andynmaas

Did anyone ever succeeded replace OEM absorber with Bilstein B4 without special MB tool 203 589 01 31 00 (US$2k) and adapter plate 212 589 00 63 00 and 212 589 02 63 00?
I had remove front strut from Car. Should I try to disassembly strut using decompressing tool Shankly DN-B1067? I am afraid it will not working to assembly using new absorber.
I try to google it and look like nobody post DIY or ever confirm it will work without MB tool which cost US $2K. Can somebody let me know if anyone ever did it without expensive MB tool?

KillBillz

I recently swapped my struts and springs , but didnt feel like buying the tool to compress the springs. Took it to a local shop who charged me $40 to remove the old spring and but on the new ones. I also recommend replacing the mounts

andynmaas

Hi thank you for confirming. If shop can do that for $40 that mean I can do that too with $50 tool instead of US$2k. I think MB tried to protect their revenue by selling shock absorber 3x that Bilstein will sell by it would not easy to replace it and need $US$2k tool.
I did compressed and it free up about 2 inch I just need pass thru socket to remove top nut on shock absorber just like the one in picture

andynmaas

I forgot to mention I ask Good Year shop and they want US$350 to only disassembly/assembly both front driver and passenger side after I bring the strut to their shop which I think too much for that.

KillBillz

Wow that's ridiculous. $300 to compress a spring (5mins, if that ), remove 1 bolt , then put that already compressed spring on the new strut. It's Will probably take them 30 mins tops. That equates to about $600 a hour.

They just didn't want to do it , so gave you a crazy number

mercy-me

No direct knowledge to share but I did disassemble the front struts on my E32 BMW using a pair of spring compressers bought at Harbor Freight. The key is to clamp the spring tight enough to release tension so that the strut can be disassembled and the spring removed to install on your new strut. The safety factor is to guaranty that the spring can not get free of the compressers, that is where the danger lies and great care must be taken. MB and other OEM's guaranty the safety of their tech staff by having special tools made for each unique shop repair job. It also adds to economy of shop hours and most unique shop tools are used over and over again unlike our DIY one-time use.

Anyway, good luck and post back your success story.

Bob

andynmaas

I just found other fact that front srtrut can be disassembly withour super expensive MB Tool.
https://mbworld.org/forums/w218/6133...-e63-w212.html

atraudes

I've disassembled the struts on mine using these ABN compressors:


I bought two pairs because using three compressors on a single strut reduces the pucker factor more than I can describe. The problem is when you're only using two, and one decides to slip/rotate, it gives the coil a chance to make a break for it. Well worth the extra $30.

cetialpha5

Did you end up getting yours done? I finally had mine done today. Used an OTC 6494. Got it from Zoro as they had some coupon code for either 20-25% off so somewhere around $165 I think. Mechanic had to fiddle with it a bit to do one side, but once he figured it out, it went a lot quicker on the other side. Basically had to hook it so that there were 3 loops one each side to compress the spring. He had it as two on one side and 3 on the other and that wasn't enough. For parts, I used Bilstein struts from Rockauto, about $250. FCPeuro carries them too, but they're much more and Bilstein has a lifetime warranty anyway. Sachs had the cover and bumper stop but for some reason whatever I ordered wasn't right so I ended up using the old parts. I also got a new mount with bearing, but looking at the mount I could have just bought the bearing. Springs I had to order from Mercedes and they took an extra week because they had to be ordered from Germany. They were about $270 with shipping. The mount with bearings were about $75 for both, just the bearings would have been about $28.