car pedals?" Sir Sterling Moss

Michael
2014 E63S Estate
2006 SLK55
1995 E500
1986 Porsche 944 turbo