can 500E self-leveling system be bypassed?

[tom woolner]

I am in the process of purchasing a 92 500E from a lot whichspecializes in refurbishing BMWs. The last item to be dealt with is the rear suspension. The owner is balking at replacing the rear shocks, which he says are making an internal noise, with self-leveling shocks. He would prefer to bypass the system, if possible, and put regular shocks in.
!) Is this possible? If so,what are the ramifications? Can it be restored at a later date?
2) What is the savings?
Another possibility is for me to pay the difference. How important is the self-leveling feature?

TIA

Tom

[MikeTangas]

I say spring the $100-$150 for a good PPI, find out what is wrong with the self leveling system. Might simply be shock bushings, might be accumulators, neither one is truely expensive to repair. If the shocks themselves need to be replaced, then the price jumps significantly. With the rarity of the 500E I personally would be inclined to keep it original.

[daddiojiggy]

i have a 140 and also have noise coming from the bushing to the rear subframe.i was told to replace the shocks but if it's possible to replace bushings i'd like all available info,please

[MikeTangas]

Job #32-610 in the W126 manual clearly shows that the upper end of the leveling strut has two bushings. These appear to be similar to the rubber bushings you'd find on any standard shock absorber where you have two rubber donuts that the shock shaft passes through. One is situated above and one below the mounting plate. The leveling strut would have to be removed in order to replace the bushing. The job lists specific part numbers for the upper and the lower bushings, which leads one to believe the bushing are replaceable without replacing the entire strut.

I have no idea how close this info is for a W140, but should be similar enough for the W124's.