I made a query to RENNtech about something to reduce body role on my 400E and was told they have a set of sway bars that would do the trick, for a little under $1,000.00 (front and back) Is there anything else that is available that is equily suitable? Would I want to also swap out the bushings and ???? at the time I swap the sway bars?


TIA

…Tracy

Tracy,

I have a 92 400E and used the 500E sway bars and bushings. I believe the front sway bar increases from 26.5 to 28 and the rear from 16 to 18. I'm at my office so I am not certain on the diameter numbers.

Part numbers:

Sway bar front - 124 323 72 65
rear - 124 326 25 65

Bushings F. inner - 124 323 56 85 (2)
outer - 124 323 51 85 (2)
rear - 124 326 01 81 (2)

The parts shop has it all right here and should run about $335.40 plus shipping and then labor on installation.

I was also wondering if anyone knows if polyeurethane(?) bushings make any difference in ride quality or performance?

Thanks!

__________________
Brian W.

01 S55 AMG Silver
01 CLK55 AMG Silver

Brian,
Polyurethane bushings, performance wise is
better than rubber.It dont flex so you have a
positive twist on your bars when making a sharp
turn.The only draw back is that over time it
makes a squeeking noise.Just keep it lubricated.
I use to have it in my Beemer and I squirt some
teflon grease on it, I would say once every 6 mo.

Clauser1

Would not petroleum-based lubricants erode any/all polymers?

I.E. - what lubricant may be used (safely) with polyurethane?

Thanks to all for your helpful information!! The RENNtech guy says “Specially made bars are 30 and 18, special bushings mounting brackets are the same”

According to Brian the RENNtech front bar might be a little bigger than the 500E front bar, but the rears are the same. Would the extra 2 mm make for a substantial difference?

So the next question is, how much body lean does a 500E have in the corners? A little? Nothing perceptible? Or a noticeable amount?

Comments are appreciated!!! I would love for my 400E to corner as flat as my 928 does. They weigh about the same.

…Tracy

Tracy,

If my numbers are correct 2mm should make a noticeable difference in the 28 to 30mm front bar, IMHO. But you could possibly be adding 4mm over stock if you go with the RENNtech front sway bar.

I thought the stock 400E cornered pretty flat stock, and with the 500E sway bars I could really feel a difference on the tight on/off ramps. Is the extra 2mm worth the money...your call. How much is just the front sway bar? I would have to believe the MB front and rear are much cheaper.

Adding 4mm to the front and 2mm to the back would make a flat cornering machine.

__________________
Brian W.

01 S55 AMG Silver
01 CLK55 AMG Silver

A 500E corners very flat, especially for a non-sports car. I've considered replacing the front bar, but would hate to compromise the ride. I say you should try a 500E front bar and see what you think...looks like a reasonably-priced option, especially compared to RennTech.

Check with your dealer, too...is there an AMG bar out there?

__________________
"If God had meant for us to walk, why did he give us feet that fit car pedals?" Sir Sterling Moss

Michael
2014 E63S Estate
2006 SLK55
1995 E500
1986 Porsche 944 turbo

I was informed by Mr. Riese (at AMG) that no sway bar is available for the 500E/E500.

You may contact him, directly, at: G.Riese@Mercedes-AMG.com

Kind regards,

Michael and Scott

Thank you both for your comments! I wish I knew if there was a formula of some type to say that a sway bar of x mm will yield a reduction of y % of body role and change the ride characteristics by a value of z. I am sure there are such formulae around, but haven’t a clue as to where to look. I seek not necessarily the cheapest solution, though $$ are always a concern, but the one that will yield the best results.

After looking at Scott’s comments, I shot an Email off to Mr. Riese and looked at the AMG site. They do offer whole suspension kits. I will relay anything I hear back once I do.

Will the 2mm that the RENNTech bar sells make a difference? 2mm is a lot of steel, so I bet it will.

Am I off target wanting to change the sway bars without changing the entire suspension? I dunno, but welcome comments!!!!

What’s interesting to me is that my 928 corners flat and has a very nice soft ride otherwise. I hope to gain some semblance of that out of my 400E

Thanks again to all!

BTW, Scott, I am very impressed with the work you've done on yer 500. I hope that you will soon squash the gremlin that has been haunting your 500!


Regards

…Tracy

Tracy:

Thank you very much for your compliment.

I, more than anyone, wish to resolve my stalling problem; on that day, I will celebrate, to be sure!

Kind regards,

The torsional stiffness of a solid circular bar is proportional to it's diameter to the fourth power accordingly a 30 mm bar will be 30% stiffer than the 28 mm bar. Based on that I would go with the 500E bar which seems about perfect.

Since the subject of 400E's and 500E's has come up I'd like to ask what people's opinion are of the differences. I drove a 500E which is for sale and has 145k miles on it and found it to be the perfect car to drive in terms of the feel fo the chassis. It cornered flat as mentioned above but road so smooth and felt super solid. Given that statement how much would I lose by going with a 400E and getting the suspension parts mentioned above. The obvious advantage would be lower cost due to the greater availablity and better fuel mileage. I would gladly trade some of the power for better mileage but as I mentioned I love the way the chassis felt on the 500E particularly the sense of solidity.

MBlovr,

Thank you for your formula! But I don’t understand why you say that the 500E’s less stiff sway bar (at 28 mm) would be preferable to a 30 mm sway bar?

Re owning a 400E or 500E, I wrestled that one recently and went for the 400E for a number of reasons. For me the important features were low miles as possible, availability of warranty, overall condition, reputation of the car, with regard to known problems, no ASR, and, most important, inclusion of heated seats! The 400 is solid as cast steel. I will also add that I have a budget and having recently bought another MB I was reluctant to spend it up a bit more for this one. Had I gone for another E class first, I would have gone for the 500 or perhaps the E55. But I’m entirely happy with what I have.

I put 16” wheels on and 205 x 55 x 16 Michelin Pilot Sports. Makes for a good feel on cornering & helped to reduce body lean a bit. The car is impressive on acceleration. It really demonstrates it’s charm pretty much anywhere above 30 mph. But the finish details in the 500 are nicer (IMO) and where the 400 demonstrates charm, the 500 has chutzpah!

…Tracy

You really have to drive both a fair amount to recognize their subtle, but considerable, differences. I own 3 W124s, and the 300TE and 300D are fairly similar to a 400E that I spent some time with-all nice, luxurious, solid dependable rides. Tim Vacula and Farrukh Majid should be contacted, if you really want considered opinions-both have owned both 400& 500Es.

And both drive 500Es today, so enough said. If you can cut a reasonable deal on a 500, it won't disappoint I assure you. A 400E is a great highway car with real long legs, and is definitely a fabulous car; but a 500E is another thing altogether-I'm continually amazed at what MBZ & Porsche cooked up in their little offering. Dynamically it is quite unlike any of the other W124s.

__________________
"If God had meant for us to walk, why did he give us feet that fit car pedals?" Sir Sterling Moss

Michael
2014 E63S Estate
2006 SLK55
1995 E500
1986 Porsche 944 turbo

The key word here is porsche.

Since the 500E was a collboration by mercedes and porsche, you really can't go wrong. its like having the best of both worlds.

Sedan meets sports car...

Personally I would go for a 500E. you can find some very very nice examples for around $30k

I have seen some as low as $22k with a bit more on the odo, but its hard to find one at that price with decent mileage.

I myself would rather spend $5k extra for a nice low mileage one.

I have not driven a 500e, but I myself would buy a 500e because it is a work of art, a sportscar hidden beneath the shell of a sedan.

the 400e's do drive nicely, but the suspension in the 500e, the flared fenders, and the massive rubber, make for an awesome combo, not to mention the awesome power. I'd buy a 500e in a second if I could afford one.

Don't get me wrong, both cars are great, but the 500E I think has a more collectors aspect as it was only produced for a few years and it really is a unique car that you will most likely not see again from mb, now that every model comes in an amg version just about.

Alon

__________________
'92 300CE - Sold
2004 C240 - 744 - C7 Wheels - Android Radio
2002 C320 - 816 - Sport Wagon

I have a RennTech front sway bar on my 500e, and Koni adjustable shocks.
I am also using 18 inch rubber on the car.
The ride is a little firmer than in stock trim, but that is mostly due to the tires and shock settings.

Installing the sway bar alone should not make your car ride much rougher.

Nice to see someone saying nice things about 928s too.
I think they are so often overlooked by Porsche folks.
Of all the porsches I've driven, the 928 was the best for overall daily driving......kind of like a 2-door 500e.

__________________
Alain
independant MBZ tech since 1981
http://www.motorsportlegendsks.com/