Pmanc

Hi, just a question I recently changed my left rear airbag with bilstein. At the time the other side was fine now the right side is dropping. Why is that? I only changed them 3 years ago. The new air shock was installed last week. My truck is a GL450 2012

Max Blast

Because high pressure air always finds the weakest point, which is your oldest airbag. 3-5 yrs is expected service life.

rapidoxidation

Like headlamps, replace 'em in pairs.

Pmanc

I’m going to get them replaced with bilstein. My mechanic quoted me around 1100. I’m assuming the dealer would be much more expensive.

Max Blast

Yes, but can’t you do it yourself?
DIY this at parts cost, around half of what your Indy quoted.

texas008

Arnott rear airbag is about $150 each at rockauto.com, they last about 6 year 50k miles on my GL450.
It is pretty easy to replace the rear airbags DIY. or a mobile mechanic or indy shop might charge $90 each to replace the rear airbag.

BlackML550

Look also at FCP Euro in addition to Rock Auto as mentioned. $1,100 for two rear bags sounds VERY expensive. They are DIY and would take a novice mechanic about 45 minutes each side (that's what it took me). A professional with a hoist could probably do both within 45 minutes.

Max Blast

We’re making a whole lot of assumptions here, but if OP is of sound body and reasonable mind this is a DIY done with a jack and two jack stands in a driveway in about 45 minutes a side, plus parts cost of ~$300 ish.

(if you don’t run into compound problems such as prior owners or mechanic having cut the air lines short)

plus there is unclear language as to if the $1100 is for the one remaining rear airbag (highway robbery) or the remaining three (not so bad)

The fronts are also diy if you replace the whole strut. If not, it gets advanced.

BlownV8

Took me around 15 minutes per side and that was the first time I had done the work. It's probably the easiest DIY on the GL other than changing the taillight bulbs.