mike62

My 1998 E320 4 matic wagon feels pretty rough on our bumpy Spring roads. Does the rear leveling system need maintanance from time to time? No evidence of fluid leaking , drips on the floor, etc. Suggestions? Also, I need to replace my front shocks and am looking for pointers from someone that's done it before. Anyone care to opine?

RichardM98

I was unable to find any MB recommendation for a service cycle on the SLS. If you look on the underside of the reservoir cap you'll find a filter. The dual pump slowly recirculates the fluid but the accumulators and rear shocks are on a 'spurs' off the loop so draining them requires that they be disconnected and disassembled.

In the end, I siphoned the reservoir dry and refilled with recommended fluid. Drove for a few days and repeated while also changing the filter. Didn't notice any difference in ride.

Good luck.

ejsheltra

Front shocks are easy to replace on these cars. The SLS in the wagon rears are lifetime units. There is an adjustment arm towards center underneath that has two positions sport and regular. Sport will lower the rear about 1.25 inches and this is to accommodate the sport suspension setup found in the European offered E55 wagon. If you lower your car move the position to S and change the front shocks to Bilstein Sports. The regular shocks will be too long but the rears will be fine.