Many folks are possibly confused by a supposed similarity with 740/760 Volvo wagons.

These cars simply have "Nivomats" in the place of regular shocks at the rear and indeed regular shocks can be mounted and that's all there is to it.

This isn't the case with Mercedes, which has leveling struts installed in the area where shocks are normally found and have accumulators that perform the function of shocks. The leveling action is accomplished by an oil pump and height sensor that pumps up/lets down the leveling struts.

"Nivomats" wear out at about the same rate as regular shocks. Mercedes'
leveling struts don't and are almost never replaced in pairs except by the ignorant or greedy. As noted above, it's the accumulators that require replacement.

In this--as in so many other ways--the difference between Volvo and Mercedes is apples/oranges, night/day, etc.

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Kent Christensen
Albuquerque
'07 GL320CDI, '10 CL550. '01 Porsche Boxster
Two BMW motorcycles