If you look at the larger image from here:
http://catalog.eautopartscatalog.com/mercedesshop/sophio/quote.jsp?clientid=catalog.mercedesshop&cookieid=2150Y71P221613BC0J&baseurl=http://catalog.peachparts.com/&partner=mercedesshop&year=1983&product=L4000-16058&application=000043914

I'd say that there was only about 1/4 of the plastic covering remaining on the outside of the part. That's the only way I can think to describe it.

They must have used a hammer for removal.

Good luc

__________________
1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

I don't follow.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

I'm be inclined to tell him to re-install the parts, make the car functional, and get it out of there. If the damage is just to the external plastic cover, there's no reason for him not to put them back on.
I don't think there's much hope of any negotiation at this point. I think taking a lawyer today may have just inflamed the situation.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

So...the question is, why can't or won't he put back on the old parts? Just to make me pay for things? I'm just trying to figure out what he has to gain in all this, since he's only making me pay the original labor that he would have charged to put on the wrong shocks.

But, I guess if I tell him to put the old shocks back on then he'd expect me to pay labor for doing that.

What's going to happen to the car if he does put the old/leaking parts back on? It should just be back to the way it was before (SLS not functioning), right?

I thought that you were saying that jallgire was responsible for the bill to fix the damage the shop caused.

__________________
1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

If those plastic parts are not vital to the function of the shock (I'm not familiar with the SLS) then yes. I still don't think you should have to pay a dime, but it may be worth it to pay to have them re-assemble it just to get the car back. You can always take them to small claims court for the labor cost and parts cost. Guess you pulled out the lawyer "big gun" too soon.

__________________
1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

The only reason I can think of why he wouldn't put them back on because he doesn't understand how the system works and thinks that the shocks themselves were the cause of the low rear end.
I've seen no reason to think the SLS is not functioning. You said the back end was low, but this doesn't mean the SLS is not functioning, it could simply mean it is adjusted too low or was out of fluid, etc. If the system was not functioning you would have a VERY harsh ride or constant bouncing in the rear end. You didn't mention either of these symptoms.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

I meant, that should be said to the shop owner.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

No, I didn't have the harsh ride or constant bouncing. (I don't think it was harsh)

Rear end was low, but that was the main symptom.

Hmmmm...I wonder if it's possible to get him to change things at this point and put on the old part. This afternoon, I authorized him to put on the new parts but he said that wouldn't be happening until Thursday. I'm in agreement with what some of you are saying, that he doesn't understand the system very well and that's why he doesn't want to put the old parts back on.

Essentially, if these parts aren't working, then there's no shock absorption aside from the springs -- right? So, that's going to put wear and tear on the springs. But what else do I need to worry about?

Add to all of this the fact that it looks like I need to get to the airport sometime in the next couple of days to fly from Detroit to Miami for a job interview! At least I'm so stressed about the car that I can't get nervous about the interview!!! *laugh*

I look at it like this, and I hope it helps. If the owner of the shop said he could do the "job"- then he indicated his shop has the capacity and the capability to do the job. Breaking the shocks while removing them show right off the bat that this is not true. However, he can claim that the shocks were that way before he touched the car, and it would then be up to you to prove otherwise. Can you do so with photo's? I doubt it, so this can only be used to assist other points. What did he say he was going to do, exactly? Fix the problem- or remove and replace the rear shocks? Fixing the problem is going to be hard to prove- and that is always a ongoing issue. He can say that once he found this it meant he had to fix that also and then one more thing and then one more thing etc. One thing leads to another- and this will go the shops way. R&R the shocks is also going the shops way- he can replace the shocks with any shocks and then he did what he said he would do. I'd call the BBB right now, and get a last deal in your head to propose to him. If he does not take it walk out and get the lawyer back in there and you stay outside. Dont bother talking with the guy at all. You cant bring an attorney into the confrontation and then get involved yourself, once you bring them in, you have to get out and let them deal. He screwed up by taking on a job he did not know how to start or finish. Pay if you have to by visa/mc and dispute. Take him to small claims. Document EVERYTHING. Find a MB indie who knows what he is doing.

Actually, it is very misleading to call these things shock absorbers. They don't actually provide any shock absorption. The shock absorption is provided by another component of the system called an accumulator. There are two, one associated with each 'shock' (hydropneumatic cylinder). The hydropneumatic cylinder is what determines the correct ride height and the accumulators provide the shock absorption.
As long as there was some 'bounce' in your rear end, but not too much, the system was working, just not at the correct height. If there was no bounce or too much bounce, the system would not be working but the cause would most likely be bad accumulators, not bad hydropneumatic cylinders.

Did the owner show you why he thought the 'shocks' were bad when you looked at them? So far I see absolutely no evidence of a bad system apart from the fact that the ride height was out of adjustment.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

I dont doubt believe you have SLS problems, but you are also a new MB owner, and a new wagon owner. So I gotta ask:

How do you know the ride was low? Because it look low? Did you measure it against other properly riding wagons? Because the body rubbing on the tires?

Neither you or him know if these parts are not functioning properly. The wagon SLS system is a interactive system of parts that show a variety of problems if one part is not functioning - and the solution could be any number of things.

If you really really need rear "shocks" and are coming to south florida, I could pull the "shocks" off a junkyard wagon here and you could take them back. They dont go bad often. I rather not however- it's not a fun job pulling them, and I dont always have the free time to do so.

I think/know it was low b/c when I took the car in a week or so ago, they almost scraped the exhaust on the ground when they drove up on it.

I thought it had been looking lower than when I first got the car and compared it to pictures from when it purchased it. The back end was riding several inches lower than in the pictures. No, I don't believe the tires were rubbing.

When I was at the shop this afternoon, the owner showed me one of the parts that he took off.

He held one end in each hand and slid the pieces apart and then back together several times. He said "if this was working properly, I wouldn't be able to do this by hand". As I said before, it was also clear that the plastic casing was broken, but I'm not sure how important that is b/c I honestly understand how this part operates.