leungsta

iTrader: (1)

Anyone know where I can get a replacement front drivers shock/strut for a C63 Black Series? Mine has started to leak and although KW supplies them to MB, they do not sell the replacement part.

thanks in advance !

Kriston

MB Dealer. Another local BS owner in Toronto went through the same issue. You have to buy the MB part.

R8lai

Better go for the KW DDC , oem suspension is prone to leakage and way too stiff for daily driving

leungsta

iTrader: (1)

Phil_T

C63amg Tokyo

Vpatriota

I'm gonna bump this thread as I need to change my front struts. I'm prone to buying some aftermarket ones. Can anyone go further on this? I don't usually do track days very often (2-3 times/year maybe, sadly for the lack of a good track), and I kinda like the OEM feeling - pretty stiff if you're going slow, but gives you confidence to enter turns little above average speed. Always playing safe, of course, but you got my point. Would like to know if it's better to leave it stock (and buying OEM struts) or use the 'opportunity' to do some upgrade (if they are any upgrade at all, as the BS suspension is already better than regular ones).

leungsta

iTrader: (1)

SuckaGDog

Vpatriota

Maverick1975

I am bumping this thread as my rears need replacement. Quite alarming the number of black series owners needing to replace struts given the very modest numbers of CBSs built.
Only MB can supply the part and quoting me $1900 per side just for the strut! + labour.
Outrageous

Catchyname

Surely anyone who can rebuild KW shocks can do your BS ones?

Vpatriota

I am going to re-re-bump this old thread. After I spoke with 4 or 5 local indy "trustworthy" shops (yeah, I'm in Brazil, you guys get the point) about my front struts (left has a mild leak, right is ok), that adviced me not to change them at the time, I decided to start studying the case again. The car drives perfectly, I haven't spotted a single change, but comparing pictures from the time and now, it seems that the left one has leaked a little bit more. I've seen somewhere some experienced member mentioning that the BS coilovers are pretty much KW's V2 (if I'm not mistaken - correct me please). Even though I'm a "100% all original" kinda guy, I'm def not paying 3k usd for a pair of front struts when I could buy a whole good quality aftermarket set.

Anyone else would care to share any imput? Regarding driving/reliability and such. I'm not a track rat, I don't daily drive it. Spirited runs during weekends with an eventual longer drive 2-3 times a year. I don't want a supersoft-modern-confortable suspensio, if so I'd just sell the car and buy a Corolla, but I'm not looking for the top-notch track. Something in between would be my choice.

roadkillrob

KW most certainly made them, I think they are closer to the V3 as they have the remote reservoir. Search around someone tried V3's on their black series and they didn't fit even though kw lists them as fitting but they list the same part for both black series and regular and that isn't right. The clubsport V2 seems to possibly have a black series version and fit but not 100% confirmed.

hachiroku

KW may not sell you replacements but they may probably rebuild them as they rebuild all of their suspension kits if you send them in.

Lizard

About a year ago, my front passenger strut was showing some fluid marking around the same areas that everyone is talking about. It looks as if there's a small leak. Nothing drips down and the car was driving normally.
The tech advise us to keep an eye on it and see when it gets worst to replace. 12 months and 6k miles later, we reviewed it again and the "leak" appears to not have changed, i.e. gotten worst. The marking is still exactly the same where it was. My tech believes that it's likely just the excess fluid/grease they had used when installed the struts that we're seeing and not an actual leak.

Vpatriota

It's an interesting option, but not doable in my case. I'd have to ship them to the US, and to get it back brazilian customs would understand I was importing car parts - which is technically not allowed by law. Even if I could swing it pass it, describing it as something else, with the risk of getting confiscated by authorities, I'd have to pay something around 150-300% taxes on it.

I've heard the very same thing from a personal friend, which is also automotive engineer, but he's not an actual expert on the AMG's and C63. Most of the local indy shops and authorized dealers I've consulted this time told me "yeah you're done, gotta replace them", so that's what got me confused, specially when they change their minds about what to do. In the past they told me not to touch it yet, now they tell me I have to replace them all, even though the marking is virtually the same. I rather believe my friend, that would advice me with the better/safer option. I'm also not sure if it's a good or bad thing to hear similar stories... Oh well, the car is almost 10 year old, I wouldn't be surprised if some more maintenance pops up.

Thank you all for the help, guys. Much appreciated.

R8lai

i have owned my c63 BS from new and the stock suspension had been replaced 2 times during the warranty period
since then i switched to KW DDC, couldn't be more satisified for the past 5 years

roadkillrob

I also think there is a thread around somewhere with someone who contact KW and they would not service them even thought they technically could probably something in the agreement with mercedes.