I am a new member, so bear with me please.

I have a 1985 500SEL with 125000 miles.

Have replaced all the shocks with new Bilsteins.

COULD I HAVE THE WRONG SHOCKS< IF SO HOW DO I TELL?

The car still rides very "hard" and "hits" a bump as if no shocks at all.

Also the front end makes a terrible rattle when it hits the least bit of bump.


I thinke the "sway bar" in front, if thats what it is called and the attached components may be bad.


Beliebve it or not I have been a machinist/mechanic for years but know absolutely nothing about front end suspension.


What and how do I check these components? Also who has the best shop "manuel, not CD" for this model. Are any factory manuels still left??


ANY help would be appreciated.

Also my son in law has a 85 500 sel for sell for $3000, great shape, 100000 miles, good deal??


Thanks to All

John1

If this is a US-spec car, it should have hydraulic struts in the rear, not regular Bilstein shock absorbers. If the ride is stiff, it's most likely that the accumulators that work with the hydraulic struts need replacement. If it has shocks all around, maybe it's a gray market car or someone modified the rear suspension to accept conventional shocks in the rear. Still, it's common to hear of MBs with hydraulic suspension failing in a manner that results in a very stiff ride. Conversely, I've never heard of conventional shock absorbers failing in a way that results in a stiff ride. If someone charged you for rear Bilstein shocks, you have some investigating to do.

There are a lot of bushings in the front suspension. Better have it checked by someone who knows or you'll be throwing money away changing parts one at a time.

The factory shop manual is the only comprehensive guide to these cars. They're only available on CD now but you can get printed copies from automotive book sellers and eBay. Expect to pay upwards of $200 for the chassis, engine and AC volumes in good condition. Your first stop should be the search button at the top of the page.

Who says the $3000 500SEL is in great shape? If that's the opinion of a knowledgeable MB indpendent tech, then it's probably a good deal. If that's the opinion of the seller or the tech at Goodyear Auto Center, then it's a questionable deal.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

Thanks for the reply.

This is in fact a "Gray Market" Car.

If I understand you, then it should have "regular" bilsteins, right?

Thanks
John1

I wasn't clear. No US-spec 500SEL came with regular shocks in the rear. A Non US-spec 500SEL might have regular shocks in the rear but I've never seen such a car. But then, who am I?

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

Sixto,
I don't know anything except my 84 500SEL has rear shocks and springs an NO hydrolics.
It is a US Spec car and shows no signs of any modification. The engine doesn't have the pump but instead has a block/off plate where the pump would be if it had the option. My car rides great unless you hit something like a pot hole or something similar, then it feels as if it has no springs or shocks at all.

__________________
84 500 SEL (307,xxx miles)

My bad. I guess the 500SEL came with shocks and the 560SEL came with leveling struts. Maybe it was the gray market 500s that had leveling suspension. So much for my memory.

John1, maybe you have Bilstein Sport or HD shocks which are considerably stiffer than the originals.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

John1,

As far as I know, all the Euro 1985 500SEL had the hydroneumatic rear suspension. To find out if yours has it, just pop the hood open and you'll see a yellow reservoir in the front, right hand side, just next to the radiator. If you see this, then you have the aforementioned self-leveling rear suspension, and I believe the entire setup of that suspension is completely different. I don't know any technical details of it, but you'll probably find enough at the link below.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=104610

Good luck,

Richard

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1999 Mercedes-Benz S600, 103K miles - garage queen
1988 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL, 89K miles - daily driver
2007 Hyundai Sonata Limited, 31K - daily driver