There's a new article in the FEATURED CARS section of MercedesShop that deals with Sportline. We now offer a Sportline conversion kit in PartsShop for all W124 300E/E320 owners.
Read what Sportline is and what our first customer has to say about the change it made to his car.

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Bill Wood - Webmaster
MercedesShop.com, LLC

I saw some picture there. However, I still have a lot of question about the kit.

Do the kit uses urethane bushing? How many bushing does it change in the conversion? What is the diameter of the sway bar for the front and rear? What is the spring rate of the spring and the original spring MB used?

Hope to hear some answer from here.

Harry

Harry-
We researched the original parts used by Mercedes in the Sportline option package and those are the parts we supply in the kit. It's exactly the same springs, shocks, sway bars, etc
We supply every suspension part that differentiates a Sportline from non-Sportline. No more...no less.
These are not parts SIMILAR to Sportline...they ARE Sportline OE parts! The ONLY exception to this in John Elliot's kit that you saw are the front control arm bushings. We supplied Meyle bushings because that is what our supplier in Germany provided. Based on feedback from the Tech who installed John's kit, we will specify OE front control arm bushings in the future.

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Bill Wood - Webmaster
MercedesShop.com, LLC

With regards to the Sportline parts for the W124, how are the bushings and sub frame mounts different from the stock parts?

Also, how much different are the Sportline swaybars from the stock swaybars?

Thank you.

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'87 300E
'88 560 SEL
'98 SL 500

At this point, I don't have any specific measurements that I can quote. Obviously, the springs are shorter but, larger diameter and stiffer. The sway bars are larger as well and the shocks are stiffer.
If I can find the measurements somewhere I will post them. Maybe we can coax John Elliott into taking some measurements on his old parts vs his new parts.

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Bill Wood - Webmaster
MercedesShop.com, LLC

I have the old sway bars and springs. I will caliper them this weekend, and when the car goes in for service and brake pads this coming tuesday I will measure the new sway bars. Honestly folks, it really is only a coincidence that I need new pads 2 weeks after the sportline suspension - honestly

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JCE
87 300E 56,000 miles
Smoke Silver

Sure..sure
...and the following week you'll need new tires, again.

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Bill Wood - Webmaster
MercedesShop.com, LLC

Webmaster: Great Kit for W124! Now let's move forward a bit to the W210. I want to upgrade my 1998 E430 to 1999 E55 suspension. Please Develop a comparable kit to do this. I know we have to replace the major parts: sway bars, struts/shocks and springs, however what about the other parts. Please let us know if we have to also replace the:

1. Inner/Outer Bushings
2. Spring Pads
3. Lower Control Arm Bushing Kit
4. Rear Bushings
5. Rear Sub-From mounts.
6. any other parts

Thanks.

Well, we would have to research the E55 and find all of the Mercedes part numbers that make an E55 suspension different from an E430. That's basically how we figured out the Sportline. If we can get the microfiche on the E55 we can do it.

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Bill Wood - Webmaster
MercedesShop.com, LLC

To Webmaster: I'm ready to upgrade my E430! Please let this be the next project for Mercedes Shop. If you need a test vehicle, I will donate my E430 if I get the parts & labor for gratis? Really!

OK, got some measurements on the new parts this weekend with a Cenco caliper. Here goes:

................................% difference:
Part.........new.......old.....diam.....Area
Front bar*...2.75cm....2.67cm...3%......6%
Front coil...1.55cm....1.40cm...11%.....22%
Rear bar.....1.70cm....1.50cm...13%.....28%
Rear coil....1.50cm....1.45cm...3%......7%

* The front bar tapers twice: once at the transition from the horizontal to the vertical, and again at the transition from the vertical to the bar ends. Neither of these diameters changed between the old and new bars.

Note that a relatively small diameter change results in a large cross sectional area change (amount of metal added to the part). Also be aware that there is a lot more to the changes than just the diameter of the parts. Changes in the choice of steel alloy will alter the torsional rigidity of the sway bars, as will any tempering, mechanical, or chemical processing. The length and angle of the tapers will also influence sway bar rigidity. For example, MB has manufactured the Sportline springs to be "progressive", increasing the firmness as cornering forces increase. These improved mechanical properties are not revealed by measuring the spring diameter.

Bottom line - my inner ear, butt dyno, and brake pads all say it corners better than I can probably drive, has a comfortable ride, was well worth the cost, and I wouldn't change back to the stock parts for anything.

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JCE
87 300E 58,000 miles
Smoke Silver

[This message has been edited by JCE (edited 11-07-1999).]

[This message has been edited by JCE (edited 11-07-1999).]

[This message has been edited by JCE (edited 11-07-1999).]

Wondering aloud, but does the Sportline kit work with a '91 300TE as well? Really, I'm more interested in the flat cornering than necessarily the stiffer suspension or lowering the vehicle. Knowing little about how the components work together, I'd like to know if the package will work with my wagon, and/or if there are selected components that will add to the element of less body role when cornering?

Comments?

Thanks!

It was not a factory option but, Sportline mods have been applied to wagons. I believe M.B.DOC has done a few himself. Maybe we can get him to comment on this...

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Bill Wood - Webmaster
MercedesShop.com, LLC

Tracy, Eiback makes lowering/stiffer springs for the TE. Eiback may also makes sway bars for the TE. They makes it for the 300E. AMG makes a front sway bar but may require modification to install. All will reduce roll.

If Eiback makes the sway bars, I would go with that because they would reduce roll without greatly impacting the ride. Good luck.

Hi JCE

Thanks for all the information you provided. However, do you have any idea about the bushing they use in the kit? How many bushing did you change and what kind of material they used?

Harry