W124 wagon suspension experts...advice needed - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

kidMoBile · #1 03-04-2006, 03:34 PM

I'm going to be doing the suspension upgrade....finally....to my 95 wagon this summer. I'll be installing E500 springs all around, E500 rear swaybar, limo front swaybar, E500 struts up front (progressive rate dampening...early model #). The E500 rear struts don't physically bolt on because the lower control arm of the E500 was different from that of the wagon. However, several members who have done this or a similar upgrade have complained that the stock rear hydropmeumatic strut of the wagon may be a poor match for the new springs, as the stock strut dampening is not sufficient enough and leaves the car with a "pogo-stick" feeling in the rear.

My question....several of you own both wagon and E500 or are just familiar with the parts....

Can the E500 rear hydro strut be modified such that it can be bolted into the wagon. Examples....can a small adapter bracket be machined and used to get the E500 strut into the wagon. OR....can the control arm on the wagon be modified (adapter, or new mounting bracket welded on) to get this to work.....etc. i believe this can be done safely, if the geometry allows.

If I had the two parts sitting in front of me, I'd be able to answer the question myself.....but I don't. If anyone with a spare 500E rear strut would let me borrow one they are not using at the moment, I'd return it!

Another option is to source a 95 wagon sportline strut from Germany, but I'd rather not spend money unneccessarily (wait.....I did buy a Mercedes, didn't I?)

Thank you for your help!

Brian

Pete Geither · #2 03-04-2006, 06:22 PM

Brian. Have played around with my wagon just a bit. Cut 4 inches out of the front springs, put 17" AMG's on it and a 500E rear sway bar. For everyday street use it works great. For serious road work it's not the optimum I'm sure, but it sure suits me. Sorry I can't help with the rear strut thingy, but I know you can get into some big bucks there.

Glen · #3 03-08-2006, 11:44 AM

Here are some pictures detailing the differences:

E500 strut on left, wagon strut on right

E500 strut on left, wagon strut on right. Note differences in lower mount

The way I see it, the easiest way would be to use lower control arms from a 400E/500E. The upper mount will work as is. It also just occurred to me that you may be able to drill the holes in the wagon arm out to accomdate the 500E strut...if so, that would be the easiest/least expensive option.

iwrock · #4 03-19-2006, 11:24 PM

I am also considering this. I am thinking of HR springs all the way around, as they are very inexpensive compared to the stock sportsline springs that I want. However the problem I may be facing is that the HR's in the back may wreak havoc on my SLS. Does anyone know if this will work???

ke6dcj · #5 03-21-2006, 03:08 PM

You can get the Euro Sportline springs made specifically for the wagon, AND the Sportline self-levelling struts.

You can also go with the W124 LIMO bar, and a W210 rear-bar made by Eibach, I believe. Combine this with Sportline bushings, and you will feel like you're driving a BMW, not a cushy Mercedes.

:-) neil

iwrock · #6 03-21-2006, 03:32 PM

I am going to put on 1994 E420 bars in place of the stock ones, and I am going to cut about 2 full coils out of the front springs. I think that would stiffen it up, without compromising the SLS in back. I am going to eventually buy a set of Sportsline, as they are hard to find.

And then last but not least, I am going to buy a limo bar and an E55 20MM swaybar. But those are for a different day.

gsxr · #7 03-21-2006, 03:54 PM

No way would I cut two full coils out of the front springs... I think you may end up buying new springs after that. I'd cut 1/2 coil to start with, and drop to 1-point pads (wonder what pads are in there now?). You'll also need to lower the rear ride height to match the lowered front, and then adjust the SLS accordingly. I'd be careful about making big changes here. I'd seriously consider starting with the sway bars before touching the springs. Mercedes already did all the engineering/R&D on a Sportline wagon (sold in Europe). The parts are available to purchase here too, I'd get the factory package for springs & struts. (And also the bushings for control arms and subframe.) See attached text file for spring/strut part numbers.

EDIT: The attached text file uploaded without all the carriage returns and was unreadable. Here's the original - just click the link:

http://www.w124performance.com/docs/mb/W124/124_suspension.txt

kidMoBile · #8 03-21-2006, 04:48 PM

GSXR:
Are you saying the Euro sportline springs and struts are available to purchase in the US?
I've been under the impression all this time that those would only be available through some crazy special purchase from Germany where I'd have to arrange shipping and cut off my right arm to pay for it all.
Thanks. Brian

gsxr · #9 03-21-2006, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kidMoBile

GSXR: Are you saying the Euro sportline springs and struts are available to purchase in the US? I've been under the impression all this time that those would only be available through some crazy special purchase from Germany where I'd have to arrange shipping and cut off my right arm to pay for it all. Thanks. Brian

Everything should be available in the USA without much trouble (and at wholesale cost if you know the right vendors) with one exception... the rear Sportline SLS hydro-leg shocks. While a USA dealer should be able to order them for you, the cost may be higher than just buying from Speed-Autoteile in Germany. Buying via Speed is painless, their English is quite good, they charge your credit card in US dollars, and can have things to your door in 3-5 days.

I haven't contacted Speed for a quote... but I'd expect them to tell you that a pair of those would be approximately $750 USD plus $75-$150 shipping (depending on your preferred ship method). As a total wild guess, I suspect US dealers will want ~$1000 per pair, based on my limited experience with ordering Euro-only parts that were not previously on the USA price list. If anyone gets a firm pricing quote (from ANY vendor), please post here and let us know what they say.

BTW - if you think those prices are high, check out the cost of standard replacement SLS hydro-leg shocks. They are ~$475 each, MSRP...!!

Pete Geither · #10 03-21-2006, 05:59 PM

No way should you cut 2 full coils out of the springs !! I have found that cutting 4 inches out of the length will drop it about an inch.

ke6dcj · #11 03-21-2006, 06:42 PM

Yep, if you cut the front springs, be prepared to hit every curb or parking stop.

:-) neil

iwrock · #12 03-21-2006, 10:25 PM

Sorry, that is what I meant. On an old integra that I worked on, 4 inches was 2 full coils. I will just cut out a few inches then.

Sorry for the confusion. I think for the back, I am just going to stick the 20MM swaybar in there in about 3 months. That way, no prices springs or struts to deal with. The other thing I am going to do it buy some springs when I buy the big rear bar. I am only going to do HR front springs, and that would just about be all of the mods I am going to do. That damn rear suspension is toooo pricey to mess with.

iwrock · #13 03-22-2006, 12:10 AM

What size shims did you use up front, when you cut them down?

iwrock · #14 03-22-2006, 12:49 AM

Also, what bushing would this be?? Do you have a part #?

Also, according to that file, the spring for SLS that is stiff is
124-324-26-04.

Yes, I am getting super excited. This is going to handle like A BEAST.

Pete Geither · #15 03-22-2006, 05:44 AM

I just left the bushings in that were there, since the 4 inch cut got me to the desired height.