Quote:
Originally Posted by bhatt
I had one front spring broken on my 1992 500SEL and didn't even know it. I even towed a 2000lb boat with the car before I found out it had been broken all along.
Mechanic showed me the spring (it was definitely broken) but the ride height problem wasn't visible to the naked eye, either before or after the repair. I'm sure it was different - don't get me wrong - but I just couldn't see it by looking casually at the car (it didn't lean in any direction).
The amazing thing is, the car handled just fine before I had the spring replaced! Even while towing a boat, I didn't notice a difference.
So definitely look at your front springs. I was told this is a very common occurrence with older W140's because they are so heavy.. don't know if it's absolutely true, but it sounds quite logical to me.
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Weight on the 140 is a plus and a minus. Most of the issues I have had with my suspension are "crushed" and flattened bushings. But all that weight makes a car that feels great and is rock solid on the road.
My Car is a 99 model and the only thing left for me to replace on my suspension are some bushings in the rear that I have not even started to hear yet that my mechanic indicates should eventually be replaced. I have done my front swaybar bushings and my front liquid filled joints. New brakes and rotors all the way around and new wheel bearings and new Continental tires. The car drives like its on rails.
An interesting bit of trivia on the 140. When it was discontinued for the 220 they started at the same time production of the 240 chassis car. That car is also known as the Maybach and is based on the 140 design with some modifications. Mercedes also obviously loved the 140 as much as we do because they used it as the basis of their world class supercar.