New springs NOT low enough!!!

[FA22]

Today I finally installed the 500E front swaybar and Nuespeed (H&R) sport springs on my 300E. I used 1 bump in the front and 3 bump spring pads in the rear. My goal was to improve cornering and handling, but the look I wanted and expected just wasn't there.

Right now the car is pretty level and there is about a 2in Gap from the tires to fender all around. Even with the lowest 8mm spring pad in the front. I was really going for 1-1.5 in all around. Is there a way I could drop the car a bit more? Iv'e thought about sanding the 1 bump to half it's thickness and placing them all around. Any of you guys with the Neuspeed or H&Rs on W124s please share your current ride height and Pad combo.

By the way the 500E sway-bar is great, it reduces roll by about 30% a must for those tuning thier W124s.

Thanks!

[Ashman]

my w124 coupe sits nice, with 2 bump front, 3 bump rear and the neuspeed springs.

You can see pics on my site of how it looks. check old pictures to see if you can tell the difference between before and after.

When I switch to 17" wheels, I might drop the front more with the 1 bump pads.

Alon

[FA22]

We'll it's been 4 months and no signs of noticeable differance. I will go ahead and switch the rear to a 1bump pad as well. But is there any way at all I can bring the front down 3/4 of an inch or so. The fronts the main concern. I was thinking if I can somehow get a thinner pad that would help...

ATT ASHMAN: when you get a chance since I see you have the same car and springs as me, could you check how many fingers fit between the top of the tire and edge of the fender. Comparing yours with mine will make sure I don't have anything unormal going on.

Thanks!

I just bought some bilstein sport/lowering springs for my 300E(lowering springs, not shocks. i know, i was kinda suprised too). Bought them on ebay from a guy in germany. AWESOME DEAL of $114 U.S. Brand new and in box and everything. Can't get any better than that. I'm gonna probably do the install next weekend and I'm also thinking of switching out my spring pads to make the ride a little more lower. The springs say they drop the ride 40 mm so I don't know how much more I should drop it. I want to have as low of a ride as I can w/o having my tires start to rub against the fenders. Just wondering what the stock thickness is on my 87 300E and whether it'd be advisable to also swap the springs pads (i.e. which pads to put in on the front and back and also where I can get them?) Thanks!

Out like a fat kid in dodge ball...
ShuPIMPsky

[FA22]

There are several Spring pads for the W124 cars. They will only change the ride height only several millimeters.

THINNER
LOWEST
1 bump
2 bump
3 bump
4 bump
THICKER
HIGHEST

Woah, several centimeters could be a whole lot. My lowering springs drop it 4 centimeters so how much more is several? And what would be the recommended spring pad thickness so that my ride is about hmmmm...2.5-3.0 inches dropped? Since I don't know how far to drop it I'm estimating that this will be a good height to make it noticeably dropped but not low enough so that the tires start to rub. Anyone replies would be greatly appreciated.

ShuPIMPsky

[allenjdmb]

MILLI meters...centimeters would mean inches in difference between pads...

Okay, that makes sense. Thanks for changing your post on that. It didn't make much sense to me when I first read it and it said centimeters. Is there any way in which I can drop it more than the springs say (40mm) they will drop it. There is always the option of curtting off a coil from the lowering springs but I've heard that this is really dangerous and I shouldn't be messing with and altering the springs. Any input?

Shubs

[allenjdmb]

sounds to me like you may have the wrong spring, or at least not the ones you desire. Although MB OE ride heights are ridiculously high, any spring that advertises a 40mm reduction in ride height and doesn't give very much...well, that just don't add up. You may have a spring setfor your chassis, but perhaps you have a 4 cyl spring set for a 6, a 6 for an 8 cyl...just because it fits doesn't necessarily mean it works. The weight differences can oftentimes make quite a difference. Most of the quality name brands, when used with the short pads, are really low. Plenty low enough for proper street looks and ride. If you've got the right parts, and want it much lower than that, you're out of my realm. That's not usable or safe for anything. Hope this helps.

Thanks for the advise allen. I havne't put my springs on yet so I don't know if they are low enough or not... I just wanted to know if 40mm would be low enough. Are there any adverse side effects to lowering the spring pad thickness??

Shubs

[jshiuan]

FA22-i don't think you should sand down the spring pad.

i see you having 2 options: you can cut 1/2 to 1 coil in the front spring (but i wouldn't recommend that). or you can try to find another brand of spring that would lower it more.

sometimes the same spring is used on the same chasis (w124) with different engines (300, 400, 500). if this is the case with your H&R springs, then the same setup will have a different look on each of those w124 cars. based simply on the engine weight.

for example, my friend and I both have w210 with the same H&R springs. mine is a v8 and his is the inline 6. and my car is lower than his and he's very upset about it, but there's nothing he can do...

either way, i wouldn't lower the rear anymore b/c then it will look funny with the front higher, at least right now it is even...