KevinJ

I was just searching on various forums and Google searches and came across these cool little videos from the Bilstein website.

They show a W220 S class having it's front and rear shocks replaced.

Couldn't find a link to this on here already so here we are :-

It's all very interesting this stuff, to me anyway.....!

http://www.bilstein.com/airmaticshockinstall/index.html

Thanks

vmystikilv

Very Nicely done. With all the tools and lifts it looks completely simple. I didnt even know bilstein made shocks for the S Class. There still cost 1300 bucks though.

samdon

I won't need to do this anytime soon I hope but the video certainly confirmed how easy this R&R really is.

My only question: I have heard others say that no height issues were apparent and they did not have to do anything to arrive at the desired ride height. The video showed the vehicle being (manually?) lowered until the before procedure height was attained. Did they use DAS to make this happen and is it necessary?


Sam

benz_addict

sweeeet thanks for sharing the link!

benz_addict

how can I save these videos just in case if the server goes down?

elmer212

I have a rebuilt Arnott Ind. rear strut just arrived and am ready to replace my old strut. If anyone can point me in the right direction of accessing the 3 nuts on the top of the rear strut, I would be much appreciated. Do you access it from the trunk. I can't seem to access it or find it from the back seat area. Thanks in advance.

Elmer

elmer212

Arnott strut somewhat installed. Will keep you posted.

W220HI

Updated link for the above link:

http://info.bilsteinus.com/mercedes/

Quadcammer

always a good video to have.

btw, has anybody replaced their OEM struts with the bilsteins?

if so, did you notice a difference?

MoeMonney

As far as I know the originalstruts are made by Bilstein. Arnott just released a new evolved version of the struts that they made in combination with bilstein USA. We are waiting for a set of new Arnott evolved struts to arrive. THey say the feel is the same.

purdiemerc

I am in the process of geting new struts for my 2000 S500 W220

12 months ago I asked if the Bilstein / Arnott units were adjustable via the dash for ride stiffness and was told No. There are people on EBay selling these and claiming complete OEM compatability.
Can anyone verify if Bilstein / Arnott Hybrids facilitate electrical adjustment of the ride stiffness as for True OEM Struts ?

Also if these are fully new units as per EBay claims why is there still a core deposite ?

see

http://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/e11050...AMOTORS%3A1123

Hope that link works

Thanks for any assistance

purdiemerc
Sydney
Australia

arnottdoug

The Bilstein / Arnott Shocks AS-2274 does bypass the adjustable ride via the dash. The Bilstein shocks have internal valving built in that will allow the shock to dampen from firm to soft accordingly. Since Bilstein shocks are generally sport driven shocks, they give the vehicle great handling and performance. Arnott's price is $915 (Less 10% is you use code MBSAVE12).

As for the core. The removal of the OEM shocks will be necessary so this is why we still charge a $100 core deposit for the shocks.

I took a look at the link and it’s hard to say if they are misrepresenting the parts.

If you have any questions feel free to contact Marvin at 800-251-8993 X 100.

MoeMonney

Its Ironic that i just left the Mercedes Shop with the Arnott Bistein Airmatic Struts and im reading this right now. I had to remove them and im sending them back to Arnott because they have a horrible knocking sound on both sides. The struts raise and lower but the sound is really loud especially over normal bumps. The Mercedes Master tech told me the shocks are causing the sound and that everything else in the rear suspension is fine. I thought they would be better than the remanufactured factory struts but as of now they are not. I called Arnott technical support and they told me that the Arnott Bilstein Shocks do not have Dampening and the factory ones do. Im considering swtiching to factory remanufactured struts this time. Any thoughts on this Marvin? Im going to call for an RMA number in an hour. Would it be possible to switch to remanufactured factory struts?


Thanks.
Charles

cmpcpro

Well I have been considering buying these struts, and I am sure glad I came in here.. nowhere on Arnott's site does it say these struts bypass the adjust switch.. if it does it's very well hidden.. I would be absolutely PISSED if I bought these and installed them only to find out I lost a feature like that.. Anyway, because I have been near ready to do this I just called Arnott. I first tried the extension you posted, for Marvin, and got no answer, than I went to the operator who sent me to somewhere else, no answer, then I spoke to someone who knew nothing about these and basically just started reading me from the website.. I got a little angry but stayed polite and asked to speak to someone who can answer this question, as he kept trying to insist that only the coil conversion would remove the feature. He puts me on hold and then comes back and says he can't get anyone from tech support and takes my number down..

Maybe it will be quicker and easier if I just ask here.. what does one have to do to retain the features that came with the car? Buy the rebuilt ones? Is that why they are pretty much the same price as the new ones? I was wondering what the reasoning behind that was..

Anyway, thanks for the help.

MoeMonney

Yes, the feature is taken away. Just got off the phone with Arnott. They are switching mine (Arnott version) to the remanufactured factory struts. The ones that Arnott Makes Auto-Dampen because they use Bilstein shocks that do it internaly. Either way. the Arnott Remanufactured struts are better than the factory struts because they dont leak.

cmpcpro

Update: Robert called me back very quickly and answered all of my questions perfectly.

cmpcpro

Yeah I am going to go with the same thing.. I would rather retain my car's features than loose them, especially for the same price.. they really need to put that fact on their website, I think it's wrong to sell a product to someone without telling them it's got a major difference like this..