190e Stance Build

[sean190e]

I have a 1992 190e 2.6. I recently bought coil overs made for an e36 that are pretty much bolt on for my car. When I first installed them I was able to get them fitted to my top mounts but it wasn't exactly perfect. Also where I didnt cut the front springs, it wasnt allowing the coil springs to compress because the were too long. The coil spring is actually 2 springs seated on top of each other which makes a lot of noise. Any ideas on new coil springs that I can fit to the coilovers that I have? Also the height adjustment rings rubbed the tires pretty bad, would adjustable camber plates give me clearance behind the tire? I was told you can use mr2 camber plates but they need to be cut/altered

[Jorgen]

I advise you not to use the double spring system, meaning using the original spring and the coilover spring sitting with the shock. They work in the first place, but people have been noticing the strut towers can fail when using the E36 coilover system in front as it is. Go with E36 front shock and cut the spring, the ride will be fine, but still stiff enough. Go for stiffer OEM springs (R129, 420/500E W124) if it feels too soft.

[sean190e]

Do you know if they're bolt on or if they're going to need adjustments with the top housing?

[kofi]

Theres a couple ways to lower the w201, you can get 400e springs and chop them or bilstein b8 shocks and vogtlands springs(you can chop those aswell to go lower), yellow speed racing and ca-tuned make the only true coilover system for the w201. Bags is always an option aswell. E36 coilovers have been know to cause strut tower failures.
Hopefully this helps

[Dutch]

If you can weld, reinforcing the strut tower wouldn't be a bad idea if you really wanted to run e36 coilovers

[Jorgen]

Do you know if they're bolt on or if they're going to need adjustments with the top housing?

The top housing fits 1:1, no modifications. Meaning you use the shock only. The lower part however, the center knuckle might need some small modifications to fit, but it's easy and all in all they fit 1:1.

E36 coilovers have been know to cause strut tower failures.
Hopefully this helps

That is with using coilover springs right?

[190Evan]

Ayy! Take my advice and cut 2 coils off the springs and either get some silver project camber plates or make some out of universal MR2 camber plates like I did. The bottom knuckle requires no modification and bolts right up on all of the e36 shocks. As long and you run the OEM spring with not too many coils cut and a solid camber plate set up you will be fine. It's odd how people always say the e36 coils don't work and then recommend the CA-Tuned or YSR ones. You'll be fine....as long as you run that OEM spring and don't cut too much off. And take those helper springs out for crying out loud if you want to get low!

[sean190e]

So wait, I can completely remove the springs from the coil overs? Will it mess up the ride quality at all?

[Jorgen]

So wait, I can completely remove the springs from the coil overs? Will it mess up the ride quality at all?

Yes, I advise you to do so. I run E36 coilover shock with 3~ coils cut off the spring and the ride is great imo.

[190Evan]

So wait, I can completely remove the springs from the coil overs? Will it mess up the ride quality at all?

I would most definitely not, but that's from a fitment and VIP bias. If you run the stock cut springs cut that much with cheap e36 struts your not going to be that stiff. I said remove the helper spring not the whole spring, the helper spring is the spring directly under the main coilover spring which usually aids will ride quality and comfort but on our cars eliminates your ability to go low and really serves no purpose since you aren't relying on the coilover completely anyways.

[sean190e]

Ohhhh, that makes a lot more sense! Will the camber plates give me more clearance since they're adjustable? Cause I'd like to eliminate the tire rubbing the coil overs without wheel spacers

[sean190e]

I got the helper springs out of the way now

[190Evan]

No adding camber wont fix it and you will need to run a spacer, are you on stock wheels or? I ran the e36 coils with oem 15x6.5's and never had any rubbing issues.

[190Evan]

And that will probably be too low at that setting just letting you know

[sean190e]

Currently I'm on stock wheels but I will be installing my 17x7.5's before the coil overs will be installed.. and yeah I just have them randomly adjusted at the moment