I dont know how useful my reply will be, since I have an 8V, but I did exactly what you described in that same chronological order, and I was able to get my springs out...Mind you, I had to kind of pry them out of the control arm with a long, metal pipe, but this was after the spring was mostly uncompressed, save for the side facing the engine bay, wich kind of stays slightly compressed and mounted. Try at your own risk, but I was tired of all local shops telling me that they cant "work on Mercedes" and not wanting to do it, plus that long compressor wait kind of motivated me to just go ahead and try my luck. My car looks so hot now, sittin low like that!!!!!