On my SL, R230 the ball joint on the upper front right side a arm/control arm is worn so i have to replace it.

Off course it is the old type a arm/control arm with a pressed ball joint on my car so i will have to replace the upper a arm/control arm with the upgraded type where the ball joint sit with 3 bolts and nuts.

I checked the price for a new original Mercedes a arm/control arm and jeez what a price. So exphensive that i will not buy a original one.

Here is what i wonder about and need some advice.

I can buy a used original a arm/control arm that have the ball joint fastened with 3 bolts on ebay and then i will have to press out the old busings and press in new ones and replace the ball joint.

Or i can buy a non original one that is much, much cheaper that comes with new bushings pressed in and also a new ball joint bolted in place.
Of the non original a arms/control arm i have found a couple from Delphi and from Meyle and i have heard of these 2 brands before.

I was hoping to find a Febi-Bilstein upper a arm/control arm but i only found the lower one for the SL, R230 so it looks like i can forget about finding Febi-Bilstein made a arms/control arms. If they make the upper i do not know.

Would you buy a used original one and replace the bushings and ball joint or buy the ready non original a arm/control arm?

Used original Mercedes SL, R230 A arm/Control arm




Reproduction upper front A arm/Control arm

 

I don't believe that the bushings are replaceable or available. Buy aftermarket control arms, but make sure that you get the correct ones. The E-Class shared most of the front suspension with the SL, but the SL upper control arms are narrower. Several companies have miscataloged E-Class arms as fitting SLs, but they do not. As far as I know, Delphi does not make an arm for the SL.

 

I saw that they wrote that the upper control arms fit both the Sl, R230 class and they also wrote the E, W211 and CLS, 219 class.

So they do fit? Most of the replacement control arms i looked at had the text that they fit the Sl, R230 class and they also wrote the E, W211 and CLS, 219 class.

I found another brand that i have heard of that makes the upper control arms for SL, R230 and they are called Meyle. From what i have heard Meyle is supposed to be quality.

It say that the Meyle control upper front fit the following Mercedes:
SL, R230, CLS, W219 _ E, W211

Original Meyle control arm wheel suspension 016 050 0070 for Mercedes-Benz

 

I don’t believe that’s the case, I believe the 230 has specific ones. I have found this problem with w203 and 209 front wheel bearings which are not correct across the whole internet parts suppliers. Seems once somebody lists these, everyone does the same.

 

Impossible to fit both the E and the SL. The Delphi TC1490/91 do not fit SL and Delphi has changed their application information at my request. I am 99% sure that the Meyle arms are also incorrect.

 

I don't believe that the bushings are replaceable or available...

This is right, look at the design of the bushings. You will have to, as we say down here, cop it sweet. But this is one of the most expensive front end parts on the R230, the rest of the wear items are not nearly so painful.
Here are some notes I made for myself as I am going to do the whole front end soon. Take a close look at all your other bushings and ball joints - it may be false economy not do do the entire front end at a sitting.

UCA Each MER-2303302507 Genuine FCP Euro 2 $344.99 $689.98
UCA ball joint Pair KIT-516431 Lemforder FCP Euro 1 $69.78 $69.78
LCA bushings Each LEM-2872901 Lemforder FCP Euro 2 $35.99 $71.98
LCA ball joint Pair KIT-W211LBJK1 Lemforder FCP Euro 1 $45.78 $45.78
Tie rod service kit Each KIT-21154 Lemforder FCP Euro 1 $169.94 $169.94
Strut ball joint Pair eBay
Strut boot Four Chinese Chinese eBay 1 $92.00 $92.00
Ball joint remove/install press Each eBay eBay Generic 1 $98.00 $79.00

 

Those prices are $AUD.

 

For everone here on the forum i can tell you you: Never buy aftermarked Delphi TC1491 upper A arms/control arms because they will not fit any Mercedes SL R230 class.

My car have the old style upper a arms with pressed in ball joints so i have to replace the upper A arms/control arm on the right side front.

Before i ordered the reproduction A arm/control arm i was in doubt and thought a lot if i should buy it or buy the original A arm/control arm that Mercedes have in stock, that i know will fit my car.

How i regret not buying the original one in the first place.
The fact that i was told here on the forum by a member saying they had heard the aftermarked control arms would not fit if it says it fit the CLS and E class

Now i had to take off the original A arm/control arm and put this old control arm back in place on the car since the reproduction A arm/control arm was not even close to fit the car.


The price for a reproduction A arm/control arm is below 110 euro while the original Mercedes A arm/control arm is about 550 - 650 euro here where i live.

I even checked the price for a new original control arm at Mercedes Hamburg, Germany and even there it was 450 euro`s.


I bought a Delphi TC1491 upper A arms/control arm that the part store guaranteed would fit my car. It even listed the OEM part number A 230 330 26 07 on their homepage.
I also got an email from the web shops tech department that the A arm/control arm will fit my SL, R230

The problem is that the aftermarked A arms/control arm is way to wide to fit the car. They are to wide where they bolt on to the car

The original upper A arm/control arm is shown on the first picture and a reproduction A arm/control arm is shown on the second picture.

So now i will have to get hold of a original Mercedes Arm/control arm first thin monday morning.

The aftermarked A arm/control arm are much wider. See the blue line



Original Mercedes upper A arm/control arm





The reproduction A arms/control arms are way to wide where the blue line is on the picture

 

Here is a picture of the reproduction Delphi control arm placed on top of the original SL R230 upper control arm. You can see the Delphi control arm is much wider

 

Tom - If only the upper ball joint in the upper control arm is bad, is that part replaceable on the original R230 UCA? FCP Euro has Lemforder part 516431. Thanks Socks