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It's time for me to replace the Strut/spring control arm A215300707.
Usually i like to choose Lemforder parts and in general i like to get the best quality parts for my garage queen Somehow only this arm is not made by Lemforder, dont know why but will be glad to find out
The issue is new original mercedes arm is about 420$ each. A quick search online for other options got me this prices:
ABS - 75$
Optimal - 185$
Vaico - 285$
Now, i want to mention that the arms bushings are not cracked but rather i think old and week. Will also change the ball joint with this ocasion.
I dont have any expiriance with other aftermarket brands than Lemforder for suspention and steering so i really dont know what to do.
ABS & Optimal are brands that i have never heard. Vaico i have never owned and for that price i'l better get the originals.
Are those cheaper options are good quality? i dont want to compromise the steering feel of the car as allready these generation of merc's dont have the most sharp steering feel and this is very important to me!
Can somebody share his expireance?
FCP Euro has the "genuine mercedes" arm... not cheap at ~$330 each, but that's what I'd go with.
Originally Posted by MartinWake
I would go with anything with a long warranty, fcp euro has lifetime but is pricey
The FCP Euro arm is Original Mercedes part and that's why it's so expensive. Its somehow strange becose untill a month ago it was around 400$ at FCP and even now its 390$ at Plican Parts.
I live in Israel so for me in the best case it will be 330$ + shipping + import charges (45%).
A different arm may or may not feel the same. It probably will, but the concern is part longevity and metallurgy. If you need to replace the control arms again in 15,000 miles because the cheaper arms have chinese pot metal instead of properly mixed metals, what have you saved? Look at this on a dollar per mile basis. A parts cost of $1200 (estimating costs) for another 80-120,000 miles of driving, or $600 for maybe 10k, 40k, or 60k miles? Factor in shop costs for installing once for more expensive parts versus twice for cheaper parts in the same interval.
Not to mention, if you get unlucky with a cheaper control arm and it decides to snap when you're driving.
You can go with any of the linked parts, but it will be on you to determine/judge what sub-optimal part is most acceptable to you. As I see it, you're basically trading $600-$800 for an unknown difference in longevity, reliability, and safety.
Last edited by JustTXn; Jan 11, 2021 at 11:01 AM.
Reason: grammar
Also, I checked the first two links, and the first option doesn't even come with a balljoint installed, which you would have to source and buy separately, and pay someone to install...
A different arm may or may not feel the same. It probably will, but the concern is part longevity and metallurgy. If you need to replace the control arms again in 15,000 miles because the cheaper arms have chinese pot metal instead of properly mixed metals, what have you saved? Look at this on a dollar per mile basis. A parts cost of $1200 (estimating costs) for another 80-120,000 miles of driving, or $600 for maybe 10k, 40k, or 60k miles? Factor in shop costs for installing once for more expensive parts versus twice for cheaper parts in the same interval.
Not to mention, if you get unlucky with a cheaper control arm and it decides to snap when you're driving.
You can go with any of the linked parts, but it will be on you to determine/judge what sub-optimal part is most acceptable to you. As I see it, you're basically trading $600-$800 for an unknown difference in longevity, reliability, and safety.
I dont like and will never use cheap/bad quality parts and especially not chinese parts
I usually go with Lemforder which i think is identical to the original Mercedes parts but have reasonble prices. Also, if i'm not mistaking they are the OEM for lots of Mercedes parts.
The issue is that Lemforder does not make this specific arm, so i was wondering if there is maybe other good brand which is not chinese and with a decent price.
It seems that i'm stuck only with the original. I just dont feel confident with the only few after market options i found.
As you sad, cutting corners for a couple hundred dollars and possibly installing parts twice does not seems to be a smart choice.
At the moment the only things needs replacment are the ball joints.
I bought the car in March 2019, and i only changed the thrust arms back then. As for the spring control arms and the upper control arms i really dont know how old are they or even if ever changed (the car has now 127.000 miles), so with this ocation, i want to refresh the upper & lower control arms as even though they are not cracked, i feel like the rubbers and bushings are old.
Originally Posted by JustTXn
Also, I checked the first two links, and the first option doesn't even come with a balljoint installed, which you would have to source and buy separately, and pay someone to install...
Non of the options are coming with the ball joints, not even the original mercedes part. The ball joint are sold separately.
Luckily i allready have new Lemforder ball joints which will be installed with the suspention arms.
Last edited by superveloche; Jan 11, 2021 at 12:10 PM.
I'm interested to see how this goes! Let us know what you find out in regards to various manufacturers. All I can say is that I would trust a Taiwanese part more than a Chinese part, if I was forced to pick one (not that I know the COO any of the linked parts).... I believe you can also just press new bushings into the original arms, so if you have and can replace the balljoints, that could be another option. I did some research on this and have forgotten all about it, but I believe you can buy Lemforder bushings for these arms.
I'm interested to see how this goes! Let us know what you find out in regards to various manufacturers. All I can say is that I would trust a Taiwanese part more than a Chinese part, if I was forced to pick one (not that I know the COO any of the linked parts).... I believe you can also just press new bushings into the original arms, so if you have and can replace the balljoints, that could be another option. I did some research on this and have forgotten all about it, but I believe you can buy Lemforder bushings for these arms.
Ok, now i have to thank you you shed some light for me on this matter. After reading your last comment i did some digging on the internet and things started to clarify.
Truly Lemforder has this bushing for this control arm. I dont know how i've missed it until now This is probably the best option besides purchasing new original whole arms.
But there is still only one dillema remaining! So, lets say i press a new Lemforder bushing and also on the other end will install new Lemforder ball joint, what about the small ball joint that attaches to the strut? Does this small ball joint is a coomon issue?
This is the part nr. for this bushing: A2203333014 or Lemforder part nr. 28744 01
Hmm, that's something I'm unsure of. What I do when I have questions on these cars (or on any car, really), is cross reference the part number I'm curious about to see what more common mercedes models might share that part. Then, you've expanded your pool of information to look through. I imagine some madman has taken the effort to figure out if/how you're able to replace the balljoints, but then the next question is sourcing the replacement ones...
I would be of the opinion that that balljoint would be relatively long-lived since it is just a strut attachment point, but then again these struts are actuated by 100+Bar of pressure, so I could be wrong. If I were in your situation, I'd likely try and find replacement boots for the balljoint, then inspect them and put a new dust cover on if they seem OK. However, I am used to balljoints with grease zerks, which can be much longer lived than these non-greaseable units.
Last edited by JustTXn; Jan 13, 2021 at 11:08 PM.
Reason: added 2nd paragraph
Hmm, that's something I'm unsure of. What I do when I have questions on these cars (or on any car, really), is cross reference the part number I'm curious about to see what more common mercedes models might share that part. Then, you've expanded your pool of information to look through. I imagine some madman has taken the effort to figure out if/how you're able to replace the balljoints, but then the next question is sourcing the replacement ones...
I would be of the opinion that that balljoint would be relatively long-lived since it is just a strut attachment point, but then again these struts are actuated by 100+Bar of pressure, so I could be wrong. If I were in your situation, I'd likely try and find replacement boots for the balljoint, then inspect them and put a new dust cover on if they seem OK. However, I am used to balljoints with grease zerks, which can be much longer lived than these non-greaseable units.
I dont think you can purchase the small ball joint alone.
If i'm going on the press the bushing and new ball joint path, it will be a risk regarding the small ball joint but that's a risk i'm willing to take and i have a feeling that this is not a very common issue with these arms, so fingers crossed
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Somehow only this arm is not made by Lemforder, dont know why but will be glad to find out 
you shed some light for me on this matter. After reading your last comment i did some digging on the internet and things started to clarify.
