Having owned a 1987 300TD for all of four days, I am in the process of learning about SLS systems. Lots of information on this forum, of course. The impetus for my research was my mechanic telling me that my right shock was leaking and finding out (from Sixto, that perennial bearer of bad news) that those shocks are $500 each!

I have no doubt that a properly working SLS is a wonderful thing. But I fear it could be horrendously expensive to maintain. For those of you who've had wagons over significant periods of time, what expenses have you incurred on these 25 year old systems?

I must confess, I am intrigued by the SLS conversion (air shocks), which has been discussed here. For a $179 kit, two hours of labor, and the ability to convert back to the stock system, that's a pretty attractive proposition....especially considering the potential cost of the alternative.

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 154k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 172k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

Accumulators and a hose were my expenses over 8 years. No way I'd go for a conversion kit.

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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 agree with Kerry.

The way sedans tend to sag when you put people in the back seat and/or anything bulky in the trunk - a wagon would be a real squatter without SLS.

I'm of half a mind to INSTALL an SLS system in my sedan... all the junk I keep in MY trunk.

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Codifex
1981 240D ChinaBlue (Got her running with a donor engine.)
1983 300DTurbo w/sunroof.
1984 300TD manual sunroof. (Electrical Gremlins)

Accumulators, used rear control valve and fluid over 7 years. Find a good used shock. How bad is the leak?

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1987 300TD 309, xxx 2.8.2014 10,000 mile OCI


Be careful of the toes you step on today, as they may be connected to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow. anonymous

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter won’t mind.” Dr. Seuss

I don't know as much about the w124 SLS but of the three w123 wagons I've had I would never go with a alternate system. If you have a grander bill for the SLS then alternate systems do look more appealing I must admit. Of course the bill is dependent on your time, your money and your skill.

I would ask the mechanic to confirm the shock was leaking, and to make sure it was not a leak from something else (hose, accumulator, fitting, leaky axle boot spraying oil, etc) making it look like a shock leaking. From what I have read here on the forum, the shocks often are the last thing to leak in the system, as they are pretty heavy duty. If it is the shock for sure, I am sure that you can get a good used one here in the classifieds or from a junkyard for much less than $500.
That being said, I have had my '85 for just over a year, and I have replaced the accumulators (very easy), rebuilt the control valve (easy), replaced the filter in the fluid reservoir (very easy), and flushed the system with new fluid (super easy). All in all, under $350 in parts, easy to do the work (even with basic tools), and I've had no problems so far.

Not sure yet....mechanic didn't elaborate.

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 154k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 172k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

Take off the rear wheel and just look for the leak yourself. Fluid all over everything is a bad leak.

Watch the level of the fluid in the reservoir to gauge if or how bad the leak is as well.

Your sig for this car says "will eventually sell". How will a bastard rear suspension affect the resale value?

gimme a message... I've got several 124 wagon parts.
the 124 sls valve has a 123 part number on it... anybody know if it's the same valve?
the accumulators are inside the car on the 124, I don't know if that makes it easier or harder to change, but it's additional information.
I have a leaking ram (the "shock" in an sls system is the accumulator) on one of my 124 wagons, and I will be swapping in a set from my 95 wagon parts car. I've already swapped the 95's subframe, so it'll be a homecoming of sorts...my other driver wagon, needs accumulators, the ride is bouncy over speed bumps, unlike my other wagon.
there are bushings on the linkage for the valve lever that wear and fail. mine is bad on one of the cars, and I need to change that.
oh, and the sls dipstick handle starts to crack after a while...

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Accumulators and fluid change during my ~6 years of 124.193 ownership. Accessing the accumulators from inside the car is no big deal. The screwheads that secure the covering over the accumulators are surprsingly well hidden in the carpet. And as always, the straight threads on the accumulator fittings are real fun to get started.