Blown rear shocks..
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Joined: Jun 2009
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From: Sac
Fuel Trek 90
Blown rear shocks..
Well here is the story. I have an 03 E500 with airmatic suspension. I was changing my rear tires and noticed that my shock is leaking.
Called the dealer and was quoted $549.60 per side.. I am not sure I want to spend that much on shocks.. Im cheap? Maybe... But I cant justify spending $1000+ on 2 shocks. (part # 211 326 01 00)
I found them a little bit cheaper but I was wondering if anyone knew where I can get a rebuild kit for the hydropneumatic rear shocks, or maybe someone knows a shop in Sacramento that rebuilds them. Any help will be appreciated
Called the dealer and was quoted $549.60 per side.. I am not sure I want to spend that much on shocks.. Im cheap? Maybe... But I cant justify spending $1000+ on 2 shocks. (part # 211 326 01 00)
I found them a little bit cheaper but I was wondering if anyone knew where I can get a rebuild kit for the hydropneumatic rear shocks, or maybe someone knows a shop in Sacramento that rebuilds them. Any help will be appreciated
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From: Sac
Fuel Trek 90
Well I am not sure about the passenger side, but the driver side is blown. I would like to change/rebuid both of them..
Keep in mind there is the air spring and this is the separate shock that is blown (covered in oil).. The computer does not say anything.. The air does not leak out..
Keep in mind there is the air spring and this is the separate shock that is blown (covered in oil).. The computer does not say anything.. The air does not leak out..
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From: North Scottsdale, AZ
'71 Pinto
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2003 E320
There is a company in Florida that uses new Goodyear bladders and they machine new parts. I remember them being under $400 with a lifetime guarantee. They were a topic of discussion as recently as a week ago. Do a search?
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From: Northern VA
W211
any chance of changing over to regular mcpherson struts/springs inside of replacing the airmatic? I'd rather go that right if it wasn't pricey, instead of a ticking time bomb again.
I just hope mine doesn't blow when its out of warranty.
I just hope mine doesn't blow when its out of warranty.
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From: Europe
223.168 & 213.012 & 906.633 & 214.005
Why not buy those refurbished struts/shocks that have lifetime warranty. Of course it would not mean they would not fail again but you don't get steel springs either that cannot fail.
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Thread Starter
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From: Sac
Fuel Trek 90
Thread Starter
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From: Sac
Fuel Trek 90
I prefer to leave the equipment as is. OEM spec.
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From: North Scottsdale, AZ
'71 Pinto
Thread Starter
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From: Sac
Fuel Trek 90
I attached the a pic.. This is taken from the DIY you sent me. The circled shock is what I am looking to repleace or get rebuilt.
I sent an email to ARNOTT AIR SUSPENSION:
I was wondering if you can rebuild the rear shocks from a W211 (2003 Mercedes E500). I saw that you carry them for an S class, but not the E class.
Their response:
No, we cannot rebuild these at this time. However, you if get the parts from teh dealer I will buy your cores for $25 each and I will send labels for them. We need to get cores for R & D.
thank you, Lisa
Lisa Arnott
ph: 800.251.8993 ext 105
ph: 321.868.3016 ext 105
www.arnottinc.com
www.arnottairsuspension.com
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From: Europe
223.168 & 213.012 & 906.633 & 214.005
I don't understand why someone wants to rebuild shocks. The Airmatic shocks are nothing air suspension specific except that they have electrically controlled damping (but that could exist on any car with steel springs too). The front struts are different because everything is integrated into a single part. The rear air spring on the other hand may be relatively easy to refurbish with new rubber bellows but even the OEM spare part is not that expensive (the rear one).
Thread Starter
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From: Sac
Fuel Trek 90
I don't understand why someone wants to rebuild shocks. The Airmatic shocks are nothing air suspension specific except that they have electrically controlled damping (but that could exist on any car with steel springs too). The front struts are different because everything is integrated into a single part. The rear air spring on the other hand may be relatively easy to refurbish with new rubber bellows but even the OEM spare part is not that expensive (the rear one).
$550 a piece? I don't know about you but I find that to be a little excessive for a shock absorber..
If it was the air spring then thats a different story.. But this is a shock absorber..
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From: Europe
223.168 & 213.012 & 906.633 & 214.005
It isn't "just a shock absorber" (you don't say that either), it is an electrically controlled shock absorber in the case of Airmatic but as you say, it still is a shock absorber and the price does not seem to be right. Even with the current Euro to Dollar exchange rate, parts usually are less expensive "in Dollars" than "in Euros", I mean when bought from the US versus Europe.
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From: Louisiana
03 E500 and Corvette
Yes the price is too high if you consider the reliability. If they lasted 200000 mile I probably would not complain. But at 80,000 miles for a $3000 repair on top of SBC, ball joints and other major failures so early. The car still drives like a new one with all new MB parts and service but the $/reliability mile !#@#$#!
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From: Louisiana
03 E500 and Corvette
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From: Northern VA
W211
03 e500, so what happened and what did you end up doing?
i noticed today my rear ps spring control arm bolt/nut area was covered with dirt/grease. While the rear ds area was clean as day. Guess i will be taking it to the dealer, since mine is covered under warranty.
i noticed today my rear ps spring control arm bolt/nut area was covered with dirt/grease. While the rear ds area was clean as day. Guess i will be taking it to the dealer, since mine is covered under warranty.
Thread Starter
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From: Sac
Fuel Trek 90
I have not done anything yet.. I do not have too much time to work on it, so I left it alone for now. I have how the rear jumps a bit when you hit a nice bump, but Im willing to live with that for now...
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Joined: Aug 2014
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e500
Blown rear airshocks
My story is quite interesting! I called my local dealership to purchase a airmatic relay switch and the dealer told me to bring it in because it wasn't the relay. He was right, it wasn't the relay in my case. So he wanted me to bring it in because he said he was sure that it was the rear bags needed replacing which is quite expensive!!! I'm a do-it-yourselfer, so I did an investigation of my own and what I came with was he was WRONG!!! But, I will be fair to say he did a diagnosis over the phone which made me skeptical about taking it to him!!! Good thing I didn't listen to him, because after removing the air compressor one of my hoses had an hole in it from chafing against the inner fender skirt a $7.00 part. Apparently this is a common problem, because the new part has been improved with a foam coating on it and how I initially found the problem was that the front would pump up and I could heard a hissing (after shutting off the engine) HOPEFULLY, this is your problem? Its not that hard to do. Watch the video on Utube: compressor replacement to decide if this is something you'd want to tackle yourself or not. Wish you luck!!! 
Last edited by Empty Pockets; Aug 20, 2014 at 11:51 PM. Reason: typical errors
