Hi. I've decided to go ahead with a suspension upgrade of my 95 E320 Cab, including HD Bilsteins and sway bars. Can anyone help me with the specific Bilsteins I should order? I presume the sway bars spec'd in the Sportline package by peachparts would do the trick. Thanks much, Ken in NYC

I installed Bilstein Comforts on my 92 300E W124. They do make a Sport model which may be more to your liking. I got mine for $92.xx each plus free shipping and no state sales tax. I have seen them as high as $158.xx. Good shopping.

tarheel75

I did the "poor man's Sportline" shortly after purchasing my '89 300CE. It made a world of difference in the handling of the coupe. As a package, I ordered the Sportline front and rear bars with bushings and Bilstein HD shocks. I swapped out the 6.5" 15-hole pizza pie chrome wheels for 7" 8-hole wheels. That allowed more rubber on the road. For tires, I run 215/60R15 instead of the stock 195/65R15. Went with the HD shocks because I wanted a much firmer ride for my mountain commute. The part numbers for the Bilstein HD shocks are:

F4-B36-1385-H0
F4-V36-0361-H0

(Just read the box in the garage that holds the originally removed shocks.) Not sure which is front and which is rear. Found a Bilstein PDF files with all MB shocks, but not sure where it is at the moment. The part numbers might have changed slightly since I purchased mine. The comfort shocks are the same height as the HD shocks. The Sport shocks are shorter and the equivelent to Sportline shocks, which necessitates shorter springs. I left the stock springs on. Comfort shocks also use the OEM springs.

Best money I ever spent on my coupe.

__________________
-Steven

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1959 190b, totalled
1968 220D, sold
1969 230/8, sold
1980 240D manual, gave away at 300k (stupid me)
1985 190D 2.2 manual, gave away to a youngster
1989 300CE, sold when I retired - major regrets

I installed a B12 suspension kit consisting of springs (H&R, I think) and B8 dampers. The car is an original Sportline and this lowered it still further.

All in all, a great improvement although I should point out that the suspension was original at nearly 300K Kms.

The B12 kit needs to be chosen carefully as the springs must be matched to your vehicle's specification. There's a points system and Bilstein can advise. I calculated mine from:

http://www1.carparts-cat.com/webkat.asp?SID=0921291921606961018004&ROOT=1

Be careful when totting up the points - even a radio adds 1 point to the front wheel loading. Things like aircon, auto box etc. all add points. Bilstein has thought this through so do NOT assume that springs are interchangeable between models.

Interesting to hear how you get on.

RayH

Thanks very much for your help. I live in the city, but drive around suburbs and country. Do you think the HDs will be too stiff? Thanks, Ken in NYC

No...not "too stiff"...just "very firm". To me, "stiff" implies that you get a jolt when going over a pothole or something like that, and that the vehicle is difficult to control. "Firm" implies that the car tracks straight and true and inspires an overwhelming feeling of confidence that the car handles like a sport coupe should and goes where you point it.

I sent you a PM e-mail.

__________________
-Steven

---
1959 190b, totalled
1968 220D, sold
1969 230/8, sold
1980 240D manual, gave away at 300k (stupid me)
1985 190D 2.2 manual, gave away to a youngster
1989 300CE, sold when I retired - major regrets

I'm just about to order Bilstein sports on an otherwise stock suspension on my 94 E320. the site says its direct OEM fit. But do i NEED shorter springs if i'm getting the sports? or is my only option HDs.

I'm a w124 newbie so please bear with me.

Thanks,



PS: also adding an air filter... Is Mann highly recommended?

__________________
94 E320 - Sold

From my understanding, and I could be wrong, is that the Bilstein HD and Comfort work with the OEM springs (non-Sportline). The Bilstein Sport struts are equivalent to Sportline struts (same size, works with the shorter Sportline springs).

But...if LarryBible says that Bilstein Sport struts work with the normal non-Sportline springs...I guess so. He knows what he's talking about.

I'm happy with my setup. On my frequent commute over the mountain (twisty roads), the back end only broke away once, and that was on one of the very infrequent rainy days here in Southern California. I've learned to enter that corner at an approprate speed for the conditions and not "push it" to hard there.

Air filter? Can't say. I came to this forum today seeking information about K&N air filters. Want to see if they really are as good as they, (K&N), claim, (more HP, lasts "forever", washable, etc.).

__________________
-Steven

---
1959 190b, totalled
1968 220D, sold
1969 230/8, sold
1980 240D manual, gave away at 300k (stupid me)
1985 190D 2.2 manual, gave away to a youngster
1989 300CE, sold when I retired - major regrets

The Sport dampers are matched by Bilstein to shorter than standard springs (H&R, I think) to form the B12 kit. It's easy to get this right as all you have to do is tot up your points to select the correct kit for your car.

Easy, and it works.

RayH

The Bilstien Sports will work well with shorter springs. Stock springs and comforts can be used to make a great handling 124 car. Been there, done that.

Ages ago I put a set of Sportline sway bars on my 300E. I ran them for a long time and wore out a set of KYB shocks and struts in that time period (KYB big mistake.)

When it came time to do it over, I put Bilstien comforts all around and put the stock front sway bar back on along with a 500E sway bar in the rear. The reason is that stiffening the rear sway bar TAKES AWAY understeer while stiffening the front bar ADDS understeer. SOOoooo..... to take away as much understeer as possible (of which almost all factory cars have plenty of) leave the front sway bar stock and stiffen the daylights out of the rear one.

The Sportline sway bars work on a sportline car because they also use sportline springs. With stock springs, my setup is far superior. It does add a little more front body lean which to the uneducated is objectionable. You should not concentrate on minimizing body lean. You should concentrate on making the car go where you steer it. My final recipe did that. It took out LOTS of the understeer and made it a REALLY fun car to drive. Try it!

BTW, the aftermarket sway bar companies want to sell you TWO sway bars, not just one. They claim that their combination is two bars that are designed to work together. I say BUNK! They are selling stuff and they want to sell as much as possible. Stiffen the back sway bar before changing anything else except the shocks and struts. Try it, you'll like it!