w202 c200 lowered suspension

[tillwill22]

So I recently bought a c200 which is ridiculously low in the front end, my guess is that the springs have been cut as it is extremely bouncy over the slightest bump in the road , I just wanted to know what sort of springs would be the best option to replace them with and also is it a overly hard job changing them yourself or what would be the best option? Cheers

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[Bartman4800]

Maybe just a set of original MB springs from the U-pull it?

Unless you want to go racing, there's not much wrong with the original setup.
Get a new set of OEM Bilstein dampers as well, sounds like the current ones are shot.

Bart

[tillwill22]

Thanks mate I was thinking of going with the original spring route but I thought it may look a bit funny with those wheels that it has on it sitting so high up?? And the self serve wreckers up here in Brisbane want an arm and a leg for anything that comes off something with a European badge also. Do these come standard with Bilsteins in them or is that just what is recommended to replace them with ?

[Ivanerrol]

You need the special Mercedes Benz Spring compressor to get the springs out.
Don't use generic outside the spring type compressors - very dangerous.

If you were in Melbourne I could assist your with this.

Next. There are rubber pads between the springs and the body at the upper end. These normally determine the ride height.
If you get some springs from a wrecker then make sure you get the rubber pads as well.

Original springs are high quality and last a looooooong time. So don't worry if some you find at a wrecker have lots of K's on them

Only get OEM Sach's or Bilstein's struts and shocks - other stuff just doesn't cut it.

Sell those wheels and tyres with the proceeds get some 16inch OEM stuff. Original wheels and tyres are 15inch - IMHO 16inch are the go.

[tillwill22]

Thank you Ivanerrol so the rubbers that go between the spring and the body are a different thickness between models as in either classic, elegance or sport ?? I found a compressor tool on ebay for $81 just wanting to check if it's the one you are talking about?

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And what wheels would fit the c200 and look good as I recently bought a set of 16 inch Mercedes wheels that were off a w211 e class not realizing that they wouldn't be suitable as they rubbed on front suspension..

[Ivanerrol]

That would be the tool and for $81.00 it's a bargain. I paid much more than that for mine :Doh:

here's one in use


The rubber pads differed for the Esprit models which were lower than standard and the heavier 6 cylinder engines had another pad.
heres some pads


I had w211 inch wheels on my W202 with no rubbing.


The trick is in using the correct bolts for post 2001 16 inch wheels

[tillwill22]

Oh yeah that's quite a bit of difference in height just in the rubbers alone then hey.. And yer I thought $81 was pretty cheap considering the last set of standard prong type ones I got were around roughly the same price.. Were the tyres you had on them 225/55/16 at all ?? I'm not sure why these ones where rubbing on the front upper ball joint and tie rods then :think: I did use the longer bolts that i got with the wheels and I did find out that they scraped on the rear because apparently they hit the inside handbrake springs or something.. These are the ones I had...

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[Ivanerrol]

I did have 225/55/16's on but weren't comfortable with them
Last tyres I had were 205/60/16

W211 16 inch alloy wheels should be ET41 oe ET42 - it will be embossed on the rear.

Maybe your suspension is still too low for the 225/55's