Shock Absorber recommendation
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 681
Likes: 81
From: ToRonTo, OnTaRiO, Khanaadah
s550
Shock Absorber recommendation
I own a 2013 G63 that i drive a LOT daily. Found some oil leakage in rear shocks. Figured i might as well replace all four shocks on the old gal.
Does the G63 come with shocks and springs?
Do the springs have to be changed along with the shocks or its highly unusual the springs are bad?
What shocks should i get? I have been looking online and doing some research and found Bilstein B4, Bilstein B6 and Fox adjustable or non-adjustable to be the most popular choices.
Any preference for any? I am ant interested in lifting or lowering the G63. Am very ok with factory height.
Thanks
Does the G63 come with shocks and springs?
Do the springs have to be changed along with the shocks or its highly unusual the springs are bad?
What shocks should i get? I have been looking online and doing some research and found Bilstein B4, Bilstein B6 and Fox adjustable or non-adjustable to be the most popular choices.
Any preference for any? I am ant interested in lifting or lowering the G63. Am very ok with factory height.
Thanks
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 5,158
Likes: 1,770
From: Colorado
G550
Most vehicles are equipped with shocks and springs. My old Wrangler has leaf springs all the way around with shocks. My 2016 Wrangler has MacPherson struts on the front and coil springs and shocks on the rear. My 2019 G550 has the same configuration (not sure your 2013 is the same, as I think the older G's had solid front axles rather than independent suspension, so you might have separate springs and shocks) . MacPherson's are easy to recognize as they have the shock absorber located inside the coil spring. Unless your vehicle has been pushed hard with heavy loads on rough terrain, it's unlikely the coil springs need replacement. When the shocks and springs are separate, replacing the shocks is not difficult. MacPhersons are best left to a professional mechanic. Both Bilstein and Koni are good brands, and likely one of these is MB's OE supplier. The OE p/n should be easy enough to cross reference to either brand. There are probably "good / better / best" choices, and best is best. Unless an adjustable shock is critical to your use of the vehicle, I'd stick with the best quality / closest to OE component available, and doing all 4 as you are planning is a good idea.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 681
Likes: 81
From: ToRonTo, OnTaRiO, Khanaadah
s550
hey
Most vehicles are equipped with shocks and springs. My old Wrangler has leaf springs all the way around with shocks. My 2016 Wrangler has MacPherson struts on the front and coil springs and shocks on the rear. My 2019 G550 has the same configuration (not sure your 2013 is the same, as I think the older G's had solid front axles rather than independent suspension, so you might have separate springs and shocks) . MacPherson's are easy to recognize as they have the shock absorber located inside the coil spring. Unless your vehicle has been pushed hard with heavy loads on rough terrain, it's unlikely the coil springs need replacement. When the shocks and springs are separate, replacing the shocks is not difficult. MacPhersons are best left to a professional mechanic. Both Bilstein and Koni are good brands, and likely one of these is MB's OE supplier. The OE p/n should be easy enough to cross reference to either brand. There are probably "good / better / best" choices, and best is best. Unless an adjustable shock is critical to your use of the vehicle, I'd stick with the best quality / closest to OE component available, and doing all 4 as you are planning is a good idea.
I believe the Blisters B4 are the oem replacement for my car.
Last edited by just1time; Mar 28, 2021 at 05:21 PM.
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 64
Likes: 5
2019 Mercedes Benz G63
Have seen a lot of people recommend the Fox adjustable shocks for the G63. They are more pricey compared to the Bolsteins.
can any of the forum members comment on this comparison? Or experience with fox or bilstein? Are they both better than the stock?
thanks
can any of the forum members comment on this comparison? Or experience with fox or bilstein? Are they both better than the stock?
thanks
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 849
Likes: 507
From: NJ/NYC
2005 G55K
This topic really has been beaten to death on this forum so search a little bit and long threads will turn up. I have Fox 2.0's with G63 springs. The ride is night and day difference compared to the OE 2005 G55 suspension. The adjustable nature of the Fox shocks gives them the ability to be soft or hard if/when you want them to be.
Fox, King, Ohlins, all make nice adjustable shocks. There are several other non-adjustable upgrades, as well as the Bilstein B4, B4/6 OE replacements.
Fox, King, Ohlins, all make nice adjustable shocks. There are several other non-adjustable upgrades, as well as the Bilstein B4, B4/6 OE replacements.
