Front bag replacement
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 648
Likes: 144
From: Yeast Coast, Canada
GL550 X164
Front bag replacement
2010 550
It was about time for the front airbags to start giving me grief. One bag is done for sure and I might as well replace both. I'm thinking eventually the front struts will need to go. Not excited to tackle the struts in the cold so I'm thinking about replacing the bags temporarily. I will replace the struts with Bilstein. Do I buy the struts now, pull the bags from the new struts and replace the ageing ones on the truck? Or does Bilstein sell bags and struts separately? I can't seem to find Bilstein bags in my usual parts supplier inventories. Or is it a bad idea to do this? Trying to avoid Arnott because of the $$$ or other brands because I'm not confident in them.
Thanks in advance!
It was about time for the front airbags to start giving me grief. One bag is done for sure and I might as well replace both. I'm thinking eventually the front struts will need to go. Not excited to tackle the struts in the cold so I'm thinking about replacing the bags temporarily. I will replace the struts with Bilstein. Do I buy the struts now, pull the bags from the new struts and replace the ageing ones on the truck? Or does Bilstein sell bags and struts separately? I can't seem to find Bilstein bags in my usual parts supplier inventories. Or is it a bad idea to do this? Trying to avoid Arnott because of the $$$ or other brands because I'm not confident in them.
Thanks in advance!
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 648
Likes: 144
From: Yeast Coast, Canada
GL550 X164
I didn't think to do this earlier but I just looked at the Bilstein product catalogue and they indeed do NOT offer the air springs for the front separately. Springs and struts are one package.
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NGL450 w/EORP, S550
And it’s so much easier just to swap out the struts and bag combo than fumble**** around getting a new bag onto your old strut.
You’ll need an impact driver to get the bag seated onto the struts if you do choose to do a front bagectomy. If I had non-ads o would just buy complete struts from Arnott or Bilstein and swap them out. About an hour a side.
You’ll need an impact driver to get the bag seated onto the struts if you do choose to do a front bagectomy. If I had non-ads o would just buy complete struts from Arnott or Bilstein and swap them out. About an hour a side.
Last edited by Max Blast; Nov 24, 2022 at 10:21 PM.
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From: Emmett, ID, USA
2007 GL450
When you do the complete strut, you get a new (or rebuilt) shock absorber. Usually if the bag has worn out, the shock could use replacing too - its life is typically not that much more than the bag. The rear shocks last about 90k miles, while the bags typically about 60k.
If you don't have already, a propane space heater greatly alleviates the pain of working in an unheated garage.
In any event, as the Russians chuckled in a trolling video to Europe: Don't delay. Winter is coming.
If you don't have already, a propane space heater greatly alleviates the pain of working in an unheated garage.
In any event, as the Russians chuckled in a trolling video to Europe: Don't delay. Winter is coming.
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Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 114
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From: Ibadan, Nigeria
2009 GL450
OP, please indulge me in latching on to this thread. My left front gave up about a mile home and we dragged/scraped our way home.
So I have non ADS (that much I've learnt). Am I hearing the front is actually two pieces? As in strut and bag?
Thanks.
So I have non ADS (that much I've learnt). Am I hearing the front is actually two pieces? As in strut and bag?
Thanks.
Last edited by Prince Somorin; Nov 27, 2022 at 06:48 AM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2010
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From: Emmett, ID, USA
2007 GL450
Raise the suspension and spray soapy water on the bags. Look for bubbles or foam forming on the surface.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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NGL450 w/EORP, S550
get new ones for free. Don’t even bother troubleshooting, swap them out for known good ones. It’s been four years almost 5 they are ready.
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2007 GL450
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From: Emmett, ID, USA
2007 GL450
Arnott keeps records of the purchaser. Or at least they did. My experience is from when I purchased directly from them, so maybe that's how it works. You could probably register your products purchased from a third party.
Edit: Arnott no longer provides free shipping for the returns. For the struts, shipping will be so costly there is little point to the warranty.
I wonder if Arnott made that change retroactive.
Edit: Arnott no longer provides free shipping for the returns. For the struts, shipping will be so costly there is little point to the warranty.
I wonder if Arnott made that change retroactive.
Last edited by eric_in_sd; Nov 30, 2022 at 11:37 AM.
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From: Albuquerque
'10 CL550, '12 GL550
It’s my experience that he life of hydraulic shock absorbers for these vehicles is very similar to life of the rubber air springs.
I therefor think at the first sign of trouble with any spring, it’s the best idea to replace them all, front and back. Of course since struts are single units combining shock and spring, both get replaced. Recommend also at same time replacement of the (separate) shocks at rear.
This is normal wear and normal maintenance on these vehicles. It’s NOT a part failure or design problem … but it is expensive. Cost of doing business.
I therefor think at the first sign of trouble with any spring, it’s the best idea to replace them all, front and back. Of course since struts are single units combining shock and spring, both get replaced. Recommend also at same time replacement of the (separate) shocks at rear.
This is normal wear and normal maintenance on these vehicles. It’s NOT a part failure or design problem … but it is expensive. Cost of doing business.
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From: CA
11 ML550, 95 Supra TT, 14 Audi S4
Arnott keeps records of the purchaser. Or at least they did. My experience is from when I purchased directly from them, so maybe that's how it works. You could probably register your products purchased from a third party.
Edit: Arnott no longer provides free shipping for the returns. For the struts, shipping will be so costly there is little point to the warranty.
I wonder if Arnott made that change retroactive.
Edit: Arnott no longer provides free shipping for the returns. For the struts, shipping will be so costly there is little point to the warranty.
I wonder if Arnott made that change retroactive.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,746
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From: Emmett, ID, USA
2007 GL450
I just sent one back a couple of days ago. They didn't include a return label, although there should have been one per customer service. They emailed me one, which I used to return. I purchased directly from them many years ago, so maybe the policy has changed on newer purchases?
I will keep the Arnott struts around because of this return policy, but I already installed an AMK pump, selling the Arnott Chinesium replacement pump on Ebay, and have a couple of Bilstein rear bags on the shelf.
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Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 254
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From: Houston, TX
Mercedes Benz 2007 GL450 , 2012 BMW 528i
Arnott keeps records of the purchaser. Or at least they did. My experience is from when I purchased directly from them, so maybe that's how it works. You could probably register your products purchased from a third party.
Edit: Arnott no longer provides free shipping for the returns. For the struts, shipping will be so costly there is little point to the warranty.
I wonder if Arnott made that change retroactive.
Edit: Arnott no longer provides free shipping for the returns. For the struts, shipping will be so costly there is little point to the warranty.
I wonder if Arnott made that change retroactive.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 648
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From: Yeast Coast, Canada
GL550 X164
I received Bilstein struts from Rock Auto and an indy will do the work. I don't have a garage so in the Canadian cold I'm not even entertaining the idea of any kind of mechanical work.
I'll try Arnott to see if they'd be interested in my MB ADS front struts and rear shocks. Considering I paid $200 Can shipping for the Rock Auto purchase, I'm thinking Arnott are not interested in just buying cores unless I ship them. We shall see.
Side note. I'm impressed with the Rock Auto return process. One strut was not packed properly, missing the foam cap protecting the airline valve and the three threaded studs at the top. My guess is customs was careless in repacking it. The box had been opened, it was obvious. They shipped a replacement next day and paid for the return. I continue to be a fan of theirs.
Second side note. Buying from Rock Auto, I saved half compared to what the Canadian Bilstein distributor charges. Insane!
I'll try Arnott to see if they'd be interested in my MB ADS front struts and rear shocks. Considering I paid $200 Can shipping for the Rock Auto purchase, I'm thinking Arnott are not interested in just buying cores unless I ship them. We shall see.
Side note. I'm impressed with the Rock Auto return process. One strut was not packed properly, missing the foam cap protecting the airline valve and the three threaded studs at the top. My guess is customs was careless in repacking it. The box had been opened, it was obvious. They shipped a replacement next day and paid for the return. I continue to be a fan of theirs.
Second side note. Buying from Rock Auto, I saved half compared to what the Canadian Bilstein distributor charges. Insane!
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 648
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From: Yeast Coast, Canada
GL550 X164
Front struts replaced. Now that the beast is on 2 year old rear bags and shocks plus new front struts I can tell why replacing these all at once when buying a GL is a good idea, if their age is unknown. The car is as tight as I expected it to be from the beginning, but it never really was tight enough. It was a little sloppy in the front and if I can tell the difference in the ride, those struts were worn down well enough. Now the sleigh is ready for adventures again.
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 63
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From: Tampa, Fl
E 63 // Porsche 930 // Porsche 993
I just posted on the front bags. I think that MB screwed up on a design flaw that is conveniently costing us lots of money on front bag replacements. I just found out that the hood cowl valve drains right on the bag assembly and rusts it prematurely
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 648
Likes: 144
From: Yeast Coast, Canada
GL550 X164
Mine were equally dirty. I can't say that one side had more wear than the other, or had been exposed to more elements or stress or corrosion, visually. Any design flaw that may exist would be part amd parcel with the numerous others Mercedes has done nothing about on the x164. Unfortunately for us owners who have these old classic specimens.
