rockit31

I just purchased a 2012 gl450 from used car dealer. I took it to mechanic before purchase to have a check up and he shows both rear shocks leaking pretty good. I signed up with a GWC extended warranty for 36000 miles and was wondering if someone could tell me what kind of shocks/struts are in the back. My warranty has exclusions and one of them is shock absorbers and struts. Unless they are electronic and variable struts.
I made the dealer write a promise on the contract that if my warranty will not cover them that the dealer will fix. They say the warranty will fix but I don’t trust their word on this.

eric_in_sd

dunno about the '12, but mine are just passive.

Why don't you check the replacement part, found on various parts sites?

BlownV8

Depends on if your car has the ADS suspension or standard. If you post your vin, someone can tell you.

eric_in_sd

Could also look to see if there is an ADS button on the dash. Don't the vehicles with that have a way to choose between sport, city, etc?

rockit31

I have the button that raises and lowers the suspension. Is that ADS?

ddruker

Nope. That's standard - we all have it. ADS has a selector for different suspension modes.

FWIW - My extended warranty from USAA explicitly includes air suspension - and they just paid to replace my front air struts with Arnotts at 83k miles / 8 years.

eric_in_sd

Correct. Look in the manual and compare to what's on your dash - more like center console. You could post the VIN or do a lookup, but you really ought to familiarize yourself with what your truck has and doesn't.

I was indirectly trying get you to do that by suggesting you look for parts.

rockit31

I did look up parts for this car and found the rear shocks to be normal very expensive rear shocks. I do not have the ads button on my dash.

BlownV8

Non ADS rear shocks are cheap on the GL. Shop around a bit online.

eric_in_sd

I think it depends on your interpretation of "very expensive" and "cheap". I recall the Bilsteins being pretty expensive in comparison to run-of-the-mill shocks. Over $100. ADS is twice.

Labor is the killer, though.

rockit31

I told my used car dealer my intentions to take the car to Mercedes for the rear shocks and find out if it would be covered on my extended warranty. They told me not to go there and to just bring it in to them and they will sub it out for the replacement. THey have to do an alignment as well. My worry is that they are going to send the car to "bubba" who is not a certified Mercedes repair facility and put on the cheapest shocks they can find. I ask for advice on how to proceed. Do I demand that they take the car to a certified Mercedes repair facility?
What is entailed with a rear shock replacement? Will "bubba" know how to properly replace them?

eric_in_sd

I don't think there even are any junk shocks, maybe because the end fitments are oddball, and they are (I think) pressurized gas. When I had mine done, literally the only choice (I was told) I have is Bilstein. It looks like there are more alternatives now, but those are still pricey, making me think they are probably more than adequate.

The biggest cost is labor. The drawback here is Bubba will do a lousy job disassembling (actually, reassembling!) your rear interior. You have to take out side panels in the back to access the top of the shock.