Lowering a W202 for Appearance and Ride Quality

[_Nick]

Hey guys, I've been scouring the interwebz looking for any information I could find on lowering our 202s. Be it coilovers, springs and shocks, bags, hydros. There really isnt a lot of info out there, or at least I couldn't find much. Keep in mind, I'm no master mechanic, but I've done plenty of work on plenty of cars in the past to be able to change out some suspension parts. Considering thats all I'd have to do. lol

So my question is what would, theoretically, be my best bet for lowering the 202? I am more interested in appearance than track use really. I'm just looking to be low and slow as style and comfort are more important to me than going fast. I'm past the Honda phase. haha. I was wondering what would be my best bet for lowering my car but retaining maximum ride quality. I really don't want to be bouncing on bumps like those Civics do, but I do want to be reasonably low. any where from a 2" to 4" drop maybe? I dont know. This is my daily so I dont want scrape driving down the street. Not to mention I live in Jersey are these roads are horrible. I dont need to be breaking anything. Cutting my springs is an option I suppose, but how would that effect ride quality?

I'm guessing I'd be best off with lowering spring and shocks?

Thanks a lot guys.

[Mike51809]

I'd do lowering springs and shocks but that's me lol I have them in my favorites :p

[anf6789]

where in NJ are you located, and i know most of the guys here run bistein/hrsprings setup

[wichipong]

coilovers are too much for w202s.... but if you have the cash to spend on it go for it!

im running h&r sports with bilstein sports shocks....

[ypkx]

running Ap shortened shocks, gmax front, apex back. UK spec XD

[_Nick]

where in NJ are you located, and i know most of the guys here run bistein/hrsprings setup

I live in Central NJ, Middlesex/Monmouth, but I frequent all of Jersey really.


And thanks guys, it looks like I know what I'm going with now. Coilovers are too much for me, man. I still have a lot of work to do to my 202. But thanks for your responses guys!

[Karlo1988]

Im in north jersey .... I would suggest H&r springs with bilstein shocks too from all the Iinfo i have read online .... I just ordered mine thru ebay....

[hawkeyeross]

Hi there,

I'm new to this site and I need a little advice. I have a 1999 C200 Elegance with MB Alshain alloys ET37 with Continental Contact2 225/45R/17/94W and I was thinking about changing the springs to Eibach Sports Lowering Springs. Lowers 30mm all round.

Your thoughts please.

[vixen_w202]

I have an easy reply to this thread:

Buy an H&R Sport Cup Kit like I did. It's about as aggressive as you can get without scraping and comes with matching shocks. Front drop is 2" and rear is 1.7"

It took me and 2 other buddy's to do at a friend's garage about 11 hours because the front stock springs are longer than the distance to China. We ended up cutting all the old springs out to make life easier but if you want to keep them...go to the dealer and buy the mercedes spring compression tool. I hear it makes life a lot, lot easier!

I'm running a lower profile tire so from my experience I didn't have to roll the fender lips, and I have no rubbing. But everyone's different, so check for rubbing sounds after install.

The sport cup kit not only dramatically increases the looks, but it also has performance to back it up. Other than the kit I'm running all stock suspension and through some canyon runs I've done the handling of he car has become far more responsive. Scraping on driveways is not an issue either, I've purposely thrown some nasty aggressive inclines at it and no scrapes.

That's my 2 cents....get that kit and you'll be super happy :)

[98Benzo]

Got my H&R sport springs and Bilstein sport shocks and struts today from Nextmod a local performace shop. Getting it all installed on the 27th of April. Is an alignment required after install?

[wichipong]

Got my H&R sport springs and Bilstein sport shocks and struts today from Nextmod a local performace shop. Getting it all installed on the 27th of April. Is an alignment required after install?

Always!!

I recommend it also when you change wheel/tire set up (if ever)

[Karlo1988]

If you have the money go with bilsteins B8s n H&R springs !!! Now if you want to start off with juat springs thats also not a problem .... I had my car lowered on h&rs with stock shocks and the ride was fine no problems at all !!! But like i said i would def suggest b8s and H&r setup !!! Couldn t be any happier .... Good luck

[hawkeyeross]

Just had the Eibach Pro Kit springs fitted today, the car looks and handles great. Post install pics to follow over the next few days. :)

[hawkeyeross]

Just had Eibach Pro Kit springs added, great feel and look.

[hawkeyeross]

1307

[_Nick]

Thanks for all the replies!
Where did you guys order your shocks? Right off the bilstein website?

Also, are the B6 Sport shocks necessary? Would I be okay with just Bilstein OEM replacement shocks on lowering springs? I'm more interested in ride quality than autocross times.

[Denlasoul]

Also, are the B6 Sport shocks necessary? Would I be okay with just Bilstein OEM replacement shocks on lowering springs? I'm more interested in ride quality than autocross times.
It is not absolutely necessary, but with lowering springs, a stock shock will wear out faster.

[MikeD]

It is not absolutely necessary, but with lowering springs, a stock shock will wear out faster.

Quite true. If you can't afford the shocks right away though you should probably be fine. I've been lowered for almost a year and my OEM shocks are still holding up. I'm looking to get some B8s late summer though.

[Vetruck]

The B8 shocks are no better than the B6 shocks- they are actually the same internally. The B8 shocks are more for lowered cars (shorter in overall extended height) so as not to have alot of droop in the suspension when the caris jacked off the ground. European (I think it's called TUV) inspections are very strict on vehcile modifications from factory specs so these shocks are mainly build to keep the springs in place if lowered springs are used and the car is jacked off the ground. it is common on alot of different types of cars to have lowered springs fall out of the spring cans and then not reset or self-align when the car is put back down on the ground in instances where like someone has to change a flat tire on the roadside.

As long as a shock does not ground out internally, it is better to have it run deeper in the cylinder of the shock housing. The seal around the shock shaft is better supported of the piston is deeper inserted into the body.

The reason an OEM shock will wear faster is becasue a lowered spring is generally a higher rate spring and will exert more force ont he wimpy OEM shock. The OEM sock will foam and overheat more and thus wear out faster over its normal lifetime. It oculd be the different for example of the facory height suspeion making an OEM last 60k miles, and a lowered stance on one with higher rate springs lasting 40k miles.

[Vetruck]

As for ride quality, it has alot to do with light weight wheels, tires, and suspension parts. The lighter the better. Read the sticky up top on Vehicle dynamics, it will explain more in depth.

[Samito01]

I just lowerd my 99c230 k with m/b 5mm shims front and back and cutting 1coil off each spring. The ride quality is great. And the stance is just like h&r cup... Pics coming soon