E-Class (W211) 2003-2009

E500 Suspension Life

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old Apr 2, 2008 | 12:11 AM
  #1  
Scambo's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 293
Likes: 0
From: Austin, TX
'13 E550 W4
E500 Suspension Life

Anyone know the general lifespan of the stock E500 suspension parts? My car has 77K miles on it and I'm wondering if I need to proactively consider replacement at this time. Any information is appreciated.
Reply
Old Apr 2, 2008 | 08:06 AM
  #2  
vettdvr's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,254
Likes: 15
From: Louisiana
03 E500 and Corvette
Originally Posted by Scambo
Anyone know the general lifespan of the stock E500 suspension parts? My car has 77K miles on it and I'm wondering if I need to proactively consider replacement at this time. Any information is appreciated.
Front ball joints failed on ours at 72000 miles. I would look at them for wear.
Reply
Old Apr 2, 2008 | 09:06 AM
  #3  
Benz-O-Rama's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 8,137
Likes: 26
From: Maryland
Eurocharged 2004 E500, Eurocharged ECU/TCU 2005 SL600, 2010 Caddy SwaggerWagon
Originally Posted by vettdvr
Front ball joints failed on ours at 72000 miles. I would look at them for wear.
My right front ball joint failed at 55K miles. Left one is still good.
Reply
Old Apr 2, 2008 | 09:28 AM
  #4  
Scambo's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 293
Likes: 0
From: Austin, TX
'13 E550 W4
Yup, already did ball joints at about 70K miles.
Reply
Old Apr 2, 2008 | 11:09 AM
  #5  
georgedaman's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 375
Likes: 0
From: Toronto Ont Canada
GL350
rear shock at 75K
Reply
Old Apr 2, 2008 | 12:38 PM
  #6  
daddcap's Avatar
Newbie
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 14
Likes: 1
2014 S550
Right Front Strut

I had to have my right front strut replaced at 51000 miles

Glad i Had the MB extended warranty.
Reply
Old Apr 2, 2008 | 01:25 PM
  #7  
W Cole's Avatar
Super Member
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 613
Likes: 3
From: Newport Coast, CA
makes your daughter horny
Originally Posted by Scambo
Yup, already did ball joints at about 70K miles.
Are these are the joints in the upper control arm? They look easy enough to replace..
Reply
Old Apr 2, 2008 | 02:26 PM
  #8  
Diesel Benz's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,494
Likes: 334
From: Europe
223.168 & 213.012 & 906.633 & 214.005
Originally Posted by W Cole
Are these are the joints in the upper control arm? They look easy enough to replace..
Both have had bad parts but I think the lower joints were more prone to fail. It was a bad batch of parts, now that this car has survived this long, I would assume it has good joints.

I would inspect all the joints carefully, if they are good, then just wait until they start showing wear. The airmatic protective bellows should be checked too but if they are good, I would not do any proactive service.
Reply
MB World Stories

The Best of Mercedes & AMG

story-0

Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Mercedes Teases Updated EQS With Steer-By-Wire and a Yoke

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

8 Mercedes Models With Poor Reliability Records

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Apr 2, 2008 | 07:02 PM
  #9  
motioneffects's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
-
Thrust arm bushings L+R, lower control arm bushings L+R, ball joints L+R, Tie rods L+R. shocks may leak all around. Airmatic-pump likes to go alot, valve blocks have issues. For those who lower their car-thrust arm bushings go very quick.
Reply
Old Apr 3, 2008 | 08:12 AM
  #10  
vettdvr's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,254
Likes: 15
From: Louisiana
03 E500 and Corvette
[QUOTE=Diesel Benz;2743020]Both have had bad parts but I think the lower joints were more prone to fail. It was a bad batch of parts, now that this car has survived this long, I would assume it has good joints.
QUOTE]


I have learned, I will believe it was a bad batch of parts when I have more than 70,000 on the new joints and they are still servicable. Until then I have to believe with so many ball joint failures it is design.
Reply
Old Apr 3, 2008 | 08:57 AM
  #11  
Diesel Benz's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,494
Likes: 334
From: Europe
223.168 & 213.012 & 906.633 & 214.005
Originally Posted by vettdvr
I have learned, I will believe it was a bad batch of parts when I have more than 70,000 on the new joints and they are still servicable. Until then I have to believe with so many ball joint failures it is design.
Actually the bad batch failed easily at 25 000 to 40 000 km. I must have been thinking about 70 000 kilometres but this was miles. That makes well above 100 000 km. In my opinion, modern suspension parts are not designed to survive without service a lot more than this, perhaps 150 000 to 250 000 km. A "better" design would give worse dynamic performance.

70 000 miles is a bit low for wear on good parts.

But I thought the question here was more about proactive service. Would anyone suggest changing suspension parts before any wear has been observed?
Reply
Old Nov 22, 2008 | 05:04 PM
  #12  
crazeazn's Avatar
Super Member
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 731
Likes: 0
From: Houston
C55
Sorry to bump an old post but I had a question regarding this. I have a 04' E500 with around 21k miles (still with original tires which I will be changing out soon) I did a finger gap check and my right rear wheel gap is 2 fingers (3 fingers between onthe other three arches). Would this be a strut problem? When activating ride height, the car does elevate on all 4 corners but the gap is still there. Any help would be appreciated. I have aftermarket extended warranty but I don't believe its considered a wear and tear part.
Reply
Old Nov 23, 2008 | 05:55 PM
  #13  
crazeazn's Avatar
Super Member
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 731
Likes: 0
From: Houston
C55
bumpy
Reply
Old Nov 23, 2008 | 06:35 PM
  #14  
tashakes's Avatar
Super Member
15 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 513
Likes: 2
From: San Diego, CA
2020 GLE350
I would not worry about it, mine has always been lower on the left rear than the right rear, you will need to worry when you get the red warning on your display saying to stop the car because the suspension is too low. My front right strut was replaced with less than 40K miles on them, now I am at 65K and no other problems have come up.
Reply
Old Nov 24, 2008 | 11:05 AM
  #15  
TTopJohn's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Any experience with having the air struts and air pump covered under an extended warranty?

Most policy language excudes "shock absorbers." If I were looking to avoid paying a claim, I think I could make a pretty good argument that the air strut assembly, though it combines the functions of a spring and a shock into one unit, is in fact a shock absorber and therefore excluded.

Now on an exclusionary policy, I've never seen "air pump" listed as an excluded item, so I think you'd have a good shot at having an air pump replacement covered.
Reply
Old Nov 24, 2008 | 09:32 PM
  #16  
nycturbovr6's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 195
Likes: 0
front passenger shock at 51
Reply
Old Nov 25, 2008 | 11:35 AM
  #17  
cunnincr's Avatar
Newbie
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
2001 E320, 2003 E500
Left front air strut replaced at 69k. Ball joints and Thrust Arm bushings 72k. The air strut was by far the most expensive @ $1,700.
Reply

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 


You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:29 PM.

story-0
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 11:19:28


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: Before curves took over, Mercedes mastered the art of the straight line, and some of those shapes still look right today.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-25 12:05:49


VIEW MORE
story-2
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

Slideshow: The 190E Evolution II shows how a homologation necessity became a six-figure collector icon.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-22 17:53:47


VIEW MORE
story-3
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes is turning one of its core nameplates electric, and the details show just how serious this shift is.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:58:06


VIEW MORE
story-4
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

Slideshow: Faster charging, longer range, and a controversial steer-by-wire system define the latest evolution of Mercedes-Benz EQS.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-15 10:35:34


VIEW MORE
story-5
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

Slideshow: These overlooked Mercedes-Benz models never got the spotlight, but they quietly delivered more than most remember.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-13 19:35:45


VIEW MORE
story-6
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

Slideshow: A well-used 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300D with more than one million miles is now looking for a new owner, and it still appears ready for more.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-10 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used

Slideshow: From bulletproof sedans to surprisingly tough SUVs, these Mercedes models proved that the three-pointed star can go the distance.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-08 09:55:49


VIEW MORE
story-8
Mercedes Teases Updated EQS With Steer-By-Wire and a Yoke

Slideshow: The 2027 update adds a fully digital steering system, revised styling, and potential charging upgrades as the company looks to revive interest in the luxury EV.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-04 10:24:38


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Mercedes Models With Poor Reliability Records

Slideshow: From problematic air suspensions to early dual-clutch transmission issues, these specific models and years stand out as the least dependable modern Mercedes vehicles.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-26 18:08:10


VIEW MORE