Rest easy, your money most likely wasn't wasted on new accumulators. You did say the fluid was foamy...good sign of a blown diaphram, by blown I don't necessarily mean ruptured but allowing the nitrogen to pass through. The foam was most likely from the nitrogen.

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.