Lowering a 1984 300d. Can it be done right? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Hip001 · #1 02-01-2010, 09:42 AM

Before you guys flame me with negativity I just want to explain.

I have a beater car that I got for cheap that I use as a daily driver. It is not a good cannidate for restoration so i am thinking it would be fun to make it a lil different.

I do not like over done cheezy paint jobs, flashy graphics, or untasteful custom stuff. I just want a clean smooth car & I love the look of a low rider!

Is there someone who has slammed a 123? Air bags, springs, etc... My preference would be to do this properly and not "presidential solution" it. (sorry for the non PC reference) I know the "wrong way" is to heat or cut the original springs. Any help or ideas would be great!! Might even "Mac or Murder it out" which would be flat black the entire car. This is a popular trend in the Custom Car, Hot Rod, Low Rider gatherings.

I know you Mercedes purist hate this idea which I understand and respect. I would of NEVER done this to my other 3 cars which were VERY nice examples of these fine German cars!

Thank you for looking!
Hip

leathermang · #2 02-01-2010, 09:48 AM

"Lowering a 1984 300d. Can it be done right?"
No.

Hip001 · #3 02-01-2010, 10:01 AM

Thanks Leather!

leathermang · #4 02-01-2010, 10:28 AM

For the record.. I am not speaking as a ' Purist' ... except that I do think that Steering Geometry ( affected by height off the ground) ... meaning things like the tires giving you normal length life are important.

Hip001 · #5 02-01-2010, 10:33 AM

Camber is a important setting for sure! I drive 500+ miles a week so this is an valid consideration!

leathermang · #6 02-01-2010, 10:39 AM

If you will get hold of the chassis manual for your car and see the trouble they went to to try to get everything just perfect.... you will feel better about dropping this basically ' Hot Rodding' desire as to height of your car. Having everything as close to stock and correct is more fun for some cars than others... if you have excess energy.. which is perfectly ok... think about doing a really nice rust proofing and long lasting beautiful paint job on your car. I know of nothing which takes more energy and dedication than correctly painting a car.

Hip001 · #7 02-01-2010, 11:17 AM

Again Thank you Leathermang. But as I stated up front, this car is a beater and not a good cannidate for the time, effort, & expense that a proper restoration would take. The car may be worth 4-6k when completly restored and for the kind of paint job I want, It would cost at least half up to almost that much just for the paint job. And that is before any interior restoration begins. I am TOTALLY anal when it comes to paint work so nothing but prefection is acceptable. Unless you know of someone who does this kind of work cheap? A $200 Macco quick paint job is not my idea of improvement and actually makes me like the car less. I believe good paint jobs can be found but are VERY hard to find! And to add to this I have dents and rust(although minimal rust)and discolored chrome to deal with. I do not mind doing mechanical stuff myself but the paint and body stuff I leave to the pros!

Hip001 · #8 02-01-2010, 11:25 AM

I was hoping someone out there had experiance doing this, but as Leatherman said I may be better off bailing on this idea.

Anyone lowered one of these 123's? Anyone ever seen one lowered?

#9 02-01-2010, 11:29 AM

IMO, lowering the car would reduce it's value. I have never seen one lowered, and I certainly wouldn't buy one that would require several $1000 to restore to the correct specifications.

Hip001 · #10 02-01-2010, 11:37 AM

Craig,
Thank you for your reply. I understand and respect your opinion.

Maybe the problem is I was not clear in my initial question. I just wanted to know if it could be done and if it had been done?

I got this at a price so low that If it lit fire today I would pull my tag off and walk away not feeling much loss. I love Mercedes Diesels and am still on the hunt for a nice one to keep in the garage, BUT, this one is one I would consider doing "non traditional" things to just for fun!

MBZ123 · #11 02-01-2010, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hip001

Maybe the problem is I was not clear in my initial question. I just wanted to know if it could be done and if it had been done?

I got this at a price so low that If it lit fire today I would pull my tag off and walk away not feeling much loss. I love Mercedes Diesels and am still on the hunt for a nice one to keep in the garage, BUT, this one is one I would consider doing "non traditional" things to just for fun!

Hell yeah...PIMP that ride!

But DAMN clicking on that search button can be a *****, huh? Tons of threads round these parts showing this done, I know cuz I read 'em all wit my own eyes. Here's an idea seen mentioned here before. Instead of using the forum's search function, ease on over to google advanced and fire away. Restrict the search to peachparts.com (there's a box to input domain name restriction er something along those lines) and voila! Some say it rox yer sox. I say it's a better investment of one's efforts. Try it, Mikey likes it.

Wait, 'nother idea. They just don't wanna stop! Hit the wrecking yards and locate some springs from W123 body with softer rate. Even diff. models benzs interchange w/ respect to springs. Options are endless, that's what I read. And further, while at the JY, spy some newer shocks to help as much as possible w/ reclaiming lost ride quality. See those things all the time over here. Minor financial investment, big bang results. Maybe you get what you're looking for. Already on the wrong side of the tradeoff equation, enjoy your time there. Would it be considered "done right?" who knows. We all know that changing and adding random variables to perfectly solved engineering equations, just because, has the extreme affinity to borg it all up. You did say if the target beater caught fire you wouldn't attempt to spit on it would you? K just makin sure. Who's behind the wheel? Who's house is it parked in front of? Who's resources are these? Who's gonna be lining his trousers with charmin? Seems to me that your opinion is the only one that really matters, eh chief? I see no issue with your stated goal. Sometimes, errr, MOST times, emotion rules both logic and fact. Tends to cloud one's perspective. Pay no mind to the periphery, it's all about perspective. Or, as so eloquently put by der sex pistols: "Nevermind the Bollocks!"

Wait, here we go again. Idea: You posted earlier about "flat black" over the exterior. Never heard the terms mac or murdering it out. I'm picturing two different solutions for getting highly similar results, though. Are you talking epoxy primer in black or dark grey in place of traditional paint, ala base/clear? Or are you referring to completely stripping exterior and prepping for that wrap style material they commonly use for putting advertising on cars. I recently saw the latter over at cartopia? (site re: detailing) in a thread by someone who acheived sweeeeeeet results on some euro style van with, what I consider, not much work or resources invested. Black and carbon colors dominated with no "shiny" or "sparkling" was the result. I was thinking of doin the same to a 123 body wagon, myself. Musta been the novelty factor of it all. I'll revisit this later to make sure, convinced as of now. Got just the donormobile for it, too. On the other hand, prepping for an epoxy primer with the ultimate goal being a decent outcome? Whoa, talk about energy! Not so sure bout that route. But before someone mentions perspective, I'm out. Winded too.

FNHB

leathermang · #12 02-01-2010, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBZ123

Hell yeah...PIMP that ride!

But DAMN Hit the wrecking yards and locate some springs from W123 body with softer rate. FNHB

In the chassis manual these are described by their ' Wire Size' ....
but if you are going to do it in this manner... new springs of that softer rate are not that expensive...and much easier to find than looking in yards for old softer springs...

Again.... reading the chassis manual for your car will really help.
Somewhere in the archives are also pictures of the spring charts I posted at some time... huge selections...direct from MB...and that does not even include the number of rubber mounts for adjustments...

okyoureabeast · #13 02-01-2010, 01:55 PM

You guys are no fun.

There was a guy on Benzworld.org who lowered his w123. I liked the look. Give me a couple of minutes so I can get the link.

I believe he used air bags for the suspension. I'm not familiar with any of this so please feel free to correct me on this!

lutzTD · #14 02-01-2010, 02:01 PM

I lowered mine 2" with the vogtlands, I like it fine. the fronts adjusts in perfectly and the rear is out by a fraction. with 25K miles plus on the lowered car my tires are just fine. people get too caught up in originality. its your car, do what you want. Besides, springs are easy enough to replace later, the ones that are in there are probably shot anyway. the worst ride change I had was with 17" wheels and low pofile tires. I now have 16" wheels and taller tires and it is much better. I plan to put on a set of 15" Ronals when these tires wear out.

MBZ123 · #15 02-01-2010, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by okyoureabeast

You guys are no fun.

There was a guy on Benzworld.org who lowered his w123. I liked the look. Give me a couple of minutes so I can get the link.

I believe he used air bags for the suspension. I'm not familiar with any of this so please feel free to correct me on this!

Airbags?!? I think the dollar meter just went poooof!