So I have this 99 C230K that I just bought. I also bought a Koni Sport Kit from Tire Rack $390. I thought it was a helluva deal being that it came with matching shocks and springs.

Anyway after reading archives on this board and others on the procedure I decided to go for it. Daunted by the $500 to $500 installation quotes from shops and the $600 price for the tool I knew I was going to have to do this myself.

So I:

Lifted the car (one side at a time) and lowered it onto a sturdy jack.
Removed the wheel and set it aside
Place a jack under the LCA (lower control arm) to support the weight (this is a crucial step here)
Removed the shock
Removed the whatamacallit thingie (looked like a sensor of sorts with two Torx bolts)
Remove the UCA (upper control arm)
Unbolt the steering tie rod and remove from LCA
Unbolt and remove the brake caliper (two bolts) and hang it off of the UCA with a beefy wire hanger
Wrapped the spring with a metal trailer chain that I had laying about and secured it
Clamped on my cheapie Harbor Freight clamps $12.00 (I had no delusions that I was getting what I was paying for and wasn’t going to trust it to hold all that coiled energy so it was just a precautionary step)
Lower the wheel assembly to almost vertical (my W202 LCA never did go vertical)
I could see that the spring not under any more pressure but was hung on the LCA so I used a crowbar to pry it up..

When I came to at the ER and I saw the Doctors and Nurses and my Crowbar sticking out of my chest I knew exactly what had happened…

Nothing happed just a bit of levity there

My stock spring measured 14 inches I think (I will measure again) and the news one was 12 inches.

The first side took about 60 minutes because I was in unfamiliar territory; the next side took 30 minutes.

SIR Tools, etc - $600
Indy Shop - $600
Not having to pay them and taking satisfaction on getting my palms dirty – priceless.

Now to do the same in the back, hopefully it will be as easy.

Disclaimer: I am not proposing that you follow my process (you should always follow the manufacturer’s instructions’. My post was just to show that I was able to do this work without the tools and calamity. But I have been working on cars as a DIYer for a while ( http://AustinMini.OsiTech.Net ) and know my way around tools, of which I have a sizable amount (according to my Wife).
By the way my Wife did her own research on the procedure and she asked that I let her know when I was going to do this (after pleading with me to go pay a store to do it). As soon as I started she fled with the Kids and stopped next door to tell my neighbor friend that “He’s at it again, please check on him every five minutes in case you can stop bleeding, perform CPR and/or call for an ambulance”

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Okay done with the back, even easier and simpler.

Myt method was to support the LCA at the back and remove the bolt and let it pivot at the rear.

Car handles fantastic now and is making me miss my Evo IX SE less.

Now onto alignment. Speaking of alingment, what are the performance specs or should I just stick with factory settings?

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Get it aligned to " Sport " or AMG C 43 specs.

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2007 C 230 Sport.