Elbenzo // Bagged '92 190E Project

[JDMexican]

I got a things today. That's right, a things! I almost feel bad putting these on a stance/show car after seeing all the "performance" and "nurburgring" text. Regardless, still a great damper and it will serve my purposes well, hopefully.

*Zelda new item acquired sound

Elbenzo's Bilstein's by David Arellano, on Flickr

Elbenzo's Bilstein's by David Arellano, on Flickr

Elbenzo's Bilstein's by David Arellano, on Flickr

Elbenzo's Bilstein's by David Arellano, on Flickr

Elbenzo's Bilstein's by David Arellano, on Flickr

Elbenzo's Bilstein's by David Arellano, on Flickr

[JDMexican]

Ordered the Bilstein B8 rears from Rock Auto yesterday and they shipped today! Also have the front coilovers and rear camber arms on the way! Bagriders is waiting on some small pieces to arrive from the UK then my suspension kit will ship.



The only thing left is the mounting setup, which will be an Exo tank setup! I'm going to have my friend fab an adapter plate so I can mount my Airlift manifold and ECU to (since it's built for Accuair's manifold). Everything will be mounted to the rear deck inside of the trunk. I'll be ordering that this week. And that's all I should need to go bagged! Hopefully at least. *fingers crossed*

[JDMexican]

I literally just saw a post somewhere mentioning those. ^^ How do these things not come up in a google search!? (Probably because they're UK sites??) The Silver Project ones actually would've been what I went with since Ground Control gave me the same answer, they also couldn't confirm whether or not they would work with factory-style shocks.

ANYWAY, I've got some great news! In my hunt for answers I came across Williammk1's build thread here on Stanceworks. And as a result of not being able to see his posted images from work, I jumped on Instagram! And whadd'ya know, he just happens to be selling his set of front coilovers with camber plates AND a set of rear camber arms.

Perfect timing! So I'll be going with his items and now all I have to purchase will be the rear Bilsteins and I'll be good to go!

[190Evan]

Or you could just buy the silver project ones lol they work with bilstein and will give you -3. I've heard good and bad things about them but honestly I'd go for it. Ground control completely turned me down when I got in contact to them in terms of buying single parts. Oh and Gnar/Low makes some but they are too pricy for my likes as well.

[JDMexican]

That's interesting that either of those chassis would be close enough to fit on the benz. I'm trying to keep it looking relatively factory so I'm trying to avoid expanding or filling any holes. Mainly considering how clean the rest of the vehicle is.

I've been doing a whole bunch of research and combing through forum posts, websites and other such places. Seems like I've basically got three options.

1. Looks like there's a company by the name of Dibed that has made camber plates that should work with factory/factory replacement struts. They're incredibly fancy and probably overkill for my stance needs. Plus I'm not sure that they're still in production, but it's an option possibly.
   
2. I've also found that Ground Control makes a set of dampers/coilovers for this chassis that includes camber plates. I've just now sent them an email to ask if that camber plate will accept the Bilstein B8 shocks (shortened sports version). If so it may be my best option.
   
3. Otherwise I have the option of just buying an E36 front coilovers (not sure on price) that includes a camber plate. I'm certain that many companies offer coilovers for the chassis, it's more so just choosing which coilover and camber plate would be best for my arrangement.

Additionally I have emailed Matt at Only Charged Dubs to ask what he suggests as far as struts with the option of front camber adjustment so I'm curious to see what he ends up recommending. I can only assume that he will recommend the BC Racing coilovers.

[190Evan]

Any suggestions on camber adjustment with factory/replacement struts would be very helpful. (I plan on going with wider wheels in the future.

Now I just gotta decide which Bilsteins I need. Unless you guys think the E36 front coilovers would be more beneficial at a relatively similar cost.

S14 240SX camber plates and frill holes in your upper shock tower, or you can get adjustable MR2 camber plates and cut them to fit underneath. either will give you about -3 or -5 with modification. Anymore tan that would require extending the LCA's. pic up cheap coils for like 300$ and use those struts. The bilsteins are amazing but the shock body is too tall for how low you're going to want to be. There's also w201 camber plates out there but they are triple the price.

[JDMexican]

That's exactly the kind of feedback I like to hear!

My main item that I wanted to address with coilovers is camber adjustment but I've been looking at camber adjustment methods that don't require coilovers. Obviously just some adjustable tophats. Any suggestions on camber adjustment with factory/replacement struts would be very helpful. (I plan on going with wider wheels in the future.

Now I just gotta decide which Bilsteins I need. Unless you guys think the E36 front coilovers would be more beneficial at a relatively similar cost.

[190Evan]

My dude, save your money and don't waste it on BC's it won't matter if you're on air anyway. Pick up R129 front shock mounts, buy some cheap E36 coils for the front coils only and remove the spring and perch, use that front e36 strut, enjoy your sway bar being planted on the floor syke, the OCD bag kit doesn't come with a sway bar mount so your going to be running without one regardless. Enjoy laying your frame boy! Get some Bilstein B8 rears and cut the bump stops if they come with them.

[P78]

My 2cts;

Get the depo ones. Dump the clear corners, mount back the original amber ones
In the long run, the ambers will look best. You'll get bored about the modern ones. trust me

i had clear corners on mine and got tired off them after half a year

[loekaaz]

Since when are BCs 'better' than Bilsteins?

[JDMexican]

Good news!

I've just now placed the order for the Only Charged Dubs kit via Bagriders! (They added it online for me). The kit doesn't include struts so I have a decision to make.

They won't be able to provide me with the BC coilovers for 4-6 weeks which puts it past my deadline date to make it for Wuste.I can also order a set of common Bilsteins from another company (who ever carries the items in stock). I've also come across Gnar Low which offers CA Tuned coilovers with their kit. So here are my options:

• Order the Bilsteins and use them until they're toast then upgrade to the BC's at that time
  
• Fork out the cash right now for CA Tuned coilovers (utilized in Gnar Low's air ride kit for this chassis)

[JDMexican]

In other news! I got in contact with Only Charged Dubs on Monday (the developer of the air suspension kit I'll be ordering for Elbenzo)

Matt at OCD (Only Charged Dubs) was awesome to work with and had always answered my questions promptly and very professionally. On Monday Matt referred me to Bagriders, who is the distributor for this kit in the United States. Matt informed that he had records of Bagriders having a kit in stock for my 190E

I started typing this big long story out then decided I didn't want to be that guy sharing his fully detailed not-so-great experience with a merchant. Long-story short. The rep at Bagriders that I've been dealing with hasn't been nearly as helpful as I hoped he would have been. I have a number of issues that have really reduced my confidence in the service I was receiving.

• The Only Charged Dubs kit is not listed on their website
• The 190E kit is listed under a C-class vehicle (W124 being the same kit is listed under E-class appropriately)
• Told me they didn't have a kit in stock for me then found out they did later on (not knowing availablity)
• Had very little knowledge about the product itself (didn't know the shock options or understand why coilovers are offered)
• Had to provide a link to OCD's website to ensure he understood what I was asking for
• Told me I could order online even though the kit isn't listed on their website
• Overall just didn't seem to understand the urgency of my request or how to address my concerns

The last word was my request to have the item added to their website so that I could make the purchase online after being advised that it could be done if I so liked, that was yesterday afternoon. I have yet to hear back.

I will be purchasing the kit since I believe it to be the best possible option for this vehicle. It's worth the cost and I don't want to cut any corners, even though other kits have worked well for other individuals. I can only hope that everything going forward goes smoothly since I don't have much longer until Wuste which is the short-term goal. OCD doesn't currently have a kit in stock (according to the email from Bagriders) so unfortunately I can't order it directly through them, otherwise I would have after getting the feeling that I was going to have problems with communication.

#stressed #wusteprep (sorry I used hashtags in my post)

[JDMexican]

Small update for you guys. This time with pictures of a thing! A thing I actually bought from him ^^ (Thanks not-Robby-bob,bobby).

Mercy, meet Momo. In preparation for a cool leather steering wheel one day.
Mercy, meet Momo by David Arellano, on Flickr

Mercy, meet Momo by David Arellano, on Flickr

Mercy, meet Momo by David Arellano, on Flickr

[chayden]

Good to see more 190e's. Keep it up!

[OSSHWA]

I know this thread is for your Benz, but hot damn that Subaru was rad! Sad to see you parted ways with it.