Indy just quoted this to me for diagnosing and replacing the rear nitrogen spheres on my E320 wagon. Seems fair but wanted to get other opinions. All I know is it HAS to ride better after the fix! Feels like a stiff suspension on a sports car. This AIN'T no sports car! Thanks guys...

EDIT: Brand is "Cortega"

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Dale

By my way of thinking that is a little high.
If you are inclined to DIY, here are parts that may be applicable:

This is from my ad in For Sale:

Three good accumulators #123 320 0215
These are holding pressure, and the diaphragms move smoothly.
$50. ea.

124 wagons are easily the worst ones to do that job on, the quote seems in line to me.

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90 300TE 4-M
Turbo 103, T3/T04E 50 trim
T04B cover .60 AR
Stage 3 turbine .63 AR
A2W I/C, 40 LB/HR
MS2E, 60-2 Direct Coil Control
3" Exh, AEM W/B O2
Underdrive Alt. and P/S Pulleys,
Vented Rear Discs, .034 Booster.
3.07 diffs 1st Gear Start

90 300CE 104.980
Milled & ported head, 10.3:1 compression
197° intake cam w/20° advancer
Tuned CIS ECU
4° ignition advance
PCS TCM2000, built 722.6
600W networked suction fan
Sportline sway bars
V8 rear subframe, Quaife ATB 3.06 diff

Frank, I appreciate the idea of DIY for many maintenance items on these great cars however...this just didn't appeal to me in the least! It can be a very messy project with much hydraulic fluid flowing onto my garage floor!


duxthe1, I hate to spend good $$$ having things done that I am capable of doing but I really didn't WANT to do this job! It seemed to be in line to me as well. So much so, that I told him to go ahead with it. Can't wait to see the difference in ride! If I weren't planning to keep the car a few more years, I might not have gone forward but since it is our family DD...seemed like the thing to do!

Thanks for the feedback!

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Dale

New spheres will be about $200 a pair dealer cost, or about. So with markups and labor its seems okay to me.

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1991 560 SEL / 185k miles
1992 750il / 17k miles - project car

This price seems ok to me.

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600SEL '91
300E 4Matic '88
240D '83
280SE '77
350SE '73
The most complex systems can fail in the simplest way.
Contra verbosus noli contendere verbis, sermo datur cunctis, animi sapientia paucis.

i don't believe in the lord! He's never bought me a Mercedes Benz.

I got boneyard spheres from another 300TE. That was hard enough. Got the passenger side done on mine, which eliminated the bunny hop from neither rear wheel having shock action. But the driver side, which should be the easy one, the allen head bolt that goes into the sphere rounded out. Tried heat, various tools, easy outs, gave up and drove it with one side better. It is a royal PITA job on ramps under the shade tree. Be sure to wash out the allen head bolts with brake cleaner, so tool will go all the way to the bottom.

My hat's off to ANYONE who takes this job on without a way of STANDING up under the car! After living for nearly six decades, I feel like I've got very little business doing certain jobs on my car although I may WANT to, my body just ain't what it used to be But hey, I'm looking forward to getting it back tomorrow and taking it down the road. It should ride quite better. Now, I will start thinking about replacing the strut mounts and certain other suspension bushings, etc. to continue improving the way it handles. It's still a very nice car, I think I'll keep it !

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Dale

Well, got it back today and wow, what a difference! I believe it was worth every penny - MUCH better ride. No more bunny-hops as I move over some of the smallest dips in the road! Glad it's done.

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Dale