Sportline swaybar kit on an '89 300TE ? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

kirk1 · #1 09-26-2002, 08:50 PM

I'm wondering if the following Sportline swaybar kit will fit my '89 300TE wagon.

The kit consists of 1 Sportline front sway bar (Mercedes part number 124 323 68 65), 2 inner front Sportline sway bar bushings (124 323 45 85), 2 outer sportline front sway bar bushings (124 323 51 85), 1 Sportline rear sway bar (124 326 19 65) and 2 Sportline rear sway bar bushings (124 326 01 81).

Thanks for your help.

Kirk

mbdoc · #2 09-27-2002, 07:59 AM

The front will work BUT on the rear due to leveling & the time required to install, I wouldn't mess with the rear.

kirk1 · #3 09-27-2002, 10:00 AM

Thanks for your reply. I am also wondering if I can put Bilstein HD shocks on the front?
Kirk

mbdoc · #4 09-27-2002, 12:19 PM

HD or SPORT struts will fit!!
Use sport if the car has been lowered,

ke6dcj · #5 09-30-2002, 12:59 PM

If handling is your number one priority and not comfort do the following:

Front: SportLine setup (struts; springs; swaybar, bushings)

Rear: 500E springs, swaybar, and bushings

Note- the SportLine rear springs are TOO strong for the wagon.

:-) neil
1988 360TE AMG
1993 500E

bluestripe67 · #6 02-08-2003, 04:21 PM

I have to assume that on a '89 300TE the hydrulic shocks in the rear are removed and the leveling system is plugged. I have the same car and have wondered about lowering it.

Pete Geither · #7 02-08-2003, 06:29 PM

Bluestripe brought up a question I was thinking about. Can I lower My TE without losing the stock hydraulic suspension? Seems to work fine now and wonder if there will be a conflict?

Cardude · #8 02-08-2003, 07:37 PM

Guys according to a PDF supplied by a fellow member the sportline bar and the 300TE are the same size. Why put a sportline sway on it?

Cardude,

ke6dcj · #9 02-08-2003, 09:45 PM

You're correct, the late model wagons (I believe starting in 1992 or 1993) got the SportLine bar.

However, a 500E, Limo, or E60 AMG bar, would be even better.

BTW- a 500E rear swaybar REALLY keeps the handling more balanced.

My tech did it in an hour, as I watched. IMHO, it's worth it, esp. when you see the size difference.

:-) neil
1988 360TE AMG
1993 500E

gsxr · #10 02-10-2003, 02:49 PM

Yep, that was me with the sway bar PDF. I listed the current replacement part numbers, not necessarily what came from the factory (way too much to try to list in one easy sheet). I believe the earlier wagons MAY have had a smaller bar, something in between the stock sedan and the later Sportline bar. That's why I put all the dimensions of the bars on the PDF. Measure what you have now with an accurate caliper and compare to the Sportline bar. If the difference is small, or the same, you could go with the "Limo" bar which will definitely be larger.
http://www.meimann.com/docs/mercedes/124_swaybars.pdf

Using a larger rear bar with the self leveling is no big deal, same with lowering. You may need to tweak the self-leveling lever arm to "re-set" the system so it works properly after lowering. To lower it, either use 500E rear springs, or dig up a pair or E420 Sportline rears for self leveling. There's a fellow on the board right now who's selling a new pair, he got the wrong springs (he needs NON-self leveling).

Bluestripe, it's basically impossible to remove the self-leveling system and have the car ride properly. Every attempt I've heard of had very poor results. Bottom line is there is NO advantage to removing it, you can lower the car with self leveling intact.

BTW - the rear sway bar install can take 4-5 hours if you have never done it before. An experienced tech can do it in less than an hour but don't expect to duplicate that! Here's the procedure for the sedan without self-level, with some shortcut tips (from me) added:

http://www.meimann.com/docs/mercedes/Rear_sway_bar_install.pdf

HTH,