Uprated springs for Mercedes E220 cdi

[Emdee1]

Would like to know if anyone has fitted uprated staffer springs to the rear of a Mercedes E220 cdi, and if it was a success. I just bought my Mercedes ( 2014 model) 6 months ago and the car sirs quite low with the caravan hooked on. I have had 3 Vauxhall Insignias and they always sat quite level with my van, so I am keen to know if I could stiffen up the rear suspension to help.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Car manufacturers set up their cars with the spring and suspension systems capable of carrying all the loads the car is specified to carry. There should be no need to change any of suspension settings away from the standard vehicle,

First check the vertical height of the loaded tow ball ground to the geometric centre of the ball It should be between 350 and 420mm. If its within this range then its likely nothing is wrong with the car.

If its less than 350, then it might be overloaded, in which case reduce the load, Or the suspension is worn or broken.

Several modern cars have stability control systems that measure the suspension height and travel. If you change the spring rates or travel, the ESC will get the wrong information and could produce teh wrong corrective control.

 

[otherclive]

No experience on a Mercedes but I had a similar problem on my car (see below) such that it would scrape its jockey wheel as it came off the drive or be very close on our local speed humps. None of my other cars had any such issues. The Skoda towed perfectly well but it was the ground clearance issue that prompted me to do something. So I fitted MAD spring assisters which are auxiliary springs mounted inside the cars own rear springs. They raise the suspension by a small amount due to requiring some pre load. But the cars driving solo seems totally unaffected and it’s towball clearance is improved such that clearance between jockey wheel and ground is improved. Having a level attitude isn’t essential so a nose down attitude isn’t specifically a problem, but grounding could be. Before fitting the MAD springs I had the cars rear suspension checked to make sure that it wasn’t the problem. I also religiously ensure tyres are pumped up before towing.
My insurers increased the premium by a small amount.
Anyway that’s my experience. The other option could have been to fit uprated Skoda springs as used in Russia or India but they do raise the cars height significantly and would have been a self import not supported by Skoda UK. As it is now I can remove the MAD springs to return the car to normal or if required I can replace the OEM springs from a multitude of U.K. / EU sources should a spring fail, which is unlikely but not unheard of.

 

[Anseo]

Your car has self leveling suspension I guess, visit a tow bar fitting specialist and I think you will find a solution.

I would definitely consult MB before undertaking any suspension modifications, insurance company notification of modifications would be another thing to factor in should you modify your car.

I find the E Class E220 (W212 version) an excellent tow car,.

Hope you find a quick resolution and have many happy miles .

 

[ProfJohnL]

Your car has self leveling suspension I guess, visit a tow bar fitting specialist and I think you will find a solution.

I would definitely consult BM before undertaking any suspension modifications, insurance company notification of modifications would be another thing to factor in should you modify your car.

I find the E Class E220 (W212 version) an excellent tow car,.

Hope you find a quick resolution and have many happy miles .

If the car has self levelling suspension then why does it dip when the caravan is hitched?

An if it does have self levelling suspension, adding any sort of spring assisters would definitely have a detrimental effect on the car, as it would constantly be trying to reduce the ride height.

 

[otherclive]

Your car has self leveling suspension I guess, visit a tow bar fitting specialist and I think you will find a solution.

I would definitely consult BM before undertaking any suspension modifications, insurance company notification of modifications would be another thing to factor in should you modify your car.

I find the E Class E220 (W212 version) an excellent tow car,.

Hope you find a quick resolution and have many happy miles .

If the car has self levelling suspension then why does it dip when the caravan is hitched?

An if it does have self levelling suspension, adding any sort of spring assisters would definitely have a detrimental effect on the car, as it would constantly be trying to reduce the ride height.

I don't know what type of SL suspension MB might fit, but I had one car that used a Sach system which dipped when under static load but then self levelled as the Sach hydraulics levelled the suspension once the vehicle was underway.. It used suspension movement to pump itself up.

 

[Raywood]

I do wonder if Otherclive has spotted something here. If the car levels itself once the engine is running have you checked it at that point?

 

[otherclive]

I do wonder if Otherclive has spotted something here. If the car levels itself once the engine is running have you checked it at that point?

It was not engine running that pumped up the suspension it was road movement which activated the small hydraulic piston in each unit and it was that movement that lifted the cars height. It only took less than a couple of hundred yards.

 

[Anseo]

The E Class suspension raises when the engine has been started and drops slowly when engine switched off.

I refer to the W212 and am assuming the 2014 year suspension system is similar.