front left air shock replacement e500 2003
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Junior Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 42
Likes: 2
front left air shock replacement e500 2003
a few weeks back I got the dreaded "stop, car too low" error accompanied with a squeaky whistle coming from the front/drivers wheel. When I turn the car on I can see it's inflating and the car raises to a point then the whistle and the pump can't keep up and it slowly drops. I took it to a Goodyear Car pros shop in town that did a lower squeaky ball joint 6 months ago .. in 30 minutes they said "yes" it's a leaking air shock and we can't replace it.. pay $100.
So I've done a little research and called a couple shops but would really like some input if anyone has dealt with this. At this point I've called 2 shops , they both would only do them in pairs with non MB parts(2k).. or do one with the official MB part(1,700). Does this sound ok? I'd prefer just to have the one replaced with the non MB part for 1k. Are they blowing smoke? Are there any other options? They are also recommending replaceing upper ball joint since they are extremely worn.. they said it would be a good time to do it when they were working on the shocks.. they didn't say the cost of that yet. At this point I just don't want to spend 2k++ on this car even though it looks like I'm gonna have to.
So I've done a little research and called a couple shops but would really like some input if anyone has dealt with this. At this point I've called 2 shops , they both would only do them in pairs with non MB parts(2k).. or do one with the official MB part(1,700). Does this sound ok? I'd prefer just to have the one replaced with the non MB part for 1k. Are they blowing smoke? Are there any other options? They are also recommending replaceing upper ball joint since they are extremely worn.. they said it would be a good time to do it when they were working on the shocks.. they didn't say the cost of that yet. At this point I just don't want to spend 2k++ on this car even though it looks like I'm gonna have to.
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Joined: Jan 2009
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From: V E G A S
1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
At 14 years the bags are overdue, so replacing 1 side only to have other blow a month or 4 later is risky decision.
Research Arnott replacements. They give life guarantee.
Still trying to figure who's life it is.
I've seen some videos on youtube. Maybe not for your exact model, but will give you an idea.
Research Arnott replacements. They give life guarantee.
Still trying to figure who's life it is.
I've seen some videos on youtube. Maybe not for your exact model, but will give you an idea.
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 545
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From: Southern California
Upper ball joint you can do it yourself with some simple tools. As for the air springs/shocks, I would highly recommend you replace both left and right at the same time. The right will just fail soon anyways. The Arnott option is good. By sending back your worn out oem shocks, Arnott usually gives a credit so that should reduce the total cost of replacing them.
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Junior Member
Joined: May 2005
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thanks for the input. Lots of them on Ebay 350/400. I can send mine in for rebuild for 375 and the company has just about all 1800 positive feedback. Upper ball joints varying from 50/75 for the pair also. Also a guy on a youtube video has done it in almost realtime in 20 minutes and it's my same year and front drivers side so it's perfect. So... if I can get the parts and in 4 hours replace the air shock/upper ball joints for under $500(one side) I'll feel good about it versus spending $2k or more. I understand ideally it would be good to do the other side at the same time but why..? Unless there are logistical or balancing reasons. If it is still ok and may last another 5/10/20k miles why fix it if it's not broke?
Anyway I'll likely do this soon and report back.. maybe I'll take a video or photos. Hopefully I don't regret it
Anyway I'll likely do this soon and report back.. maybe I'll take a video or photos. Hopefully I don't regret it
Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 121
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E500; ML63; X5M; LR3
Yes, if not MB, then pairs, and Arnott is best bet there. You can replace a single shock with new, used, or rebuilt depending on how much you want to spend. My mechanic can do a front air shock swap in about 20 min on the floor.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2015
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'05 CLK55 AMG Cab, '16 E350 4Matic Wagon
Boy that must be nice.
I just did my rear air springs (pair) on my wagon yesterday and the right front strut. Mine is a 4matic so it's a lot harder to get the strut over the axle. Took me 7 hours all in to replace the three corners, and I was using a vehicle lift.
Totally doable if you have experience and the tools. Would I want to do it on jack stands, no way.
I only replaced the right front because that one was blown - deflated immediately upon shutdown. The rears would slowly leak down over 2-4 days. I imagine I'll have to do the left front soon enough.
BTW I got the rear springs together for $700 shipped from partsgeek.com and I got the front strut for $420 plus $200 core charge from shockwarehouse.com. All of them are Arnott. Both companies shipped quickly and would deal with either of them again.
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Joined: Dec 2013
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E500; ML63; X5M; LR3
Yeah, labor here is very cheap. Poor Sri Lankan lad working in the heat, sometimes I stop in and give them food. On the downside, they sometimes make mistakes. I had a new radiator last week on my other car and they put the coolant overflow hose on the wrong side of the shroud and the fan sliced it neatly. I didn't have time to fix so took to MB to re-repair. Anyhow, the cars I have are old (2006 and 2009), so I pick and choose what to do at the dealer and what to do locally or myself.
I had Arnotts put in my E500 a year ago. The guy did it in the heat (must have hit 50 deg C that day) in a parking lot slammed between two Toyota Landcruisers with nothing more than a jack and a few tools. I think he had the rear axle done in 2 -3 hours and was cheap. He left the old reservoirs intact and didn't have to remove most of what the instructions said to remove. I've had no problems with them. Front are still OEM.
I had Arnotts put in my E500 a year ago. The guy did it in the heat (must have hit 50 deg C that day) in a parking lot slammed between two Toyota Landcruisers with nothing more than a jack and a few tools. I think he had the rear axle done in 2 -3 hours and was cheap. He left the old reservoirs intact and didn't have to remove most of what the instructions said to remove. I've had no problems with them. Front are still OEM.
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