Hi,
I have a 95 wagon and a bouncy problem!
It is awfully easy to press the back of the car down and then to make it bounce continously. Also, when pressing and releasing it bounces up, overshooting its rest position, then down below rest and then back up to rest. In summary it seems very soft and this is particularly the case when driving. One feels every bump, becasue the car bounces around. I can also press the cars nose down easily and alarmingly far.

However, nothing is leaking, front or back and technicians report normal pressures in the self leveling system. I owned an 88 300TE for 3 yrs and 30K+ miles. Loaded it like a packhorse and it was unflappable. Used to drive at 80mph with so much load that could not see out of the rear window. My 95 (Starmarked, 44K miles) makes me positively uneasy on the highway and seems to lose touch with the road around corners (have 7mth baby- therefore drive civily).

Any ideas as to what is going on? Specifically,

1 Can front shocks be nearing end of servce life even though they are not leaking? How would you determine this?

2 How can you dtermine if accumulators in self leveling are failing?

Thanks in advance

farrukh

Just replace the rear accumulators and your problems will be solved.

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Benzmac:
Donnie Drummonds
300E
ASE CERTIFIED MASTER AUTO TECHNICIAN
MERCEDES SPECIALIST 8 YRS
PARTNER IN MERCEDESSHOP.COM
OWNER OF MB AUTOWERKS .COM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Benzmac:
[B]Just replace the rear accumulators and your problems will be solved.

Benzmac, I understand that the accumulators might be the culprits. But I would like to learn more about why they might be the culprits. Also, what indications, both absolute (ie determined through actual tests) and subjective, prove that the accumulators are failing.

The reason I ask is that the car is Starmarked and my dealer says nothing is wrong. Hes checked pressures in the self leveling and road tested the car. I strongly disagree. I would shoot an engineer who worked for me and insisted that an shock damping profile should like the one my E320 displays.
Thanks
farrukh

He checked the pressure in the leveling system? If indeed that was done (I was not aware it could be done), I doubt it would show a faulty accumulator but rather just that the pump was working up to spec.

I agree with Benzmac; although it's kinda soon (I've still got the original accumulators in my '88 wagon w/ 165k mi) they may very well be played. And if it solves the problem, I can't imagine Starmark not taking care of it.

Having the accumulators go would denigrate the control of your entire car...even if the fronts are fine, any extra motion in the rear would get the whole car "porpoising", or rocking back & forth.

Keep us posted amigo...I really hope this solves your dilemma.

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All the best, Michael
500E
300TE