1996 E320 Suspension
 

Hi everyone,

Just want to be sure; can anyone verify if my 1996 W210 E320 has springs all around or a combo of shocks/springs? I am going to have some suspension work done and while they are in there I am going to replace shocks (struts?) and springs. I know springs almost never wear out, but I can get a great deal on a package set. Thanks. Hiorshi

You have shocks and coil springs on all four corners. Itty bitty springs on the rear and great big ones up front. Get one knee dirty and take a look.......

Springs don't wear out too often; LCA bushings do though.

My shocks with a much heavier engine lasted 190K miles or so. OEM was Sach/Boge. Hard to beat those.

Thanks Terry. Actually I can't look, even on one knee. My car has been lowered and I have 19" rims so I can't see anything. Might also explain my front-end issues. Hiroshi

Wait for it....
 

:cool: Here it is more than a year later and I am still undecided on whether I want to do this suspension work myself. I am stalling for the usual reasons: money, time, etc. It doesn't seem like my cars' driving condition is worsening, but as you all know these problems just don't fix themselves.
Since my last post I brought the car in to MB just for a second opinion and they agreed with my indy mechanic: Front LCA, front lower ball joints and front/rear shocks. My guy can do it for about 2k parts/labor. MB was about 1k more of course.
I got access to a lift and basic tools at work, but I'm not sure if I would need any additional specialty tools for this job. I am also having no luck finding a shop repair manual for my 1996 E320.
I guess I am just looking for any addtional ideas or opinions about my project. In a previous post I have had guys say that suspension jobs are a nightmare and you are just better off paying for the labor and being done with it. But, that's like $900! As long as I have the right tools and instructions I am confident I can do this job.
Thanks. Hiroshi