SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: Strut manufacturing change?
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 603
Likes: 2
From: Asheville, Atlanta
SL 65 AMG, Porsche 911 (993), 2014 Cayenne GTS, 2013 Toyota Highlander Limited
Strut manufacturing change?
I had a dealer service manager tell me that MB will be producing their own struts in the near future (after September availability) thereby reducing the costs for replacement for their ABC and Air systems?
Anyone else hear this or know about this?
Anyone else hear this or know about this?
Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 181
Likes: 15
From: Canada
SL55 AMG, Range Rover Evoque
No, but I am very interested to find out if they will do this, and reduce ABC replacement costs.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 314
Likes: 1
From: Malibu, Ca
SL65, 427 COBRA (CSX-3127)73 911S, 246GTS (DINO SPYDER), CORNICHE,1962 PORSCHE TWIN GRILLE ROADSTER+
Mercedes R230 Struts are made by Sachs a HUGE Shock Co. MB can't make for less!
Mercedes like all Automotive Manufacturers outsources probably 90% of the parts they use. All Automotive Manufactures design and assemble the vehicles but most parts come from outside sources. This has always been the case with MB shocks and struts that are sourced from several different companies like Bilstein, Sachs, Koni, Boge etc.
The reason the R230 struts are so expensive is because of the Mercedes mark-up on the parts and if you have an AMG there also is the huge AMG tax added to the price.
Thousands of Mercedes parts are available outside of the MB dealer network and usually cost half or sometimes less for the exact same part.
I recently bought a Mercedes SL65 front oil cooler (manufactured for MB by Behr) offered at the dealer for $345. I got one from IMC brand new in the Behr box for $112 thats is nearly 70% less then if I bought the same part from MB.
Unfortunately this so far is NOT the case with the R230 struts although I have seen the Mercedes V12 Coil Packs for the M275 engines being offered at $1,100 by outside sources. $1,100 is 40% less then what the MB dealer gets for the same part.
My long winded point is that Mercedes and MBUSA control the price of the parts. Your Mechanic is WRONG! Mercedes is not going into the strut manufacturing business to sell parts for a discontinued model... If MB wanted to offer the parts for less they could and would still make a hefty profit!
The reason the R230 struts are so expensive is because of the Mercedes mark-up on the parts and if you have an AMG there also is the huge AMG tax added to the price.
Thousands of Mercedes parts are available outside of the MB dealer network and usually cost half or sometimes less for the exact same part.
I recently bought a Mercedes SL65 front oil cooler (manufactured for MB by Behr) offered at the dealer for $345. I got one from IMC brand new in the Behr box for $112 thats is nearly 70% less then if I bought the same part from MB.
Unfortunately this so far is NOT the case with the R230 struts although I have seen the Mercedes V12 Coil Packs for the M275 engines being offered at $1,100 by outside sources. $1,100 is 40% less then what the MB dealer gets for the same part.
My long winded point is that Mercedes and MBUSA control the price of the parts. Your Mechanic is WRONG! Mercedes is not going into the strut manufacturing business to sell parts for a discontinued model... If MB wanted to offer the parts for less they could and would still make a hefty profit!
