Ok all you E500/500E owners. I'm putting new shocks in front. I'm either going with the Koni adjustable(yellows)
or Bilstien sports. Im going to be purchasing them today so I need all the feed back I can get.

You 124036 guys you know who you are!






Guido
Factory MB Tech 14 yrs

1993 500E
PEARLBLACK/87K

I have the Konis on the front of my 500 & love 'em.
They are great for a car that sees both everyday street use & some track use too. (just open the hood, set them at full "firm", & you're set to take some laps)

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

Hey Alian good to here. So you have the yellows.

What did you pay for them. I worked out a deal on the net.
I got them for $124.00 each is that good or can you recomend to me someone different. I also need some K&Ns do you have a extras ha ha Or clue me in on where i can get them cheap. Thanks alot Guido.

Hmmmm, My Konis are red. It looks like you're getting them at a pretty good price.

I don't have any extra K&N's but any auto parts distributor in the country(autozone-pep boys- o'reillys-etc) who handles K&N can get them for you.

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

Alain what generation are your konis if you go to the koni site. The yellows as they call them are adjustable. Now are your reds as they callled koni sport? Also Im just running the factory springs are you. I'm running #2 spring pads in front how bout you. Feed back feed back.

The shocks are red in color and are adjustable via a plastic knob on the top of them. They have been on the car for a few years,& I can't remember exactly when they were installed.

My springs & pads are the originals that came on the car when new. I have never looked to see which pads I have, because I am happy with the "stance" the car has & feel no need to change it.

Sorry I couldn't be more help. I can also tell you that I recently drove a late 90s mustang on the racetrack that had Konis on all four corners.
This was one of the newer 4cam mustangs with a Baer big brake system, a vortec supercharger, sticky DOT competition tires, a rear panhard bar, & the koni shocks.
The car was a blast to drive.
I toyed around with the "adjustments" on the shocks, and there is quite a difference between each setting.
The car worked best for me (on the track) with all of them set at full firm.....
......But I think this would be too harsh for every day driving. The beauty of these is that you can quickly "adjust" them for what you are doing.

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

Hi ItalianBenz,

Where do you get the Koni Sport for $124 each? I am going to change to Koni too.

Harry

Hi harry. I purchased them online. At Carparts.com. I got them at a shop price cost .Since I'm in the business. It was a farelt good deal. They great and adjustable. I'm just running them on firm everyday. I like the ride. Its not too harsh.
There Also the REDs. Be sure to tell them you want the reds.


Good luck, I am also running the H&R's coils.




Guido

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500E Sold
2006 Mini Cooper S
Modified,pulley,injectors,suspension
2009 E350 Sport AMG package

All,

Be advised that there are apparently 2 different OE struts available for 500Es/E500s. All 500s after chassis 71XXXX (last six #s of vin) had more compliant struts; the earlier ones reputedly are stiffer. Now, my car's 79XXXX, so came with the softer struts...being a stickler for OE, I've ordered a set of the early ones, which are ontheir way from Germany. Price was about $10 more than the later struts, and cost me $180 each.

BTW, for whatever reason I've got 4 bump pads in the front-gonna put in either 1 or 2 bump to see what effect it has.

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"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

Michael- can you post the PN# for the two different front struts?

Also, can you email me offline you're supplier's contact info.

Let us all know the outcome. I'm getting ready to change out the front struts.

BTW- our 1993 500E's front spring-pads are 4-bump also. I've been told the front will be lower, but you may hear more suspension noises due to the thinner pads.

Thanks in advance,

:-) neil
1988 360TE AMG
1993 500E

The early P/N is 124 320 57 30 and retails for $252. The later P/N is 124 320 71 30 and lists for $242.

__________________
"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

Thanks Michael.

Guess what, the later part number cross-references per the FastLane catalog to a Bilstein V36-0365 SPORT shock. Which has the shorter rod length, but NO INTERNAL BUFFERS/SPRINGS. The EARLY part number has no Bilstein equivalent.

I'm betting that in order to get a more compliant/less stiff ride, Mercedes went AWAY from the internal buffers/springs of the early 500E shocks.

I wonder which 500E front strut Glen installed on his wagon to confirm this hypothesis.

:-) neil

Neil,
I'll check the part numbers when I have a chance but I specifically ordered the late style from Randy/EPS and they definitely have the internal buffers and are made by Sachs.

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Glen Tokuhara
Beauty & the Beast and the wagon that could!

BTW- Rick Ellinger of RC-Imports (http://www.rc-imports.com) who competitively races Mercedes cars, has come up with a set of of custom-valved Koni's for racing.

Check it out at:
http://www.rc-imports.com/Parts&Services/projects.htm

BTW- I have a 3.07 limited-slip from Rick, and it performs incredibly!

:-) neil
1988 360TE AMG
1993 500E

Neil- ...counterpoint for pondering

just because there is a cross reference in the Fastlane catalogue for a Bilstein Sport with shorter rod length for later 500E/E500

...certainly does not mean that MB ('went away from') ceased the internal springs on later 500E/e500's

...from face value- - sounds like it indicates that Bilstein offers a replacement/ option to later 500E/E500 MB OEM front shock hardware (of their own design paramaters- without internal springs) and also that (Bilstein) does not offer front shock replacements for early 500E... (of their own design parameters)

-fad