Okay, Mr. Detective. What would you expect to observe given that his sidewalk and driveway appear to slope downhill to the left in the photo? If a car is parked on a sideways slope, which wheels are carrying a greater load? Get out those Physics notes from college, will ya?

Goose- I am teasing of course. I also feel there is a slight lean (probably less than an inch), but it is greatly exaggerated by the optical illusion.

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1968 220D, w115, /8, OM615, Automatic transmission.
My 1987 300TD wagon was sold and my 2003 W210 E320 wagon was totaled (sheds tear).

If it has Rubber Spring Pads it is possible for them to rot out.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Actually the real 'culprit' is more weight in the drivers seat over the life of the vehicle. This tends to cause many, if not all of the failures noted above.

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1961 190Db retired
1968 220D/8 325,000
1983 300D 164,150

Collapsed subframe mount. Compare the left and right side specifically looking at the gap between the steel flange and the rubber facing. Don't need to be critical on the measurements, just look for an exaggerated difference between left and right.

Personally I don't think it's a weak spring, they are simply built too tough to simply sag to this degree. IMO.

What I can say though is new subframe bushings make the rear stand proud, improve handling, especially through corners.

Thanks for all the replies. I'm going to get under it and check out the sub frame mounts. Are they difficult to swap out?

Take the car to a school/shopping/church parking lot which is flat and take another picture to compare. I thing the ground level around your house is not level and could be fooling our eyes...

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1987 300SDL 314K mi, counting; #22 Head
1999 E300Turbo 405K original miles
1997 E320 180K mi (Son's)
2002 ML320 (Son's)
1998 S320 140K mi (Son's) sold
1985 300SD 311K mi
1984 300D 324K mi (killed by a hit-n-run turd)
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The eccentric bolts on the front lower arms, inner joint (that adjust camber) could affect ride height to a degree... if one side is in the up position and the other in the down.

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Owner of Mobil-Werks
Classic Sports and Specialty Automobile Service
1968 230 W110 +3.5 M116 & 4-Speed Manual
1985 300TDT S123
1985 500SEC C126
2022 Sprinter 3500

I'll try getting a pic on level ground and measurements tomorrow. I crawled under and inspected the sub frame mounts, and they do appear to be dry. Also got a look at the springs. They look fine. Can't really make out any other possibilities. It's a Colorado car since new, and it's got me thinking that the dry weather has rotted out most of the bushings. It still drives quietly and handles well.

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Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

Moog (and others such as Hunter, Bear, etc) publish ride height specs with instructions on measuring points, etc for alignment mechanics. Spring do sag and break coils and this is quickly diagnosed by checking ride height. Even the highly respected three point star's springs break & sag. In the last year I've had at least 4 w126's, and 1 w123, and an odd 190 in the shop for replacement springs. One w126 had springs that looked great until I got it out and counted the coils - one full rev had broken off. No clue when or where, or how long ago - customer said the car always leaned. He bought it new. The 190's coils were so overstressed, they fell apart after they were removed and dropped on the floor. Steel fatigues with age and exercise/use. Springs are no exception. Coils are cheap, and a good fix. While you are in there, look at the rubber, it also fails with age. One of the most dramatic improvements a restoration mechanic can do to an old car is replace springs, shocks & rubber bushings. Combine this with a good tires & snug front end/steering gear, and you'll notice an immediate improvement while driving. Good luck & check the springs.

Charlie F, thanks for the informative reply. Any recommended sources for springs and specs? I would like standard ride hight or slightly taller, but not 4x4 high like some I've seen. I appreciate ground clearance, but not to the point where it looks like a special off road edition.

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Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

I looked in the epc, the spring differences are for heavy duty vehicles, police, ambulance, etc. No height difference mentioned.

You can replace your existing rubber shim. There are four thicknesses, they are marked by the number of burls, the range is from one to four, 8mm-13mm-18mm-23mm.

See what you have now and adjust from there.

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83 SD

84 CD

The spring pads will make twice the distance at the wheel. so if you are low 1" as an example you just need a half inch taller spring pad.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

My w123 does this too. It's on Vogtland lowering springs and ****ty shocks.

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93' 190E Sportline LE
80' 450SEL 6.9
67' 250SE

Another place for the unloaded spring data (only original springs not after market stuff) is chapter 32-250 in ye olde FSMe

You need to cross reference the part numbers in that chapter with the list in the "permissible spring and shock chapter" chapter 32-010 to get back to chassis types (if that is your way of working out what you have got fitted)

The downside to this data is that the springs need to be removed to check - not so bad for the back springs on a W123 but boy on the front...

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Agree. In British cars we call that "The Bachelor Lean"