BRGR TME

I have a 2008 E350 Sport (RWD, staggered). I noticed the front right is a bit lower and a few days later, started hearing a "percolating" noise when I hit bumps in road. Pretty sure its the shock. By the way, car has been driven lightly and only has 52K on the odo. That seems really early for a shock to begin failing, right?

Anyway, I need help selecting proper part number for this car.

1. What is the factory Sachs shock compared to - touring or HD?

2. I am not looking to lower the car. I am looking for closest to factory, I will go factory if that's better but if one of the Bilstein options is better, I will do that, but which one is closer to factory?

3. Should I also replace the springs? Again, what part number am I looking for on the springs, they seem really hard to find.

Yes, I have searched Google and here and benzworld and and and.....too many different issues without having a jumping off point - part numbers for my specific vehicle and a comparison of the bilstein against factory.

Thanks for the help.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.n...4416f1b400b3d0

BRGR TME

I did find this but I am not sure this is the right part. I dont want the ride to be super harsh. I dont mind moving away from OEM Sachs but I need to understand why I should and what will happen when I do.

Thanks.

http://cart.bilsteinus.com/product/24-121781/201831/RWD

BRGR TME

And here is why i am confused on what to buy...my car lists 951 and 954 packages, this website shows 4 of the same part number for cars with 951/954, what are the differences?

http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/..._pg1.htm#item0

samaritrey

I would go to http://epc.startekinfo.com/epc/login.jsp and create an account so you can get the oem PN for your shocks then you can match those up and figure out what your car had. Another option is see what bilstein says works for your car and if needed email them and see what the difference between the PN's they recommend are. I would personally not get sachs again as I have never had a bilstein fail and have had 2 sachs made shocks fail prematurely and before I got my w211 the front shocks were replaced at like 50k which seems really early to me as well.

BRGR TME

EDIT:

I see that it has a free subscription, took some searching......"deleted some text"

I am grateful for the opinion on factory shocks. I think I will probably stay away from those. But now, which Bilsteins should I get?

So it appears that there are two Bilstein choices...

211-323-93-00 (Touring?)
24-069052 (this one says Heavy Duty)

Touring and HD right? Are there others? Which one is closest to factory setup? Do I need to replace the springs too? What are those part numbers?

Thanks.

BRGR TME

OK, I'm logged in and see that the car is 951 and 954, as I knew from a previous members post on listing packages based off VIN. 951 nad 954 are Sport and Avantgarde respectively. So the shock part number is 2113239200 and the springs are A2113210304.

So the only question remaining is....do I get the matching part number or the HD. I am thinking the matching is better since I want to stay close to factory ride.

OK, last question, is the spring OK to get OEM and do I need it at 52K ?

samaritrey

If you like factory ride get the oem ones springs are fine unless you broke one or have rust on them. Can't imagine they would have sagged this early.

rediesel

My springs broke at 68000 miles for no reason and if you search here there are others as well. I would replace the springs if you are replacing the shocks. FWIW I recently upgraded to Bilstein HD shocks you mention and they are great - car isn't as bouncy yet still has a lux ride and absorbs bumps. No real downside I can see.

https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...ntrol-arm.html

BRGR TME

So... exactly what I was afraid has now happened. Bought the shocks online, 24-121781, started the job today and wrong ones. NO WAY these shocks will fit. About 4" shorter that the factory shock. It would require full spring compression and even then I don't know they would be able to be installed.

Factory Shock reads 2113202238

I purchased Bilstein 24-121781

I am assuming they are wrong and I really need 24-105910.

Can anyone verify what to buy ? Shocks for replacing Mercedes 2113239200 are not correct. That info came from EPC etc.

BRGR TME

Why would EPC tell me 2113239200 but the car have 2113202238 ?

I bough this car off 4 yr lease with 16,322 on it. Little old lady leased it and I bought it CPO from same dealer with only a 25 mile discrepancy (test drives etc.).

It was dealer maintained and has been dealer maintained by me until now.

Can anyone help me understand why the EPC says my car has a particular part number but the car itself has something else installed. I'll also be heading over to the dealer first thing in the morning.

Blitz2639

More than likely the new number is a suppercession of what you have in your car.

BRGR TME

No, that's not the issue, the superseded part numbers don't match either.

211 323 15 00 and then 211 323 56 00 and then finally 211 323 92 00, the part number I have is NEVER listed in the EPC, 211 320 22 38


Even still, the, the shock is ~4" too short. That tells me that the Bilstein 24-121781 is more likely a sport shock, meaning a shorted travel and heavier spring.

At any rate, here s a picture of my shock and its part number..... is it possible that a sport package (951) and a avant garde package (954), both of which are listed on my car, have some type of hybrid parts list, ie: sport exhaust tips, rockers panels, and so on, and then avant garde springs and shocks?

Springs have two yellow stripes and 1 green stripe, which is listed in the EPC. This corresponds to 211 321 04 04 spring....so again, which shock is correct.

I bought Bilstein 24-121781 but it looks like with this shock, the direct replacement should have been 24-105910.

Or did the dealer give me a car that got "upgrades" (951 Sport) at time of CPO but only got half of them or some combined version of them? That seems really strange and highly unlikely. Another possibility is dealer replaced shocks and springs already and went with a different package? The avant garde rather than the sport. But the car was already a sport so the only change was the springs and shocks and the car then got listed with both packages? again, strange.

First pic shows the shock part number label, second pic didn't come out too good because you cant see the third stripe on the right, its green, so two yellows and one green.

I have an appointment at the dealer tomorrow. I want some answers.

BRGR TME

So, I have some more information.....although A2113202238 isn't listed anywhere in the EPC, I found a seller on fleabay that is selling a used shock and he lists part numbers as interchangeable, note the text in the middele that appears he has a mfr/dealer login for EPC... maybe this information is pulled from somewhere.

And perhaps, the A2113202238 shocks, is interchangeable with A2113239200 and I should have indeed bought 24-105910. Selecting the touring was the wrong choice.

So for some reason, my shock just isn't listed anywhere.

Pulled from fleabay.....

Mercedes Benz E Class Front Suspension Shock Absorber
Part#: A2113239200; A2113231500; A2113235600; A2113202238
OEM OE
IP: 61728 / S13C ; 61729 / S13C
Used item, Good cosmetic condition, All Pictures are original, 14 Days Warranty.
Fitment:
Mercedes E 320 CDI Sedan 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
Mercedes E 320 Sedan 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
Mercedes E 320 Wagon 2004, 2005
Mercedes E 350 Sedan 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
Mercedes E 350 Wagon 2006
Mercedes E 500 Sedan 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
Mercedes E 500 Wagon 2004
Mercedes E 55 AMG Sedan 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
Mercedes E 55 AMG Wagon 2005, 2006
Mercedes E 63 AMG Sedan 2007, 2008, 2009
Mercedes E 63 AMG Wagon 2007, 2008, 2009

konigstiger

Sachs 2113202238 = MB 2113231500 (replaced by current 2113249200) it is correct for spring 2113210404 installed (1 green 2 yellow), Bilstein replacement for 2113239200 is 24105910.

BRGR TME

Thanks - this is what I figured. I re-ordered and am trying to return the first set.

By the way, the removal and re-install was VERY easy!!! Took 30 minutes. That included break down of the assembly itself. I got all the info here.

Thanks guys!! (and girls if anyone is female)

BRGR TME

OK, returned the first set, new set arrived. I'm concerned.

These are also not similar to the OEM. The shock body appears to be same length but the spring seat is in a different location, making the spring section about two inches shorter, so I wont be able to install the spring, or it will be super difficult, then it will have a totally different ride, right?

Am I missing something here?

I realize the shock might not be exactly the same, having a different valving and so on but ultimately they should have the same, or close to the same, loaded spring height, otherwise the car will ride totally different with a more compressed spring.

I am afraid to cut the banding and try it because then I "installed" or "ruined" the packaging.

NOTE: picture only looks like I am holding it short, they are equal at the bottom.

BRGR TME

Here's a second picture. keep in mind perspective is off etc, I took very careful precautions to lay them perfectly next to each for exact comparison. so the ends are equal at the bottom and at the top they are almost the same length.

But as you can see, the spring, if removed and new shock installed will have to compress at least 2" more than normal to fit.

I cant imagine this is OK, I mean the spring is then running under a different load - meaning, harsher ride, shorter spring life, etc.

This can't be right. Please help me. Thanks.

BRGR TME

I decided to go ahead and cut the band thinking maybe the shock will get taller and the spring area will get taller and it would allow more room and then shock would just need to be compressed for install, NO.

No way this shock is going on with this spring. I compressed the spring as far as my air compressor would tighten them, and barely saw the first thread of shock shaft. After disassembly, it measures out at 1.625-1.75" inch spring difference.

There is no way this shock is going on with this spring.

Any ideas?

Pic #3 you can see there is well over 1.5" difference in the area from spring seat to where the top nut would be fully threaded.

BRGR TME

So of course I find even more info now that I have more problems..

Underneath the 24-105910 it read BE3-A591.

IS it possible that my car is supposed to have 24-105910 BE3-A591-H1 ???

What a pain in the ***.

For the record, factory shock says A2113202238, spring is marked with two yellows and one green.

Now what should I order, the first two orders haven't worked.

isstay

Spring seat can move up and down. Under need shock body has grooves and ring that locks into it. Check this PDF in post 42.
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...ml#post5843580

The old shock will appear short after all, it is used.

BRGR TME

I'll check that a lot closet when I get home but I did play around with the seat a littke to see if it moves or can be adjusted.

Doesn't seem like a good idea to let the consumer adjust spring rate on a stock production road car. On my truck I want option, on a track car, same, but not on my grocery getter.

isstay

It is because same shock it is combined w/different springs, thus you may have to move the seat up or down depending on the car line - sport, elegance and so on.

BRGR TME

Bingo!!!

The isolator was just really stiff and the seat didn't move up when I played around with it. I checked tonight and there about 8 or 10 grooves, the furthest one down being exactly 1.625" lower. Both shocks adjusted and now should fit no problem. I'll post a pic.

Thanks!!!

BRGR TME

Exactly 1.625" from the top groove to the bottom groove.

Fixed!!!

Pic is after I moved clip to lowest position.

https://scontent-b-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/...5e&oe=54DE0197

isstay

Exactly what I said. Glad it work for you so you don't have to return this set too.