99 E320 wagon; can I convert to standard shocks?
 

I have a faulty self leveling system. Mechanic says it just the accumulators. I haven't actually see under the car to ascertain if the shocks are leaking, but I am wondering if I should just cap the system and throw some standard shocks on.

Possible? Thought?

Thanks,.

Doug

The nitrogen balls are not that expensive to replace. I'd fix it properly.

-Jason

I agree, I dont think that would be to hard, or expensive but if the components will continue to fail, just wondering if I would be better off bypassing.

The car has 105K miles on it now.

As I understand it if you flush out the mineral oil every couple of years things will last a good long time.

-Jason

I inspected it, shocks not leaking, no fluid visible on accumulators, DEFINETELY something leaking near the rear diff.

Had Mercedes made a version of this car with conventional shock absorbers, it would have fitted VERY different coil springs to correspond. What you have are NOT shock absorbers but load levelers. In fact, the only part of your system acting as "shock absorber" is the accumulators.

I looked again and looks like the actual valve is leaking. Would just the leak cause the failure?