I am doing it on the 87 as most everything needs replacing anyways. I am working on collecting a list of part numbers.

Poo. So it looks like best bang for buck is H&R springs, Bilstein sports, and the 500E swaybars....

Wish I knew what you were talking about...

Which bit?

This whole thing

W124's have two "sport" variants from MB. The "Sportline" option which lowered the car and added stiffer suspension and the 500E. The E500/500E was built by Porsche and has even stiffer suspension than the sportline. There was also the AMG option (pre merger) along with other after markets. There are four major factors for my leaving the W123 in favor of the W124. Multilink rear suspension, more body kit options, easier to find 5 speeds and they are much quieter at speed. My 87 300D has a near perfect body (well it did when I bought then I forgot to put it in park ) but needs a complete suspension rebuild. I've got a laundry list of work to do on the 87 before I can even think about turbo upgrades. Originally I had planned on going with the Sportline option but its fairly pricey and for 30% less I can get stiffer and lower. H&R makes progressive rate lowering springs, Bilstein makes the coveted 3 valve Sport/Spring strut (W123 is limited at 2 valves on the HD) and the 500e swaybars are readily available at a decent price new (W123 rear swabar upgrade is NLA).

Alot of people start working on the engine first, I always start with the suspension and brakes. No point in having a fast engine if you cant drive it fast in corners.

Ahh, thanks for shedding some light.... Nice choice!

Winmutt. Ive got a w124 td as well and when i went through my suspension i went koni yellow adjustable (amazing) Eibach spiring (too ridgid) and 500e swaybars both front and back (not stiff enough in my opinion). I have load and right hight air bags in the rear which i dig. I wish however that i would have gone with h&r as i hear they are a bit softer over the bumps and limo sway bars. The diesel is so heavy up front that it still rolls a bit. But this is coming from someone who also drives an e30.

hope this helps.

I have always heard the Eibachs were too rough.

They might be ok on the track if that is your plan.

Nope. Its just that the only fun part of my days is driving around 2 big curves. And we have some nice roads up in the mountains up here... Deals gap for instance, 318 curves 11 miles.

[quote='winmutt' pid='16638' dateline='1282584126']
Nope. Its just that the only fun part of my days is driving around 2 big curves. And we have some nice roads up in the mountains up here... Deal gap for instance, 318 curves 11 miles.
[/quote

Sounds like washington. The suspension really wakes a w124 up.

I love my Eibach's . . . But they are on my Sprint lol

There was an e400 at the lot so I grabbed the front swaybar. Stock bar tapers and has three different sections on the ends. The E400 has only two and is thicker at the end. I reused my old bushing as they were still tight. Looking at the rear end it seems you have to drop the rear to get to that sway bar. Needless to say I will be putting those on hold till I find the right rear sway bar. Sounds silly? Bar cost me $15 and well worth the it. Not perfect but def more level up front.

Winmutt,

I am about convinced to sacrifice my 400e for my 300d. I was thinking of swapping the entire suspension and brakes to my 300d. As well as the whole black leather interior(my 300d exterior is black) then the 400e's body cladding.

Any thoughts?

The only thing that is useful is the brakes and the front sway bar IMO. I am not even sure the rear is different, even if it is the amount of work to do it when you can get a 500e sway bar has me waiting until I have cash for the 500e rear. The front is only useful because its a 30min or less swap. The brakes are bigger front (and back I believe).

Not trying to hijack anyone's thread here, but I'm in the same boat as I will be doing extensive suspension work in the near future on my '87 190d 2.5t. I'm currently looking at a sportline kit but am wondering if there isn't a cheaper option, providing similar results.

The H+R + bilsteins seems pretty good, I have yet to do the rear so the front is doing double time. The bushings are pricey and I havent found an alternative. GSXR just used OE and so did I.

(08-23-2010 12:22 PM)winmutt Wrote:  318 curves 11 miles.

:O :O

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also, what is the best way to go for new bushings? just got my $700 82 300D... front suspension is shot... actually have to fabricate a new plate/ brace for where the passenger side strut rod ties into the body... theres a reason it was $700, lol... but it came with a confirmed $786 worth of new in the box parts, mostly NOS Mercedes stuff, including a $306 Mercedes sending unit for the fuel tank... there was another 200-300 worth of little gaskets, filters, vacuum actuators and random stuff i didnt want to waste the parts guys time with looking up, and 5 factory Mercedes Service Manuals, as well as 8 other Mercedes booklets, two devoted to exploded view parts diagrams with part numbers on each part. one of the "Service Manuals" is devoted strictly to "Specialty Tools"... GREAT resource for if/ when i need to fab up a special tool. it had 291k when i got it from the original owner, kept it up meticulously (well minus the suspension, lol) the interior is in great shape... busting out the welder in a few weeks to attend to the structural issues, lol

I use rusty @ buymbparts.biz because he is local to me and if you get on the horn with him he will do his best to match a price. I have been a customer so long now that only in extreme cases do I not mind paying more. Your car is a W123so this is OT but when you do replace the LCA bushings use the 3 piece from the w126. In the manual it specifies to use it for 15" or larger wheels.

(10-20-2010 03:43 PM)winmutt Wrote:  I am not even sure the rear is different

I believe all V8 W124's have a much sturdier/larger rear subframe. I know the 500E does, and I'm pretty sure the 400E does as well.

There are sportline options for the rear but essentially they are the same.

(12-02-2010 10:01 AM)winmutt Wrote:  There are sportline options for the rear but essentially they are the same.

I have a subframe that is significantly larger and more reinforced than the stock one on my 300TD. I don't remember if it came off of a 400E or 500E. Same mounting points and all that.

Interesting. Are the links the same?

(12-02-2010 03:40 PM)winmutt Wrote:  Interesting. Are the links the same?

Yep! Everything is the same except the frame itself is much sturdier.