joeray

I need to replace the steering damper on my CLK430 '00, which I had just replace about a year ago. Last time I bought it from the dealer for about $75.

This time I bought it again from the dealer for $80 and then I thought I buy online and I came across this:

http://www.autohausaz.com/search/pro...=7412@Steering Damper

which is about $26. They look the same, but I am wondering if they are built by the same company or the $26 one is not original??!!

The $26 is made by Stabilus-Boge, not sure the one I buy from dealer, who it's made by.

thanks

MickM

That's what i put on my 99 320 and I beleive it's the as factory.

MarcusF

The factory part is made by Stabilus for Mercedes-Benz. The Autohaus part is the same part minus the decal.

njgilligan

I guess for $26 I can just give it a try, but how do I know when it's time to change this? It was changed when I bought the car slightly over 6 months ago, but we do have pretty terrible roads in the Boston area.

dlbehrns

take a look at it when the car it dry. there may be some fluid leaking from it. does the front end feel loose or does it wonder around? How many miles on the car? 6 month old damper should not need to be replaced yet I would think. but then again, you live in Bean Town.

njgilligan

I can tell it's slightly looser than it was when new, but definitely not as bad as I let it get on a 430 I had a while back. I'm guessing I should be fine with it for at least another 6months, but I'll take a look this weekend, or if it happens to warm up a bit outside.

Pancho

OEM damper, parts.com, $48.
Bought my CLK430 new at Foreign Motors West in Natick, and drove it in Boston for 8 years then moved to the midwest. Boston pot holes are rim eaters, but the real demon is the salt, the salt, the salt. Go Pats.