lowering my 500E - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

hedpe · #1 09-23-2002, 11:49 AM

Hey guys, I did a search on lowering a 500E, and headed some results, but none of which were really finalized where someone posted after an install of new springs and such.

It's basically all stock, stock 16" wheels, and I'd like to lower the front about an inch and the back an inch and a quarter or so. Has anyone already done this before?

Am i going to need new shocks too with the new springs? I'd imagine so...and what springs/shocks did you install?

Does the car handle better? If i'm going to have better handeling with my stock springs and shocks, at the cars current height, I'd rather have that. I'm looking for improved performance, not necissarily looks. Thanks guys!

Michael · #2 09-24-2002, 01:25 PM

I dropped my front end a bit more than 1/2" when I installed thinner front spring pads alone - went from 4 bump down to 2 bump. Plan is to go from 3 bump down to 1 bump in the rear.

I think the car turns in more crisply now, and feels even more stable at speed. And it (subjectively) looks better

hedpe · #3 09-24-2002, 02:30 PM

I would like to drop it a little lower than that. Did you get new springs/shocks too?

Michael · #4 09-24-2002, 08:32 PM

No, I'm OE (most suspension bits have been replaced, but are MBZ parts). I think for a road car it's a splendid setup; if I were to change anything I'd install early '92 front struts, which were stiffer. I still plan to lower mine a bit in the back with the spring pads, & will report in.

The car is such a Highway Star, I'm disinclined to employ lowering springs. Just my opinion

Shinichi · #5 09-24-2002, 09:29 PM

I did it with RENNtech lowering kit. (It's just springs.)
Handling is better.

Shinichi

Daesun · #6 09-24-2002, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Shinichi
I did it with RENNtech lowering kit. (It's just springs.)
Handling is better.

Shinichi

Welcome to MercedesShop! Do you have any more info/pics about your car? You should sign in on the Roll Call thread.

Did you have your SLS recalibrated when you lowered the car?

Daesun · #7 09-24-2002, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Michael
I dropped my front end a bit more than 1/2" when I installed thinner front spring pads alone - went from 4 bump down to 2 bump. Plan is to go from 3 bump down to 1 bump in the rear.

I think the car turns in more crisply now, and feels even more stable at speed. And it (subjectively) looks better

Was there any penalty in ride comfort when you went to thinner pads?

Also, does lowering the car restrict maximum wheel/tire size? I want to fit 245s up front and 275s in back. I know it will fit now, but will it fit after, say, H&R springs?

E DREAM · #8 09-25-2002, 03:54 AM

I have replaced the springs, front shocks, pads, wheels and tires on my 500E. I wanted a much more aggressive ride and look !!!!
The springs are H&R specifically for this car, they are the progressive rate kind. They ride wonderfull without compromising that luxury feeling, as you drive the car with more attitude they become progressively stiffer. The shocks are Koni, the orange ones with the adjustable feature. Currently I have them set on medium. The ride is firm but not harsh. I really like this combination better than the Eibach & Bilstien setup I had on my 300E. The height of the car is 1.5" lower in front and 1.25" lower in the rear than stock 500E's. This is also due to the fact that I now have no. 1 pads all the way around. The combination of the springs, shocks and pads really gives my car a ride characteristic that is in my opinion more akin to Porshe than Mercedes. Of course all of this is complimented by larger wheels and tires. I am currently using 19" wheels. 19x8.5 front and 19x9.5 rear to be exact. I wanted a staggered setup like the SLK uses. Tires are Yokohama AVS sports, 235 35 19 front and 265 30 19 rear. A very aggressive setup even for a 500E.

One word of caution though, if you are considering lowering your car as much as I have; a CAMBER KIT IS A MUST !!!!! after installing all of the components, I have 3 degrees of toe at the rear wheels. NO GOOD, this will eat tires in a hurry. The camber kit brought the toe to 1.7 degrees which is well within the factory spec.s for the car, not to mention it looks much better too !!!

HOPE THIS HELPS

:p

Shinichi · #9 09-25-2002, 06:14 PM

I did
1: Brabus Muffler
2: Brabus Aluminium Door Pin
3: RENNtech E-Prom
4: RENNtech Lowering Kit
5: RENNtech Rear adjustable camber and toe bushings
6: K&N Filter
7: DENSO Iridium Spark Plugs

[IMG]file:///butch's%20HD/Desktop%20Folder/benz/MUFFLER.JPG[/IMG]
[IMG]file:///butch's%20HD/Desktop%20Folder/benz/REAR%20VIEW.JPG[/IMG]
[IMG]file:///butch's%20HD/Desktop%20Folder/benz/FRONT1.JPG[/IMG] [IMG]file:///butch's%20HD/Desktop%20Folder/benz/FRONT2.JPG[/IMG]
[IMG]file:///butch's%20HD/Desktop%20Folder/benz/FRONT3.JPG[/IMG] [IMG]file:///butch's%20HD/Desktop%20Folder/benz/REAR1.JPG[/IMG]
[IMG]file:///butch's%20HD/Desktop%20Folder/benz/REAR2.JPG[/IMG] [IMG]file:///butch's%20HD/Desktop%20Folder/benz/DOOR%20PIN.JPG[/IMG]

Daesun · #10 09-25-2002, 10:54 PM

Shinichi, your pics didn't come through. Can you e-mail them to me? I'd love to see the Brabus exhaust. What's the door pin all about? Also, did the spark plugs make any difference?

hedpe · #11 09-26-2002, 02:36 PM

try and repost those brabus pics, i would love to see them too, if you cannot, then you can go ahead and drop them in an e-mail gee@yifan.net

Shinichi · #12 09-26-2002, 04:16 PM

I hope you see my pic now.
I add 1 more door pin pic this reply.
[IMG]file:///butch's%20HD/Desktop%20Folder/benz/DOOR%20PIN2.JPG[/IMG]

Daesun · #13 09-26-2002, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Shinichi
I hope you see my pic now.
I add 1 more door pin pic this reply.
[IMG]file:///butch's%20HD/Desktop%20Folder/benz/DOOR%20PIN2.JPG[/IMG]

The problem is that the pics are on your own hard drive. So you can probably see them, but nobody else can. You have to upload them somewhere that will host them for you.

I'm dying to see the pics!

hedpe · #14 09-27-2002, 12:49 AM

I got the pics, did he send them to you daez? It looks good dood, nice drop.

vcci · #15 02-20-2003, 02:47 AM

I am getting ready to lower my 92 500E and am debating on what set up to go with. Up until a couple of days ago I didnt want to lower the car, but since i bought some wheels for it this calls for lowering. What I would like is a nice suspension without the bouncy ride. I have lowered a number of cars in the past and the only one I remember being to y liking is a 97 E420 I had with Bilstien shocks and Eibach springs. Car drove perfect for my taste and would like to achieve a similar ride in my 500E. I am also hoping the lowering and shock and spring replacement will cure the wierd bounce or unsterdy ride since I put the wheels on, which by the way are 18x8.5 front and 18x10 rears I was told that the ride may be due to the wideness of the wheels but I beg to differ, my buddy had 19x9.5 and 19x8.5 and never experienced anything like what I am experiencing with my car. Any advice, suggestions or someone ever had anything like this before?

CAN EVERYONE WITH A LOWERED 500E POST SOME PICTURES AND NAME YOUR SET-UP PLEASE..