i've got a 16v with the SLS removed. i'm sitting on H&R springs (for 8v because of the SLS delete) and Koni sport adjustables front and rear (again for the 8v for obvious reasons if you're familiar with SLS). the rear springs are just not stiff enough for me. also, the rear of my car is uneven. the driver's side sits a little lower, though there isn't any more weight on that side. i've tried to correct this by putting a #3 pad on the driver's side and a #2 on the passengers. this helped, but the driver's side is still a little lower (maybe 9-12mm). is there a #4 pad for the rear of the W201s?

i want to raise the rear of my car a little on both sides and increase the spring rate mainly. as it is, when i'm cornering hard over a bumpy driving surface i get some rubbing on the driver's side, partially because it's lower but mainly because my springs just feel soft in the back. i know some people have used springs from other models of MB for the rear of the W201. does anyone know which model's springs i can use? 300TE or E, older SL? i'm expecting to have to cut a coil or two and fine tune the height with different spring pads.

i do know the implications of cutting coils and i do know how to cut them properly. that said, i'm hoping for a spring that when cut by 1 or a few coils will be nice a stiff but not so much so that my wheels hop when it's bumpy.

finally, i know i can order pretty much any diameter, length, and rate of spring i want from some of the major manufacturers but i'm hoping to save the expense and get something from a salvage yard or parts recycler. i'm definitely not interested in investing in a coil over, custom spring perch, etc. for financial reasons.

thanks,

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dew
86' 190e 2.3L 16v

I just saw a friends car with CLK430 springs installed with Bilstien sport shocks. The car was sitting pretty.

86 16v 2.3L

I didn't think that the (W208) springs would seat in the perch?

Dew, call me about the springs. Just slam some 400E springs in there & cut them. I have them.

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1994 E500 (MY SUNDAY DRIVER)
1993 190E SPORTLINE LE W/ M104 SWAP
1997 C230
2002 ML320
2000 BMW 528I (WIFEY'S CAR)

"Excuses are crutches for the unfounded."

All front and rear 201, 124 and 129 springs have the same diameter.
I have used cut 400e, 500e and even 600sl springs on the front of my 190 racecar before having custom springs made by hypercoils.

You don't want to go too stiff, but I suggest buying a bunch of used ones (like from Potomac) as they are very reasonably priced,,,,and do some experimenting.
Maybe get yourself a set of 300e , and 400e to start. the wire diameter usually varies by a mm or two from model to model.

MY Dad's 190 racecar still uses oem springs that are cut & I think he is using 500e on the front and 400e on the rear, with a 500e front sway & evo2 rear. (if I remember right)

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

i'm going to start off with some 400e from potomac german. they've got good prices. i think that will be just fine for my street machine.

how many coils did your dad cut from the 400e rears? i'll probably go less because i don't really it need it to be slammed, just handle well.

thanks,

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dew
86' 190e 2.3L 16v

A lot of your body roll problems are not going to get a whole lot better without investing in better sway bars.

Are you sure you got the right springs from H&R? It sounds like you may have gotten a wrong height spring.

Did you set your Konis to a stiffer setting?

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George Carstens

i did get the 8v springs from H&R. i'm going to upgrade my antisway bars too but i just don't like that soft feeling in the rear of my car and i really would like it a little higher in the rear. i'm going to try the 400e springs.

unfortunately the koni sport adjustable only adjust the rebound, not the compression. how worthless is that? i'm really regretting spending the money i did for the koni's. yea they're nice but i should have just gone with bilstein HDs.

thanks,

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dew
86' 190e 2.3L 16v

I got the stock 16v springs in back with bilstein sports shocks
it seems pretty stiff and bangs corners with a soild feeling , way better then the hydaulic ones I think,

Here is the "muggs guide" to sway bars. If you are looking for more understeer, go with a bigger bar up front. If you are looking for more oversteer, go with a bigger bar in the back. If you don't understand what I mean by understeer and oversteer, let me know and I will explain it.

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George Carstens

Maddog,

Just curious, what's your explanation of O.S. & U.S. ?

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1994 E500 (MY SUNDAY DRIVER)
1993 190E SPORTLINE LE W/ M104 SWAP
1997 C230
2002 ML320
2000 BMW 528I (WIFEY'S CAR)

"Excuses are crutches for the unfounded."

IM thinking of putting in 500E front and rear springs in my 190E 2.6 5-SPEED. How much do you have to cut from the coils to fit ?

Understeer is when you get into a corner and you try to turn the car, but it just doesn't want to turn.

Oversteer is when you get into a corner and you turn and you can easily slide the rear end of the car around to get through the turn.

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George Carstens

would 560sec/sel springs work in the 16v??

Does anyone know the wire diameter of the stock 190e versus the 300e and 400e springs???

I am curious to find out what rear springs are on my wife's 16v. Someone along the way deleted the SLS and replaced it with a conventional setup.

Tinker