C-Class (W203) 2001-2007, C160, C180, C200, C220, C230, C240, C270, C280, C300, C320, C230K, C350, Coupe

W203/S203 Front Shock replacement

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Old Sep 16, 2020 | 07:38 AM
  #1  
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C200CDi S203
W203/S203 Front Shock replacement

Hi all, I’ve done the front shocks of my car and I can tell you it was really hard work.
I did everything at home and recorded the whole process.

Video here:

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Old Sep 26, 2020 | 02:36 PM
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w203, E230 W210
today we wanted to replace the new front shock absorbers on my W203 and when i compared both i noticed a difference in height. Now I don’t know if I got the wrong one, but they were supposed to be for a normal chassis, elegance. The difference is 5 mm but the thread is also slightly shorter.
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Old Sep 26, 2020 | 03:38 PM
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Originally Posted by cylaptor
today we wanted to replace the new front shock absorbers on my W203 and when i compared both i noticed a difference in height. Now I don’t know if I got the wrong one, but they were supposed to be for a normal chassis, elegance. The difference is 5 mm but the thread is also slightly shorter.
what’s the part number of the shock you bought and the Number of the shock that came from your car?
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Old Sep 26, 2020 | 03:47 PM
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stock mercedes A203 320 41 30
new Sachs 317 559 for standard suspension
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Old Sep 26, 2020 | 03:54 PM
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Originally Posted by cylaptor
stock mercedes A203 320 41 30
new Sachs 317 559 for standard suspension
sorry, but you bought the wrong ones the Sachs equivalent for A2033204130 is 300138.

check the link below and scroll to the Sachs shocks:

https://m.autodoc.co.uk/car-parts/oem/a2033204130
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Old Sep 27, 2020 | 06:27 AM
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after checking by Sachs technical staff, these are suitable, although they are 5 mm shorter above.
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Old Sep 27, 2020 | 06:54 AM
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Originally Posted by cylaptor
stock mercedes A203 320 41 30
new Sachs 317 559 for standard suspension
The shocks I bought were from Meyle and the part number was 0266230020.
The shocks from my Merc were the same as yours
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Old Sep 27, 2020 | 07:04 AM
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and how does the car drive after replacement?
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Old Sep 27, 2020 | 07:09 AM
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The damping was good and the Car handled better. Saying that, the old shock were worn, especially the driver side that was totally shot.
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Old Sep 27, 2020 | 07:15 AM
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Originally Posted by Gentil79
The damping was good and the Car handled better. Saying that, the old shock were worn, especially the driver side that was totally shot.
has the height changed? what higher than before?
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Old Sep 27, 2020 | 07:22 AM
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Originally Posted by cylaptor
has the height changed? what higher than before?
No change in height.
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Old Sep 27, 2020 | 09:04 AM
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do you know maybe why the mercedes safety ring on the bearing cup was not next to the shock absorber kit nor the bearing cup above ?
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Old Sep 27, 2020 | 09:12 AM
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Originally Posted by cylaptor
do you know maybe why the mercedes safety ring on the bearing cup was not next to the shock absorber kit nor the bearing cup above ?
I suppose it is only part of the bearing cup kit, hence why it didn’t come with the shocks
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Old Sep 27, 2020 | 09:17 AM
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Originally Posted by Gentil79
I suppose it is only part of the bearing cup kit, hence why it didn’t come with the shocks
yes, but I ordered also a new bearing cup kit from Sachs and did not get it along in the kit .
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Old Sep 27, 2020 | 09:31 AM
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Originally Posted by cylaptor
yes, but I ordered also a new bearing cup kit from Sachs and did not get it along in the kit .
strange.
just reuse the old one, provided it’s still in good condition. Otherwise, maybe contact the mercedes dealership directly
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Old Sep 29, 2020 | 01:19 PM
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Sport package cars had shorter springs and shocks. That's likely why it's shorter. I went from standard height to sport on my S203 and dropped the ride height by 1.5".
https://imgur.com/a/OpX2E

Last edited by tjts1; Sep 29, 2020 at 01:23 PM.
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Old Sep 29, 2020 | 01:27 PM
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Originally Posted by tjts1
Sport package cars had shorter springs and shocks. That's likely why it's shorter. I went from standard height to sport on my S203 and dropped the ride height by 1.5".
https://imgur.com/a/OpX2E
is it the same type of shock absorbers or are they shorter? They look shorter in the picture
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Old Sep 29, 2020 | 10:01 PM
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Originally Posted by cylaptor
is it the same type of shock absorbers or are they shorter? They look shorter in the picture
Both the shock and spring are shorter. They go hand in hand. Also the sport shocks have a larger M12 hole drilled out for the sway bar end link vs the m10 for non sport.
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Old Dec 11, 2022 | 03:25 PM
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w203 c230 kompressor 2005
I am confused about the sachs shock absorbers. What do the numbers 1 mean?


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