E320 Driveline

[320E]

Dear all!

After replacing the springs on my E320, the height of the car looks like offroad-setup as you can see on the pictures.

I used original MB springs but hardest version to have better road feeling. Thus the car won't settle much on the springs installed now.

After some internet search I found the following information regarding factory height, but I don't know, if this is the true factory information. Maybe someone can tell me:

Sportline -> front 31cm, rear 33cm
Standard -> front+rear 38cm to 40cm

By this information my setup (details below) should be factory even it looks funny ...

=> I would like to have the car a slight lower (should be practical for daily drive) but harder than normal to have a good road contact / feeling.

Bernhard mentioned to retrofit an original Sportline drive line. Can anyone tell me the height of the car or send a picture with 16" rims? Are there good (better?) aftermarket drive lines to achieve my goal?

Best, Simon

===
My current setup
===

Front Axes:
Spring pad "1" (8mm)
Measured height: 39cm

Rear Axes:
Spring pad "3" (18mm)
Measured height: 41cm

Rims: 7x16 ET46 (E420)
Tires: 205/55 R16

 

[Klink]

Post the part numbers of your springs you used, and your chassis number too.

 

[320E]

Here it comes ...

VIN = WDB1240321J092709
front spring = A 124 321 23 04
rear spring = A 124 324 21 04

 

[Klink]

Here it comes ...

VIN = WDB1240321J092709
front spring = A 124 321 23 04
rear spring = A 124 324 21 04

As you may have guessed at this point, what you have picked are simply springs of the standard firmness, but in the "longest" possible version, likely the exact opposite of what you were trying to do. Do you have the ability to return these springs and obtain others? What is your goal? Are you desiring to convert to the "Sportline" tuning, or do something using aftermarket components? I personally have never experienced a 124 suspension as perfect in all circumstances as that in my '93 320E Sportline sedan. Love your factory 124.034 7X16's. I have the same set up on my DD 260E. They have been NLA for a long time...

 

[320E]

First of all, I would like to have a "stiffer" feeling in the drive line.

If I talk to other W124 owners, they always tell me to retrofit a Sportline drive train if they hear that I would like to have a harder setup. But Sportline also means lower. And I ask myself if the Sportline height is fine for daily drive.

I have not seen any W124 with 16" and Sportline so far. If they have Sportline they often have extreme rims (>18"). So nothing to compare for me.

I want to keep my E420-rims (16"). If they look nicely with Sportline and it is also a good setup for DD, I would be fine with this retrofit.

Does this help?

 

[gsxr]

This chart of coil spring specs may help a bit. Or not... but just in case...

http://www.w124performance.com/images/W124_suspension/124_coil_spring_specs.pdf

BTW, looks like your car is Bornite (Blackberry)... one of my all-time favorite colors. What is the interior though? I'm not familiar with interior code "001"... some form of black I assume?

 

[Klink]

First of all, I would like to have a "stiffer" feeling in the drive line.

If I talk to other W124 owners, they always tell me to retrofit a Sportline drive train if they hear that I would like to have a harder setup. But Sportline also means lower. And I ask myself if the Sportline height is fine for daily drive.

I have not seen any W124 with 16" and Sportline so far. If they have Sportline they often have extreme rims (>18"). So nothing to compare for me.

I want to keep my E420-rims (16"). If they look nicely with Sportline and it is also a good setup for DD, I would be fine with this retrofit.

Does this help?

Yes. If you could access the complete Sportline componentry from a 124.032 similar to yours, I think it would be superb. I didn't find mine too low here in the states, so I'm sure that it wouldn't be too low with your relatively better roads. I used your wheel set up with both 205 and 215 /55 16, as was the listed preferred conversion size in the WIS. I preferred the slight improvement in impact harshness suppression and looks with the 215/55/16, but it was excellent with either. Don't forget to get the steering gearbox if you are pulling parts from a used car. It is another small but worthwhile improvement to the package.

 

[320E]

The interior is fabric black (Mopf2) by factory. But as soon as I can get a black leather Sportline interior (sport-leather-seats) it will change ... ;-)

It is bornit (color 481). A color I would never have ordered by looking at the color table of the W124 brochure (back in 1995). But "in reality" it became also one of my favorite. I also like "extreme" colors. E.g. Beryl 888

There was a car in Azuritblau 366 at the 2014 Int'l e500e meeting ... sex on wheels!

... and leather in "dattel" ... oh ........

 

[320E]

Thanks Klink for your practical comments!
That's what I was looking for.

I will start the retrofit with new shocks and sprigs according to the EPC table / WIS. I also will have to take a look at the swaybar.

Thanks a lot!

 

[Klink]

The interior is fabric black (Mopf2) by factory. But as soon as I can get a black leather Sportline interior (sport-leather-seats) it will change ... ;-)

It is bornit (color 481). A color I would never have ordered by looking at the color table of the W124 brochure (back in 1995). But "in reality" it became also one of my favorite. I also like "extreme" colors. E.g. Beryl 888

There was a car in Azuritblau 366 at the 2014 Int'l e500e meeting ... sex on wheels!

... and leather in "dattel" ... oh ........

It is so funny that everyone wants what they can't have! If it was in good condition, I would love to have that cloth interior! I couldn't ever imagine trading it for the ubiquitous and boring cow skin that is foisted on all of us over here...

And as far as colors go, you are singing my and gsxr's song! I love your color combo!