votnus24

Gonna replace my front struts and took a peak under the car and saw front struts are monroe branded, the rear also, with stickers with their logo, part number and a mercedes logo. Their reputation is not on par with bilstein, sachs and the rest, so why did mercedes put them on their luxury car? They is the electronically adjustable ones. Does anyone else have them? Who made the struts on your car? It was bought as a used car so i'm not sure whether they've been replaced before and the previous owner saved some money

Chevota

My oem are Monroe. Par for the course I guess, MB cutting corners and we all suffer.
I bought a pair of Bilstein for the rear, just haven't installed them yet.

Please post how it works out. Like which struts you bought, how it rides in comparo, does the car give a code crying about it?

votnus24

Thank you for the response, can i ask you how does your car handle bumpy roads? Is it comfortable?
Also, do you know what kind of springs and mounts should i buy? There are mounts for electronically adjustable struts and regular, i don't think they move so why would there be any difference. The only manufacturer that makes springs is eibach and optimal. Eibach makes for the electronically adjustable struts and regular sport ones. The first ones are 360mm and the second 322mm. If you know which ones to choose please let me know. Optimal makes one with 349mm.
For the mounts id go for meyle. Just give me a feedback before i pull the trigger and i'll let you know

WRC-LVR

Bilstein is a premium shock/strut maker. They do tend to spec a firmer tauter ride. MB used them or Sachs on the 2012 A207 E350 as OEM.

My personal opinion is Bilstein, but you should see what would fit YOUR needs and style of driving.....

BTW my background was sports cars and rally driving so handling a premium...YMMV

ibbij

Monroe does in fact make the electronic dynamic handling suspension. You may have hard time to find a front suspension replacement unless you don't care if the suspension remains electronically controlled. If you want to keep to OEM parts without paying for MB parts, try GermanAutoParts.com, here was a past on it from a couple years ago when I changed my parts.

https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-c...ic-struts.html

votnus24

I've found sasch as an option on used ebay struts for this car but they are not electronic. I really like a softer ride on my cars as long as it's not unsafe in the corners. I'd rather have soft ride with bigger wheels than my current harsh ride with small wheels. I think that unfortunately mb used monroes but they are affordable - the specific ones are 150 gbp whereas the billstein that are electronically adjustable are 900. I don't think there is any argument, you can replace 6 monroes for than one bilstein.

ibbij

Originally the Monroe's were only available as a MB part only so it was very expensive, and in 2022 it finally became available in the US as a direct replacement for one-third of the MB version and now even cheaper price. They are the same part so all anyone was paying for was MB to private label it over the Monroe brand even though MB didn't make it.

votnus24

Yes, i know, which is why i plan on doing some digging and find out who makes the parts and then buy it with the manufacturers label. From the thread you attached, you said that you replaced the parts, how does the ride feel? Is it softer than before over bumps and tighter in the corners? Also, did you replace springs and mounts? Which ones did you install. What made you think about replacing your parts, what were the symptoms?
I also have a hard time finding a reputable mechanic that will do the job the way it should, i'd rather do it myself but i don't have the tools and a lift

ibbij

Sorry for my delay in responding, busy week. I bought the car in May 2021, when I did I got a pre-purchase inspection and also had my mechanic give it check, both reports came back that all four shocks were worn and should be replaced.

After replacing, the ride is firm and not much different or softer then before, its always been a more sport orientated suspension given that its dynamic handling and subtly trying to be like an AMG. It can really corner and hugs the road very well. I did not change springs or mounts but did replace sway bar links and control arms.

I haven't changed my tires and that could have dramatic improvement in ride firmness. The tires are about 5 years old and will get replaced this year at some point.

votnus24

Well, this was a disappointment for me since i hoped that the rough ride is due to the worn shocks. I have 235 45 17s that are really uncomfortable, and thought about going for 18s when the shocks are replaced but no way. I got the car november 2020 and i can swear it was not so that uncomfortable. 20 something thousand kilometers and 4 years later, it is like driving on rocks. The whole interior is also rattly and annoying, there are no parts left that i can replace and put some silicone on it.
I drive a citroen c3 as a company car and the difference is night and day, i'm programmed to avoid any minor potholes or bumps because in the benz the whole car is falling apart whereas the citroen takes the bumps like nothing, silent and comfortable. I just can't accept that they drove the car with this configuration and figured, "yes, this is it". It doesn't even handle good anymore without the continentals.

ibbij

With 17s it’ll probably drive a lot better with new shocks especially if you have had pleasant experience before. I drive on 18s. Also I should say when I was on the old suspension I did not test the car, worried it would do more wear and tear so I waited until I did all my updates. Now I drive the vehicle more spirited.

WRC-LVR

Well those tires are 4 years old and may need replacing. The new ones will have better resilient rubber for sure. You can always go to 245/50/17 with a more compliant side wall too. That will make for a easier ride. Since you liked the previous Continentals, get those in that size. :-)

If you have not yet done so, replace the shocks as well... It will drive a lot better then...

votnus24

These are new winter tires in 235 45 17. My summer set is 225 50 17 and it has a lot more sidewall. I did make the car more comfortable but also the consumption increased, handling was heavily impacted, the car got a lot less nimble and on higher speeds it was not stable. It also did not resolve the problem - heavy hits on sharp potholes.

votnus24

These are new winter tires in 235 45 17. My summer set is 225 50 17 and it has a lot more sidewall. I did make the car more comfortable but also the consumption increased, handling was heavily impacted, the car got a lot less nimble and on higher speeds it was not stable. It also did not resolve the problem - heavy hits on sharp potholes.

WRC-LVR

Those new winter tires are 45 series with shorter side walls so YES they are going to be a harsher ride. Rolling diamaeter will be different too. Summer tires have a softer tread for better traction too All adds up to next time get winter tires with 50 or 55 series even

Not much anybody can do about potholes except take a different route, slow down and/or avoid them.....

IF the car sounds or feels like it is really "falling apart" something is wrong in the suspension. Take it to a competent indpendent MB shop and have them look the suspension over thoroughly...there are lots of toe links, control arms sway bar end links, engine and trasmission mounts ,suspension bushings, driveline mounts , rear subframe issues etc that can deteriorate or rust out over time causing the issues.

But my question to you is...is it worth it to you? Maybe just sell it and drive the Citroen that you are happy with.... not hating just trying to see you happy....sir..

votnus24

245 50 17 is definitely not a supported tyre size, the largest tyre factory tyre diameter is with tyre 235 45 17s. 245 50 17 is 5.1% bigger than the biggest factory size, rule of thumb is you can deviate 3% at most.

The c3 is about 4-5 times less expensive than the benz, it's a shame that it offers better ride quality/comfort. Mbs are famous their wafty ride which is not the case. It is a mercedes not an amg.

I won't sell the car since it has sentimental value but at some point the costs of it might be too much. It is an w204 after all!

WRC-LVR

225/50 17 are within 2% acc to tire calculator from Discount Tire https://www.discounttire.com/learn/tire-size-calculator

My advice re the suspension and rear sub frame stands.. my 2012 E350 A207 rides on 235/40/18 and 255/35/18 on the AMG staggered setup and has a comfortable ride Tires are Yokohama Advan Sport + All seasons with a 95Y speed rating XL load range and 440 tire wear with AA/ A rating., These are set at 35 f and 40 rear ( max psi acc to the gas cap door is 40f / 45r

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireS...erformance=ALL

Hope this helps...