Project 1991 Mercedes-Benz 560sec

It’s been a long road to completion but we finally got Project 1991 Mercedes-Benz 560sec finished today. Our customer came in about 6 months ago wanting to do a air suspension install on his 1991 Mercedes-Benz 560sec. We wrote him a quote based off his needs and some suggestions from Meister Werks. After approving the quote we ordered all the parts necessary to install his custom setup. The customer also wanted us to have the bumpers, side mouldings, mirrors and door handles painted white to match the body. We contacted our friends at Automotive Solutions to come out and do all the body work, prep and paint.

Fast forward a few weeks later, Covid-19 / Coronavirus hit the Seattle area and thus started the parts delays. It took a few months of waiting to get all the parts in. A few months later in March, we finally received everything and the install started very soon after.

Install Begins

We began the install by removing the bumpers, side mouldings, mirrors and door handles. While these parts were out, we started polishing the OEM stainless steel trim. After all the parts went into paint, we began the air suspension portion. We started the air system by disassembling the custom stereo setup in the trunk. The car stereo installer had fabricated a custom enclosure to house the rose gold plated air tank, Air Zenith air compressors and Airlift 3p manifold. We bent custom hard lines, powder coated them white (to match the body) and affixed all the fittings to the components. After we did this, we install them into the custom build enclosure. After that, we wired the Air Zenith OB2 compressors with 4 gauge wires and 80 amp fuses. We also ran the harness to the Airlift 3p manifold, connected the remote wire to the ignition on circuit and installed the 3p controller in the Mercedes-Benz 560sec center console.

We had many issues with the custom air bags we purchased from a company in Germany. The bags were rubbing on the body and the upper bag mount did not line up with the control arms. Countless hours corresponding, assembly, disassembly, reassembly, photos and diagrams were sent to the manufacturers. After weeks of communications, we

finally got results and newly machined parts were shipped from Germany. After 3 additional weeks, we received new parts. Unfortunately the parts still did not work right. So we decided to machine the new parts in house to get them to work. What we machined was perfection and will be able to replicate this on any future projects. The Mercedes-Benz is now able to air up properly, lay frame and not rub on the body. These additional modifications to the air suspension was much better than the original kit.

More Custom

We also had to delete the Mercedes-Benz factory hydraulic suspension. To do this we removed the rear shocks, removed the hydraulic pump on the engine and machined a custom block off plate. We used 6061 T6 aluminum to machine this part in our inhouse machine shop. We also made a custom gasket on our CNC cutter. Everything installed perfect, with no leaks or issues.

The components now installed, we attach the air lines using OEM brake line clips to secure the air lines in place. While all the the work was being done, we assembled and sealed the custom rose gold plated AMG wheels and mounted and balanced the tires. After test fitting the wheels, we knew we needed spacers on the front to give this beautiful Mercedes-Benz 560sec a flush fit when rolling down the road.

After all this hard work, we finally were able to test the system for air leaks, button up the trunk and make sure all the small details were handled.

Project 1991 Mercedes-Benz 560sec Build List

Airlift Performance 3p management
OB2 dual air compressors
4 Gallon Specialty Suspension seamless air tank – plated rose gold*
Custom hard lines at Meister Werks
Air suspension install at Meister Werks
Front bags & hydraulic pump block off plate custom machined at Meister Werks
Rose gold plated* AMG wheels & OZ lips & barrels assembled and sealed at Meister Werks
Bumpers, mirrors, door handles, moldings, body work & paint at Meister Werks by Automotive Solutions
* All custom rose gold plating done at the customer’s shop in California.

To make an appointment for your custom air ride, stop by or call 425-254-0627. You can also email us by clicking here. Meister Werks European & Import is located one block south from The Renton Landing in Renton, WA, across the street from The Boeing Store and on the westside of the Paccar / Kenworth plant.