eddieo45

I did a little searching, but everything I found is about lowering. Me, I just wanna stay stock. Took my wife's C to the dealer for some paintless dent removal and a detail, and SA just sent me an email:

"rear coils broken $ 680.00"

I assume that's for a pair, but I've asked anyway. It actually doesn't sound too bad, but my gut tells my indie mechanic will be less......

Evolved8

I have a set of stock ones i just pulled off if your interested pm me

TemjinX2

is that with labor installed? because you can buy stock springs for around $100-200.

I would probably get it double checked by a indie. I never hear of stock springs breaking. Some times they warp, but you would notice a height difference if they did.

eddieo45

Yeah, it's with labor, but I told him I'd get it done elsewhere. He said " the paint cracks and rust gets in there" so real breakage is a ways off I'm sure! My wife does hit every pothole out there, some real monsters, so nothing surprises me (just replaced a front CV joint). If I do need the coils I should check prices online, if they're $100-200 as you say.

TemjinX2

well like i said, i would double check it before you spend money. I never heard of or seen springs break. There made out of steel, so i really doubt they would break, short of someone cutting them.

timmynabenz

+1
I have never heard of a spring braking, at least not on a w203 i would take it to an independant MB or foreign auto repair shop and have them give you a free quote

EV0LVE

sounds like the dealer is jacking you up, or the SA meant rear SHOCKS, that is very much possible, and price is somewhat reasonable considering dealer labor charge.

i dont know how he can relate the coils (assuming spring) to paint. thats like saying "you have a bent oil"

check the shocks if it looks like its leaking/leaked, then do it yourself or an indy, it's not a complicated job.

timmynabenz

amdeutsch

Sounds like he is trying to weather the economic down fall. Or his year end bonus is dependent on how much he can sell.

Glyn M Ruck

+1 - I smell I have never known a C break a spring. Sag a bit - yes.

polarbexar

Next thing he'll tell you is your driveshaft is out of balance.

splinter

Some rustbelt W126s & W124s were indeed afflicted with broken springs. MB supplied a sacrificial anode covering with their warranty-retrofit hardware.

Serviceable OE springs can be had for next to nothing, particularly in this mod-happy subsection of the forum. After 'hoarding' mine for more than a year, they were unceremoniously pitched into the recycle bin.

Any technician who charges more than an hour of labor for swapping W203 rear springs needs a new occupation…or a conscience.

PA_Pete

Well, this CAN happen! In fact, it happened to my C320. The rear coil springs, at the very bottom, where they rest in the spring perch (MB calls it a Spring Link If I'm not mistaken), were broken. I'll snap some pictures of them real quick and upload them to the site. I couldn't believe it either. The dealership quote was slightly lower price than what they told you, but still, I took that car back and promptly removed the broken springs myself and replaced them with some H&R Sport Springs as I needed the rear springs in for inspection.

Glyn M Ruck

That's very interesting. Need to use South African made springs. All our springs are local & never break. Thank's - I learned something.

alpinweiss

Some BMW's have had a problem with rear spring breakage in the New England states only. Apparently the road salt causes sufficient corrosion that the paint coating is compromised and the springs finally break. It does not seem to be a problem anywhere else. No one is exactly certain why.

DarthBudice

I had a broken rear coil spring a couple of years ago.

slammer111

If you need a pair, let me know.

With the correct tools (ie jack + impact gun) the rear springs can both be done under an 30 minutes easy. The fronts are way trickier.

susemu

My left front spring broke sometime last year with less than 100,000 miles on it.

SickSpeedMonte

Have you heard about the new "molassas" salt? I hope that it doesnt stick even worse than what they've been using... Apparently they started using it in places in MD.

http://www.hpj.com/archives/2005/dec...alternativ.cfm

alpinweiss

Hmmm, I guess that is an exception to the New England only theory. Did yours fail due to salt corrosion? Perhaps there are potential problems anywhere in the snowbelt.