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  #16  
Old 12-07-2001, 09:55 PM
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Poorly maintained MBs can be a real pain in the butt -- defered maintenance is expensive, particularly the little stuff. The main reason I do my own work, couldn't afford one otherwise.

Don't forget, though, the longevity -- my 220D is thirty years old, and if it had been maintained properly, would still run well -- it "only" has about 160,000 miles on it! Other than a few worn things (tie rod end, flex disk), the 300TE drives pretty much like new.

Germans take a different approach to automobiles and auto upkeep -- they feel it appropriate to replace things on a regular basis Americans want to last "the lifetime of the car" -- or 5 years, 100,000 miles. Flex disk every 60,000, valves every 160,000, etc. Difference in philosophy. For sure the MB will, properly taken care of, last 30 years. American and Japanese cars don't.

Peter

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  #17  
Old 12-07-2001, 10:01 PM
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I personally don't like KYB shocks. They are very stiff, and not very responsive on my Celica GTS. They also seemed to get more stiff with time, not less, (?) eventually feeling like sections of re-bar were welded where the shocks belong. The replacement KYBs that were put on are not much better, IMHO. I won't be getting them again.
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  #18  
Old 12-07-2001, 11:50 PM
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I just went through this whole ordeal myself with my '91 300E. I ALMOST went with the Sportline suspension but since my E had 200,000 miles on it, I didn't think it would be worth it.

My shocks were sagging so bad the car had a lowered look to it -- looked really nice so I decided I wanted to keep that look.

What I did was purchased Bilstein comforts all the way around and 4 OEM springs. The cost shipped was about $500 with 2 new front strut mounts, strut boots,strut bumper stops, and sping pads.

I personally put the shocks/struts on (VERY easy job) but had trouble compressing the springs because they were sagging so bad. (I was using a spring compressor that I bought from JC Whitney, that compresses inside the spring -- when the coils are real close together like mine were, it's almost impossible to work inside of there and compress it properly -- I needed the "plate" compressor that most MB shops use and that you can rent for a measly $90 from Performance Products)

So I had Pep Boys replace the springs for a very decent price.

To get the lowered look, I switched from 3 bump spring pads up front, down to 2, and from 2 down to 1 in the rear.

Rides just like new now, and it was the best $600 I spent on my E yet. Suspension wears so gradually over time that you don't realize how far it has worn until you find your car bottoming out over trivial bumps. It took about 3 months for the new suspension to wear/settle in and now it rides like a charm.

Good luck!

~Paul
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  #19  
Old 12-12-2001, 12:39 AM
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Okay.... you guys won out. I ended up buying Bilstein sport shocks and struts all around. I'll have it installed tomorrow... can't wait to drive the car afterwards.

Would like to thank Dennis_300E and Mr. Hidalgo for their differential mount tips.

Next up.... ignition switch.
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  #20  
Old 12-12-2001, 12:40 AM
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Oh, super big thanks to Fastlane Phil.... You Da Man!
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  #21  
Old 12-12-2001, 12:54 AM
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Let us know how you like the sport shocks, I am dying to know a sI plan on doing them in my car.

Alon
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  #22  
Old 12-12-2001, 05:37 AM
Mattman
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If you have stiffer springs then you should ensure that you match the springs with appropriate shocks. Stiffer rates alter the shocks loadings and don't allow standard valved shocks to provide the right sort of damping on heavier springs. If you can replace the flex discs then you should be able to swap the shocks yourself. Save on the install and get good quality shocks. As everyone has said do the job once.
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  #23  
Old 12-12-2001, 10:25 AM
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I don't exactly know the spring rate on the H&R springs in the car. I am assuming that they have a lower progressive rate, since the car rides softly.
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  #24  
Old 12-12-2001, 01:55 PM
Robert Boyer
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Don't - and I mean DON'T - get the Gabriels. They are $20 shocks, and you get what you paid for.

I put them on last spring - and got new Bilsteins within a months after that.

They destroy the ride of the car.

Take my advice. Please.
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  #25  
Old 12-12-2001, 02:08 PM
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Thanks, Robert. It's already done... I mean not getting the Gabriels. Like I said earlier, I got Bilstein Sport shocks instead (they're sitting in the back of my car now). I have H&R springs and I was told that the sport shocks are the way to go. Now it's just a question on who'd do the installation... I'm too lazy to do it now.
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  #26  
Old 12-13-2001, 12:07 AM
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MAN! What's up with these shops?

I called an independent MB shop and they quoted $500 for shock/strut installation. I tried the local dealership and they quoted the same thing.

I looked at the shocks/struts and it doesn't seem that hard to replace them at all. I also did some searches here and although I didn't find any thread that discusses the replacement in detail, a lot of people have said that it isn't hard at all.

So tomorrow, I begin installation. I'll keep you posted with my progress, and maybe I'll do a write-up afterwards.
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  #27  
Old 01-30-2002, 12:56 AM
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I started another thread regarding the installation, and I looked back at the comments I made on my original post. I was reminded and shocked at how much the local dealership and this European car shop was asking for the installation. Definitely unreasonable and beyond fair. Thanks again to Phil from Mercedes Shop for his help and unbelievable prices, and everyone else on this forum for steering me in the right direction.
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  #28  
Old 01-31-2002, 01:04 AM
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Do not have your Benz serviced at PepBoys. Buy Bilstiens or Boge units and have a Mercedes mechanic install them. Take my advice. Gabriel shocks are complete junk and will not perform to your satisfaction. You may also need strut mounts or other repairs that some Pep Boys dufus would not recognize.
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  #29  
Old 01-31-2002, 10:48 AM
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Thanks, JDUB. I did the installation of Bilstein Sport struts and shocks myself (H&R springs were already installed on the car). I didn't find it necessary to compress the springs to install the absorbers. It took me a little less than 2 hours to perform. Like I've mentioned in the previous post, I was shocked at how easy it was to do, and a little miffed that "shops" charge $500 just the installation.
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  #30  
Old 01-31-2002, 11:44 AM
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That's awesome squid - glad to hear it went well! How do you like the feel of the sport version?

Though a little late for advice, I had a friend try Gabriel's on his '74 240D and that car trashed the Gabriel's: in little over a week they were leaking and very bouncy - felt worse than the orginal bad ones he was replacing!

Even though the '74 240D and your '89 Coupe are very different cars, the Gabriel's just aren't robust enough for heavier Benz's I think.

Regards,
- Ryan

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