[W126 Coupe] 500SEC Lowering

[Ernie Stephens]

I'm waiting for a helper to join me to troubleshoot my horns and I''ll of course let everyone know the results.
 
In the meantime, for the benefit of  D. Miller or anyone else that might not already appreciate what lowering a car of this type can involve, I have had to replace my Eibach springs once; the first set failed but they were waranteed except for the labor.  Total cost for my springs and installation, close to $1000 back in the 90"s, bay area, CA.  I don't recall how many tires I ended up replacing all of these years because of premature wear but back in the early 90's I was paying in excess of $300 per 17" tire (they were a novelty back then and were expensive).  It wasn't until a few months ago that I finally bit the bullet and invested in a rear end alignment kit and had an alignment professional modify the rear end so that the front end could be properly aligned (everybody up to now had told me that their alignment work was not perfect but it was as good as they could get it.  Soon I will have put 3000 miles on my perfect alignment and new tires (nearly $3000 including the new tires); I'll take the car back in to have the wheels rotated, the alignment re-checked and tires inspected for wear.  I hope that I will be able to report that my tires are wearing evenly for the first time since the car was modified.  All that said, I love the look, it is my pride and joy and I would do it again except that this time I would do it right 100%.  
 
I am sure that someone might think that taking a torch and heating the coils or a hack saw would be good enough but I think that that kind of thinking would only be fodder for jokes.  
 
Have fun and best wishes.  

Ernie


 

> From: 48hp at earthlink.net

> To: mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com

> Date: Sat, 29 Jan 2011 10:14:42 -0800

> Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] 500SEC Lowering

> 

> Unfortunately the Eibach 500SEC specific non-self leveling springs 

> are no longer available from Eibach.

> 

> -h

> 

> On Jan 29, 2011, at 9:56 AM, Gerry Van Zandt wrote:

> 

> > Your springs depend on what you want to do with the car.....

> >

> > You have two choices with lowering springs for the C126: Eibach or 

> > H&R springs.

> >

> > Eibach is going to give you a bit more comfort (softer)

> >

> > H&R is going to give you a bit better handling (harder)

> >

> > I have been running an Eibach Pro-Kit (all four springs) on my 

> > 560SEC since 2002, and have been happy with it. It lowers the car 

> > about 1.5 inches (roughly the same as the H&R springs) from the 

> > stock position. The ride could be firmed up a bit by combining the 

> > Eibach springs with Bilstein HD dampers, which is probably what I'll 

> > do when it comes time to replace the stock shocks. But seeing as 

> > the SEC was originally intended as a luxury-oriented touring car, 

> > not a balls-out sports car, I chose to get the Eibachs to keep the 

> > car generally within character.

> >

> > Both Eibach and H&R are well-made and of good quality (made in 

> > Germany). BTW, DO NOT just lower the front -- purchase a set of all 

> > four springs and lower the entire car.

> >

> > Good luck.

> > Cheers,

> > Gerry

> >

> >

> >

> > On Jan 29, 2011, at 11:15 AM, mbcoupes-request at mbcoupes.com wrote:

> >

> >> I have a 1984 500 SEC Euro and would like to lower the front. Any 

> >> sugesstions on

> >> springs I should use? Thanks D. Miller

> >

> > The MB Coupes Website!

> > W126 SEC Mailing List

> > Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.

> 

> The MB Coupes Website!

> W126 SEC Mailing List

> Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.

 		 	   		  
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