Tracy-
Yes, you will need an alignment. All around is best.
We sell the parts. Please submit a Parts Information Request for a quote.

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Bill Wood - Webmaster
MercedesShop.com, LLC

The sportline kit looks great, but I would be interested in something that I can install myself. Would just changing the front stabilizer bar to the sportline bar, and installing slightly shorter tires (195/60-15 insead of stock 185/65-15) make a noticeable difference? I have a 1991 190E 2.6. Do you offer the sportline front sway bar for my car? How much is it? Thanks for a great web sight. Wayne

We don't stock but can get the Sportline front torsion bar. It would be $125. You would also need the rubber bearings and mounts. E-mail Lee if you're interested or submit a Parts Information Request.

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Bill Wood - Webmaster
MercedesShop.com, LLC

Reynolds -

Added Michelin XGTs to my 93 190 on stock rim, size 205x60x15. NICE, but just slightly larger than OEM. Might want to investigate if this setup would work with the sportline kit (w/o rubbing, of course), as you get the extra rubber width.

Lee?

And hey - what's the conspiracy here?! No kit for a W201? Why not? I'm sure SOMEONE would pony up for a conversion (to be covered by Mercedesshop aka JCE's)? I would really like to see that...

We can do a Sportline kit for the 201's. E-mail Lee@peachparts.com or submit a Parts Information Request if interested.

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Bill Wood - Webmaster
MercedesShop.com, LLC

Bill,

Many thanks for the reply! I spoke with my service rep at the MB dealer where I take my car and they say that while they've never done a conversion of this type on a 4-matic TE that they'll be happy to do so! They add that as long as the parts are oe or oem that they don't have a problem with it! Now I just have to decide if I want to do this, or get a different MB (am thinking another awd wagon or a ml 320) and the project should move foreword.

I also have a question about how much of a loss, if any of ride dampening might occur. My last 4 trips in my car to snow country have been largely on ice with only chain marks and loose snow to vary the road texture. It makes for a fairly bumpy ride. Will these changes substantially alter the ride dampening?

One of the main benefits of the Sportline suspension is that you get a major improvement in handling with a very minimal degradation in ride quality. Another benefit is that the suspension is designed by Mercedes and keeps your car ALL Mercedes. The parts we use are OE and sourced from Mercedes.

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Bill Wood - Webmaster
MercedesShop.com, LLC

Tracy

Sorry I didn't get back to you regarding the Eiback springs earlier but I haven't been reading this post for awhile. Eiback makes lowering springs for the 2WD TE, not the 4 WD. Changing the springs and shocks will stiffened the ride quite a bit and is probably not suitable for snow country driving. By the way, Phil Smart installed my aftermarket suspension on my 300E a few years back and they all said it rode like a Corvette - I am not sure that is good or not. Are you a PCA member? How do you like your 928? I am looking for an 89' or 90' 928GT.

Tommy

Bill,

Thanks again for the feedback! I understand that the Sportline kit uses all OE and/or OEM parts, and am delighted that you (collectively) took the time to develop these! Finding a mechanic I feel good about was a the next major step foreword. Hope to get enough time in the near future to go foreword on this, or get a new car…. At least I *know* I can't make a bad choice ;-)

…tracy

Tommy,

Thanks for the reply! Do you think there will be any improvement in body roll by only adding a stiffer sway bar and the accompanying bushings? I didn't want to lower the car height anyway, just flatter cornering.

Re Phil Smart, my rep was okay with just about anything I wanted to do on the car, as long as it involved oe or oem parts, or a sublet that they are familiar with. I'm not sure what they might mean by something riding like a 'vette either. Hmmm.

Re my 928. I love it! Will have owned it for 10 years this May! Mine is an '80 with about 77K miles on it. Wonderful, quiet, comfortable, fast car. The biggest problem with a Porsche is the snotty incompetent service providers around Seattle -- I just wish the Porsche mechanics around town were at least half as competent as is Phil Smart. Also wish there was a resource akin to MercedesShop.com for Porsche as well! Was a PCA member in the past but didn't utilize any of the benefits so let the membership go. Am now a MBUSA member and use it about as much…..The best thing of the 928,is, of course the E class transmission it uses

…tracy

I am a new MB owner, so pleas bear with me. I have read a lot about teh use of W124, but not talk about the E420 and the sportline upgrade. Will it work on a 94 E420? What size tires and wheels are the best to stay the same roling diameter as the 195/65 15s?
Thanks

Welcome Besslinger, The 94 E420 is on my short list of favorite MBZ's. The stardard tire for the Sportline Edition is 205/60/15. If you are going to increase your rolling stock, perhaps do a plus-one upgrade I believe a great fit would be a 225/50/16 tire on a 16X7.5 rim.

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• 1998 MERCEDES-BENZ E430
  
• OBSIDIAN BLACK METALLIC/BLACK LEATHER
  
• XENON H.I.D. LOW BEAMS
  
• DEBADGED (E430 REAR)
  
• AMG CHROMED TIP DUAL EXHAUST
  
• CARLSSON 1/6 CHROME (PLUS 1) WHEELS
  
• SLK "WREATH" WHEEL CENTER CAPS
  
• ALPINE CHM-S611 CD CHANGER
  

[This message has been edited by Kevin (edited 01-23-2000).]

Tracy

The sway bars will reduce lean but will produce a rough ride on the snow country. Also replacing the front sway bar is a major undertaking - about an 8 hour job. I would suggest changing the shocks with Koni if they makes replacement for it or go with the Sachs (oem) heavy duty version. Also contact Eibach to see if they would custom wound a set of springs for you.

Have you talk to Speedware in Redmond? They build a lot of race cars (especially Porsche) and they can probably get custom valved shocks and stiffer springs made.

Thanks for the input on the 928. Now I am thinking about a Boxster S instead. Barrier has been good to me whenever I take my 944 in for service. I am going to rejoin PCA so that I can attend the track day at SIR again.

The Seattle MB club will have a go cart meets on Saturday, are you going?

Let me know what you find out on the suspension. Good luck.

Tommy

Tracy

Just thought of another couples of ideas.

1)Check with Lorinser to see if they have the springs and shocks. Car Nutz in Belleuve is a dealer for Lorinser.

2)Get a set of wheels that sits farther out the fenders to increase the track width. A set of 7 x 15 with ET35 will increase the track by 1 inch. Also use the thinnest spring pads available to lower the center of gravity using stock springs. The combination of wider tracks and lower CG will reduce lean without adversely impacting the ride. Good luck.

Tommy