1998 Mercedes-Benz CL420 (C140)

[tobinen]

Right, some digging via colour codes has returned this from BenzWorld. I have two yellow, one white, and red on the second coil.

post on BenzWorld said:

On the one coil:

1403212504 - 2 yellow and 2 white
1403212404 - 2 yellow and 1 white
1403212004 - 1 yellow
1403212304 - 3 red and 1 blue
1403210704 - 2 green and 1 blue
1403210904 - 2 blue and 1 green
1403210604 - 1 blue and 1 green
1403210804 - 3 green and 1 blue

And on the second coil:

BLUE - NORMAL/REGULAR COIL SPRING
RED - SOFTER COIL SPRING (softer than with a BLUE mark)

On that basis the part number supplied is correct but why is it so high?

Then however from MBClub:

MBClub forum post said:

Mercedes divides their springs into 2 broad categories

LONG SPRINGS blue stripe
SHORT SPRINGS red stripe

Whilst this is for a W126, I found this on PeachParts



More digging required.

[tobinen]

I have (nearly) cracked it. I found a better EPC, admittedly Russian but it's all sourced from the OEM. The dealer has not taken into consideration my option code of 789 18" AMG alloys with which it left the production line. With these fitted the part number should start HWA but there are four part numbers and I haven't managed to pin it down to one.

However, thus armed I have more information and I'll try MB Poole in the morning. Fingers crossed they're still available.

[bolidemichael]

What will be the conversation with the indy, should you identify and locate/source the correct springs?

[tobinen]

That he's been supplied the wrong part number, with the reason, so he has some ammo against his supplier.

[bolidemichael]

Excellent

[tobinen]

The correct part number is HWA1403210404 which, sod's law, is NLS. The HWA part numbers are specifically for option codes 788 and 789 which are factory-fit AMG wheels. Poo.

[nullogik]

tobinen said:

The correct part number is HWA1403210404 which, sod's law, is NLS. The HWA part numbers are specifically for option codes 788 and 789 which are factory-fit AMG wheels.

Assuming that last part number you quoted is the correct part for your car and is NLA (if its from MB Poole they know their stuff) then one avenue you have left are the spring pads and experimentation with your existing new springs be it the Sachs or MB ones. Spring pads come in four sizes 8, 13, 18 and 23mm thick so you can see there is scope for fine tuning. You will need to determine what pads you currently have fitted and then see whether you can go up or down in spring pad size to arrive at what looks about right for the car. Unfortunately you can see its quite hit-and-miss and by dint of that labour intensive, but its possibly the only way left you can adjust the ride height with the springs you have available to you. I have seen this on other forums as a method people have used in particular when they have fitted aftermarket springs and the ride height has been wrong.

Edited by nullogik on Friday 26th March 19:45

[tobinen]

I called MB Newbury yesterday and it has requested a part number second opinion from MBUK. My HWA part number is probably incorrect as I misread the option code (799 on mine but 789 in EPC)

I told them the colours on the springs so we'll see with what it comes up. As a last resort the garage may cut the ones supplied at my expense. Ho hum!

[tobinen]

Still no news on the springs. MB Newbury tells me that it has referred the part number to MBUK, which in turn has referred to MB DE.

In other news a NOS set of W140 hub caps came up so I had to have them. I just need 4 steelies now.

[nullogik]

tobinen said:

Still no news on the springs. MB Newbury tells me that it has referred the part number to MBUK, which in turn has referred to MB DE.

It might be worth contacting the MB Classic Centre as well. I believe parts for the W140 now fall under their remit since the model was launched 30 years ago. They may be able to give you query more and hopefully specialist attention:

https://www.mercedes-benz.com/en/classic/classic-s...

[mercedeslimos]

tobinen said:

Still no news on the springs. MB Newbury tells me that it has referred the part number to MBUK, which in turn has referred to MB DE.

In other news, a NOS set of W140 hub caps came up so I had to have them. I just need 4 steelies now.

They are lovely. A W140 on steelies is so German, all about quality and no bling.

[tobinen]

To no one's surprise, me anyway, MB says it's the part number I have been supplied or Bo Diddley. I trawled back through my invoices to 2015 and found the part number that had been changed before: 627220220 (I should have thought of that earlier).

I put that into Bing and Google and it matches with a SACHS front spring but only showing as available from ECP/CarParts4Less. However, it's listed for a 1992-3 W140 320SE/L. Hmm. There is no cross-reference to other brands or OEM.

The Baumuster for the 6-pot saloon is 140032 or 140033 (LWB) so I tried Autodoc. There are numerous options but the gist of it is that comparing listed spring lengths against what I have, I can pick a spring 30-40mm shorter than I have now.

The question I have to ask myself is: do I feel lucky?

[honevo]

nullogik said:

Assuming that last part number you quoted is the correct part for your car and is NLA (if its from MB Poole they know their stuff) then one avenue you have left are the spring pads and experimentation with your existing new springs be it the Sachs or MB ones. Spring pads come in four sizes 8, 13, 18 and 23mm thick so you can see there is scope for fine tuning. You will need to determine what pads you currently have fitted and then see whether you can go up or down in spring pad size to arrive at what looks about right for the car. Unfortunately you can see its quite hit-and-miss and by dint of that labour intensive, but its possibly the only way left you can adjust the ride height with the springs you have available to you. I have seen this on other forums as a method people have used in particular when they have fitted aftermarket springs and the ride height has been wrong.

Edited by nullogik on Friday 26th March 19:45

I am finding that this spring saga echoes my experiences - I too am currently stuck down the rabbit hole.
I have a 1998 W140 CL 500 with 89k in violan (purple). I had new springs fitted by a local Merc indie (Sachs, I think) a couple of years ago but they didn't last long - the tyres fouled the bodywork every time I turned on an incline.I then agonised about what to replace them with - the Merc indie was not helpful so I went to my usual garage who look after classic cars - they purchased OEM front springs from Mercedes which I thought would be the answer but it now sits up and begs...I am not sure whether I should try to source OEM springs for the back in the hope that it evens out but its doing my head in eery time I look at the car. Needless to say, my garage just tell me that they ordered the correct springs but then I got onto the forums and apparently there is a byzantine range of possibilities depending on colour coding and the exact age of the car...
I have just had the front wings refabricated using a combination of the the originals and replacement saloon wings - I never thought that would work but the fabricator did a great job.
Now my problem is trying to get the front seat repaired - the leather has worn through on the bolster (I think it must be nappa or similar as it is not hardwearing) but apparently its impossible to source the correct leather and I can't find an upholsterer who is interested in repairing it....
I am glad to read that I am not alone....
I seem to have developed OCD tendencies fretting about ride height and upholstery issues!!

[bolidemichael]

That's an unwelcome place to be. FWIW, there are two outstanding upholstery ateliers in Surrey.

o'rourke coachtrimmers

and

d:class

I've never used the former, but they recreated the original Dymaxion interior Norman Forster.

d:class are awesome and upholster the McLaren MSO interiors. They just completed a steering wheel re-trim for me.



and have previously re-trimmed two 944 seats in cashmere pink.



I have been quoted £1,500+VAT to re-trim my avantgarde W211 driver seat and it isn't even top spec leather. I think that it with the OEM part, which is heated, however.

I can't assist with the springs though, however, a few specialists come to mind.

Klasse of Fulham

Steve Redfearn in Wimbledon

SS Motors in Weybridge

John Haynes in Worthing

All the best to you and Tobinen. We wish to see these cars on the road being used properly.

Edited by bolidemichael on Tuesday 13th April 22:27

Edited by bolidemichael on Tuesday 13th April 22:27

[honevo]

Thanks Michael - I may end up trying these people although I live on the Wirral...
This is mine (before it sat up and begged)

[honevo]

[B'stard Child]

honevo said:

Thanks Michael - I may end up trying these people although I live on the Wirral...
This is mine (before it sat up and begged)

Can we have an after picture please?

[bolidemichael]

Actually guys, the official MB Club has a new W140 'captain' and he seems to be very enthusiastic. They've organised a whatsapp group and I'm sure that they'd be able to offer a few pointers.

[mwstewart]

bolidemichael said:

That's an unwelcome place to be. FWIW, there are two outstanding upholstery ateliers in Surrey.

o'rourke coachtrimmers

and

d:class

I've never used the former, but they recreated the original Dymaxion interior Norman Forster.

d:class are awesome and upholster the McLaren MSO interiors. They just completed a steering wheel re-trim for me.



and have previously re-trimmed two 944 seats in cashmere pink.



I have been quoted £1,500+VAT to re-trim my avantgarde W211 driver seat and it isn't even top spec leather. I think that it with the OEM part, which is heated, however.

I can't assist with the springs though, however, a few specialists come to mind.

Klasse of Fulham

Steve Redfearn in Wimbledon

SS Motors in Weybridge

John Haynes in Worthing

All the best to you and Tobinen. We wish to see these cars on the road being used properly.

Edited by bolidemichael on Tuesday 13th April 22:27

Edited by bolidemichael on Tuesday 13th April 22:27

£1,500+VAT sounds very toppy to me. I have my steering wheels done for £120 and seats are generally £250-£500. It would be worth shopping around.

[bolidemichael]

I agree that it's toppy though perhaps it isn't a like-for-like comparison, as they have quoted OEM leather sourced and fitted. From memory, it was around the same, possible more, for the 944 seats. The quality was beyond belief. So supple and utterly flawless; I'm a proper fastidious bigger and don't recall spotting an imperfection.

£175inc for the steering wheel is the price that Royal Steering Wheels quoted, but that's for a full leather wheel, rather than the wood/leather. Additionally, they wanted me to supply the dark palm grey dye as they don't stock that colour!


Transcal in Scotland quoted £225+VAT. They couldn't guarantee an exact match with OEM spec.

d:class were twice as much as Royal, but no fuss with supplying the colour and I know that they'll do an OEM+ job with OEM spec leather and stitching.

Who do you use?