Groaning front shock mounts...replaceable w/o spring compressor?

[G-Benz]

Title says it all.

Awful groaning at the front when after going over large bumps...rubber mounts are visibly cracked.

Anybody performed this task? I remember some guy waiting with me at the service bay at the dealership, getting the same repair done to his daughter's 190E...told me they were going to charge him about $1000 to do it...sounds like a spring compressor type of repair to me...