E-Class (W211) 2003-2009
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DIY: Replacing an airmatic self leveling rear shock absorber

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Old Feb 2, 2011 | 09:43 AM
  #26  
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03 E500 and Corvette
Originally Posted by Todds911
Thanks! I'm going to try it! I wonder if AutohausAZ is a sponsor? I'd like to give a sponsor a crack at the business first.

Regarding the Trans fluid, I have two dealers in my area. One told me that it was due for a change. The other told me that it never gets replaced for my year - 2004. The latter just doesn't seem right to me, but I'd like to believe them!

Best regards
Autohaus does a great job, I just bought and installed 2 rear. I have one good one I took off and boxed it up. The one I replaced had blown seal and leaked oil. I had bought 2 so I replaced both and kept the other for the "might need again box"
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Old Feb 2, 2011 | 12:17 PM
  #27  
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2004 E500 CLK320
Originally Posted by Todds911
Regarding the Trans fluid, I have two dealers in my area. One told me that it was due for a change. The other told me that it never gets replaced for my year - 2004. The latter just doesn't seem right to me, but I'd like to believe them!

Best regards
At first, it was life-time fluid. Then MB changed that to every 100k mi, and recently it's every 49k mi. If you're going to keep the car past the 100k mi mark, I strongly recommend to have the ATF changed. The 7-speed tranny is very sentimental. $400 is a small price to pay in avoiding potential expensive repairs.
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Old Feb 2, 2011 | 01:53 PM
  #28  
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e500 2004
Originally Posted by SZMB
At first, it was life-time fluid. Then MB changed that to every 100k mi, and recently it's every 49k mi. If you're going to keep the car past the 100k mi mark, I strongly recommend to have the ATF changed. The 7-speed tranny is very sentimental. $400 is a small price to pay in avoiding potential expensive repairs.
Thanks everybody for the input!! I love these boards. What did everyone do 20 years ago without this?? lol

My car is at 90k miles. My goal is to get the car over 100k miles (must resist societal pressures and marketing campaigns! ). Having no car payment is great...

So I will look into the tranny fluid with my Indie.
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Old Feb 2, 2011 | 01:59 PM
  #29  
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e500 2004
AutohausAZ says there are two different part # for the rear airmatic shocks, based on the serial # on the axle. Does anyone know where the serial # is? I attach the link...

http://www.autohausaz.com/search/pro...ock%20Absorber
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Old Feb 2, 2011 | 02:50 PM
  #30  
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Originally Posted by Todds911
AutohausAZ says there are two different part # for the rear airmatic shocks, based on the serial # on the axle.
Link references VIN range 0100 up to A334970/X108179; 2800 from A334971/X108180.
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Old Feb 2, 2011 | 03:18 PM
  #31  
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e500 2004
Originally Posted by konigstiger
Link references VIN range 0100 up to A334970/X108179; 2800 from A334971/X108180.
Ok. The link says "Chasis Serial Number," not VIN.

I guess you are saying they are the same thing.

Thanks. I'm out of town now, but will check the VIN this weekend.
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Old Feb 7, 2011 | 03:16 PM
  #32  
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2005 E500 4matic
Has anyone changed the rear air spring? My passenger rear is sitting way low and I would imagine it's the air spring. I looked for a DIY and couldn't find one.
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Old Feb 8, 2011 | 12:18 PM
  #33  
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2003 W211 E55, 2003 W220 S600
nice DIY thank you!
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Old Mar 15, 2011 | 09:24 PM
  #34  
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e500
thank you all for the valuable info,
i bought 2004 e500 in dec 2007, now i have 82,000 miles on it and 4th year as an owner, i live in new england area roads are very bad, 4 years back when i hit a pot hole or bump or pass by uneven roads i used to feel like i fell on a balloon and ride continued smoothly, it used to be very cushy, now after 4 years i feel really uncomfortable driving on the uneven roads car body vibrates and shakes, i dont feel that cushion anymore like before when i hit pot hole or bump, now im feeling the impact of bad roads which wasnt there 4 years back.
i took it to the dealer they said nothing about shock absorbers or suspension but they said both engine mounts failed needs to be replaced, since i dont have money right now i postponed. to all the knowledgeable people out there my question is why my car doesnt feel like 4 years back is it because the shock absorbers go bad at 82000 miles? or replacing engine mounts could solve the problem? is it the shock absorbers give that nice not vibrating shaky feeling or something else, i am car illiterate, so forgive my ignorance.
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Old Apr 24, 2011 | 10:13 AM
  #35  
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Originally Posted by SZMB
last picture
Attachment 183906
And here's the DIY procedure in pdf

Attachment 183907
Is the procedure the same for the E320 Wagon? I don't have the airmatic,only self-adjusting suspension.

hubi
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Old Apr 24, 2011 | 09:08 PM
  #36  
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2007 E550, 2007 GL450
Great DIY - thanks for sharing!
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Old Apr 28, 2011 | 06:52 PM
  #37  
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03 E500 and Corvette
I still have one used 2003 Self level shock for sale, make offer + shipping. It was good when I removed it. I had a clunk on right side and replaced both. Left was still ok.
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Old Apr 29, 2011 | 03:45 AM
  #38  
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Originally Posted by vettdvr
I still have one used 2003 Self level shock for sale, make offer + shipping. It was good when I removed it. I had a clunk on right side and replaced both. Left was still ok.
I bought a set of new Kayaba Shocks and actually waiting for them to be delivered soon.

So, when you were changing the shocks, have you seen the procedure as the same as in this post?
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Old Apr 29, 2011 | 09:04 AM
  #39  
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Originally Posted by Hubi
I bought a set of new Kayaba Shocks and actually waiting for them to be delivered soon.

So, when you were changing the shocks, have you seen the procedure as the same as in this post?
The post worked well and I used the MB service manual. The only PITA was routing the wiring on the new shock under the car as I did not jack it high enough to get under when planning the shock change.
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Old Apr 29, 2011 | 10:26 AM
  #40  
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Originally Posted by vettdvr
The post worked well and I used the MB service manual. The only PITA was routing the wiring on the new shock under the car as I did not jack it high enough to get under when planning the shock change.
DO you have the MB service Manual in the electronic version?
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Old Apr 29, 2011 | 11:27 AM
  #41  
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Originally Posted by Hubi
DO you have the MB service Manual in the electronic version?
I have the disc bought from MB parts.
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Old Jul 30, 2011 | 12:36 AM
  #42  
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2004 e5004matic wagon
I am about to embark on the replacement of the rear shock on my wagon. Given the cost of this shock, (400$) I wonder if there is any specialty shop that would consider rebuilding???
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Old Jul 30, 2011 | 04:38 PM
  #43  
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Originally Posted by casman
I am about to embark on the replacement of the rear shock on my wagon. Given the cost of this shock, (400$) I wonder if there is any specialty shop that would consider rebuilding???
I just did mine earlier this year. Not worth rebuilding. But job isn't that difficult. I still have one I pulled from my car working in good shape I tried to sell. Remember you only have to replace the defective one not required to replace both.

I had one that failed and bought two new ones. After pulling the first one I found it had failed. The other I removed was still in good shape but I had already bought the extra one so I put it on.
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Old Jul 30, 2011 | 07:34 PM
  #44  
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Great post!!!
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Old Jul 31, 2011 | 10:42 AM
  #45  
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2004 e5004matic wagon
I have 186 000km on the car. Would your shock fit on the wagon. I am in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. What shape is the other shock in? Are you willing to part with it?
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Old Jul 31, 2011 | 10:48 AM
  #46  
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Originally Posted by casman
I have 186 000km on the car. Would your shock fit on the wagon. I am in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. What shape is the other shock in? Are you willing to part with it?
Casman, I wouldn't change only one shock, cause both shocks should be change at the time. I had only one damaged but changed both of them. You will never have the same parameters if you change only one.
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Old Jul 31, 2011 | 10:53 AM
  #47  
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That is the conventional wisdom....but there seems to be some disagreement over this particular type of damper.....
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Old Jul 31, 2011 | 10:59 AM
  #48  
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Originally Posted by casman
That is the conventional wisdom....but there seems to be some disagreement over this particular type of damper.....
do you have airmatic or just nivo?
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Old Jul 31, 2011 | 11:04 AM
  #49  
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2004 e5004matic wagon
Airmatic. The conventional suspension is quite cost effective to replace...and many good quality replacement parts are available. I am not sure that this is the case for airmatic....
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Old Jul 31, 2011 | 11:08 AM
  #50  
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Originally Posted by casman
Airmatic. The conventional suspension is quite cost effective to replace...and many good quality replacement parts are available. I am not sure that this is the case for airmatic....
You can go with new item or remanufactured, but from what I heard the best way is to put 2 new shocks since it's airmatic.

I know it's costly.......
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