Coil Spring Color Codes for 1987 300E

My new to me 1987 300E sits off balance on a level surface. The front looks too high and the rear looks a little low. I thought there was either sag in the rear springs or incorrect front springs so I took it to the local Mercedes dealer for their opinion. The person from the dealership thought the rear looked ok but the front looked too high. He suggested buying replacement springs for the front. The dealership was unable to give me information on the spring color codes.

I looked at the springs on my car and they do have color codes. The front springs have 4 yellow stripes and 1 white stripe. The rear springs have 1 yellow stripe and 1 white stripe. While at the dealership, I looked at a 1992 300E in the parking lot which looked to be sitting as I would expect. I could see that the springs in the front on that car had 3 yellow dots and 1 white dot. The 1992 also had about

1" more clearance in the rear between the top of the tire and the wheel well. I could not see the color code on the rear springs.

I would like to figure out whether the problem with my car is the front or rear springs so that I can replace 2 springs rather than 4. I am hopeful that someone with a 1987 300E (a/t and sunroof) can share with me the color codes for their springs.

Thanks,

Robert

Reply to
9kman
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Be VERY careful when working on Mercedes springs. They have a deserved reputation for being tougher than your average spring, and have been known to destroy cheaper coil spring compressors with potentially disastrous results.

Some E classes have self leveling rear suspension, be sure that you are comparing apples with apples. Have you tried contacting a suspension specialist about the spring codes?

The way to really work out where your car should be sitting is by measuring the ride height and comparing that with the specs Mercedes give for that model. Never mind too much what it looks like, what does it drive like? Is there a wallowing, over steer, under steer, lunging or any other symptom of suspension anomalies? Mike

Reply to
Just Mike

Agreed... you need proper internal spring compressor...

Do not use any external spring compressor... those are designed for struts which has a much smaller tension strength.

In any case, I highly recommends buying aftermarket lower springs... they really do wonder for MB... ride is pretty much the same... slightly stiffer... but boy!... the reponses and less sway.

Reply to
Tiger

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