Hi everyone,
I am new here and am wondering if someone can help me regarding a question I had about purchasing new shocks for my C63. I noticed it had a bouncy ride so I went to Mercedes and they said the shocks should be replaced but the springs are still ok.


Does anyone know where I can buy the OEM shocks outside of the dealer? (they are charging me around $1500) or does anyone know better/cheaper after market shocks?


My main concern is that the car handles & corners well and has a close to factory ride.


Thank you!

 

If anyone has a used set of shocks/struts I would like to purchase them.
Let me know, thanks!

 

I don't have answers, but I would replace the springs while your doing the work as a new set is cheap compared to the cost of labor. OEM as you mentioned is pretty good.

 

I would not replace the springs. there is no point to do so, springs will not wear out until 150k+ find the OE part number and order them online i'm willing to bet you save near 50% of the cost on parts than going to the dealer.

 

Or you can buy coilovers

 

Yeah for that price you can buy my coilovers.;-)
If you are interested I have one rear strut brand new. You can purchase the 3 extra ones for less than the dealer online. Let me know.

 

ive got a low mileage set of springs and struts for a c63. came off my 2010 at about 12kmi.

 

I have OEM struts and springs off my 2012 C63 sedan when I switched to Coilovers. Less than 10k miles. Car is gone and it's just sitting in my basement.

 

^^ OP, buy them used from here, much chepaer than the stealership.

 

Using this thread to also look for replacement struts/shocks...Can i buy just the shock, and swap out the strut components?

 

springs wear out in 150k? I have never heard of that. Eibach even has million mile warranties on their springs. I know they wear out, but I wouldn't think a street driven C63 would wear the springs out before the motor needs a rebuild. Someone please enlighten me if I am out to lunch. and as people have said before, get good used ones here, coilovers, or research if a company like Koni or Bilstein makes struts/shocks (I never looked).

 

Well i guess where I'm getting confused it the shock vs. strut. Do I need to buy an entire "strut assembly"?? I was hoping i can just buy (4) Bilstein or KYB "shocks" and swap them directly in with my H&R lowering springs.

 

I think that depends on your mileage. if you are low miles, just put the springs on. if you need shocks as well, the rears are just shocks (no strut assembly). The fronts, you should just need the strut and maybe new strut bearings as sometimes those start o make noise (usually a popping sound when turning). I'm not sure what else would be included in a "strut assembly." the only things I brought in when I did my H&Rs were the springs, 17mm rear pads (to keep the back level with the front), and new rear lower control arm bolts.

 

When a shock absorber has a spring on it, usually people call it STRUT. Like Macpherson strut design, which is the most popular in the world.





When you buy a front shock absorber, often it will be a strut type, but you do not get any other components, other than the shock absorber part of the strut itself.
Which is like below :






For rear shock absorber, like below, which the spring is located separately, generally people call it SHOCK ABSORBER.



However, any store will know when you mention FRONT or REAR SHOCK ABSORBER for X car model.
The original design of the car suspension will dictate which type of shock absorber is required.
It is not wrong calling front and back ones as SHOCK ABSORBER, because that is their duty assignment.


You speak of LOWERED H&R springs. Becareful, your shock absorber of choice, its total travel must accomodate the reduced overall height of the lowered spring.
Shock absorber + spring must work in harmony.

I am speaking of non electrically adjustable suspension damping ( soft/hard) for below.

Example Bilstein B4, must be used with OEM spring, not lowered one.
Bilstein B6 same as above, but firmer/sportier. This used to be called HD ( heavy duty ) sometime ago.
Bilstein B8 is for use with lowered spring.

Bilstein B12 Kit is a 4 of B8 shock absorbers sold with 4 of matched lowered springs. This is not adjustable coil-over.


Don't mess up when mixing lowering springs with wrong shock absorbers.
The Bilstein is a digressive valved shock absorber. It is design to do high speed minor bump small compression and also deeper compression during a hard corner at a design factor
matched to the KG of force per millimeter compression of the spring. So a lowered spring will not match to a shock absorber designed for taller OEM spring and you may experience
poor handling or ride quality.

This video explains how digressive valved shock absorber works. But do take note, he is speaking from an off-road user stand point and not us regular road use.



Happy shopping.

.

 

how much are some of these low mileage shocks that people have laying around, collecting dust?

 

I have my entire factory suspension for sale if anyone needs it 😁👍🏼