StarvingArtist

I was wanting to have both my front shocks rebuilt. Arnott quoted $1119 with shipping. I did a quick search and found RMT rebuilt for $294 each plus $100 core. So I could roll the dice and maybe get a matched set with equal wear on the damping and save 300 bucks. Or $500 if they work out great and I turn in my cores. Seems like whenever I try to save money like that I end up wishing I had just stepped up to the pay window and got it right. Opinions? Experience? Coilovers are not an option because I like a low ride height and I live in Maine. Got to have that raise it up button.

cfmistry

Bahnstormer

I've had good luck with my Arnott replacements.
Saved me around $200 a piece over OEM units.

StarvingArtist

I hadn't thought of new ones! I thought they were $1000+ I'll check into that.

New arnotts aren't for me either, I don't want to lose sport 2 and active damping.

StarvingArtist

$900 on pelican parts. Each

Parts geek will sell me one for 650, but they don't actually have any.

cfmistry

StarvingArtist

Thanks, I'm dealing with the fronts because one leaks. I'll get to the rears next year. I just want to park it for the winter in working condition.

cfmistry

https://www.jcwhitney.com/details/Bi...B&gclsrc=aw.ds

$591 each, plus an additional 10% off. They say they have them in stock but who knows.

Not pushing you into the OEM parts, since so many on here are happy with the Arnotts. But when my time came, I wanted something I could trust for another 60k miles.

StarvingArtist

Hey, that's great thanks! If I'm going to spend that much, new is great. I've got 12 years and 130,000 miles on these. I hit a pothole that took out two tires, and my strut started leaking

So new for 1200 or rebuilt for about 600 with a lifetime warranty. Hmmmmm...

lseguy

in the end, I wanted to retain my OEM compression/rebound as well as functionality of the three suspension settings (Comfort, Sport, Sport 2). And I wanted lifetime warranty.

So, I went with new OEM Bilsteins from FCP.

FYI: on ebay you can get ~$300 or more for a non leaking front W211 E55 airstrut...and other places will buy your OEM leaking one for $50 to $80...Those amouints offset the costs of replacements.

StarvingArtist

I looked at FCP. 700, but they say rebuilt in lighter print. Thanks for the info on the leftovers. I thought cores were worth a hundred?

Don't think i want to stick anyone with my non leaker. It is too close to the end of it's life.

lseguy

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/mer...44-143664#desc

where does it say rebuilt?

also, I believe FCP price matches...but Im not 100% certain the FCP Bilstein in the link is exact same as the JC Whitney Bilstein in their link...

StarvingArtist

Down under CLS55 AMG
Right front remanufactured.
As far as I know, nobody messes with the fluid damper part. If it still works, they put new rubber on.

FunkTron

Why would you lose this?

lseguy

lseguy

gjunon

I used RMT shocks and they worked out great.

StarvingArtist

It came up when I looked. They don't make it obvious, You have to really look. The print is always faded and inconspicuous. I thought they were new ones too until I read every word. I just clicked on the link again, and it's in bold print under product details.

StarvingArtist

Hey, thanks a lot you guys! This really helped me find and sort out my options. It would NEVER have occurred to me to check jc whitney, but that is what I'm leaning towards.

lseguy

suggestion..ask FCP to match JC's price. If they do, you get the lower price and lifetime warranty

FunkTron

I have Arnotts on my cls.......the height is controlled by the little height sensor arm and the air block.
The arm detects the height and the air block releases air or allows air to flow in to adjust the height of the shock accordingly.

The 3 programs are controlled by the ECU....that's why you can change height values with STAR.

lseguy

Yes, Arnott rebuilts can do that.
Arnott new airmatic struts dont recognize when you press the shock button by the shifter, nor do the new ones have adaptive suspension control enabled

StarvingArtist

I was just looking at the strut. It looks easy to get to the air bladder. If I could buy it, I wonder if I could replace it myself. There is nothing else wrong with the struts but that one piece of rubber. How would you even find a rebuild part like that though? Anybody out there got connections?

E55Greasemonkey

I took mine off and sent them to RMT for rebuild, so no core charges. They sent them back the next day, no problems since and it's been a couple years. Only complaint is they send them "signature required" for delivery- I wasn't told that and wasn't at home so had to drive 40 minutes to fedex to get them (it was a Friday night and I wanted to get them installed that weekend)

StarvingArtist

Thanks, I'll look into them. Arnott told me 3 weeks, but for what they charge, I'm within reach of new ones.

I'm really liking the idea of just changing the air springs myself. It's the only significant thing they can do in a rebuild anyway. They likely change the bellows and the aluminum cover to make it look pretty and new, Maybe even paint it. My shocks already look good, they just need that one new piece of rubber. I'm going to pull the cover off today and see what it looks like. Then we'll see how good google really is. 11 million choices in a tenth of a second and all that.

If anybody has any ideas on how to find that part....