W210 Shock saga
 

I have a 98 E320 4-MATIC at a Mercedes mechanic. It was determined that the two front shocks were goners. The mechanic quoted me $151 per side (ok list price) plus $95 for labor to install. After a week the car is now ready but the mechanic said that the shocks were special and cost $175 each and that it took him over 3 hours ($238) to install both.

When I mentioned the quoted price he gave me the option of having my old shocks put back on. I want to be fair here but I don't want to be taken either.

Can someone tell me if front shocks on this car are special and if 3.4 hours labor for installation is reasonable.

I got a look at the bill. The part number of the shocks that he installed is 210.320.36.30 - looks like a M-B part number, the part number on Fastlane is L4000-68403 (a Bistein part number?). Do these parts interchange? Fastlane also lists a mounting kit. Is that some kind of installation tool?

Anyone ever replace shocks on this type of car?

I was quoted $500 labor alone to install two bilsteins (with my parts) on a 1985 190D. I did the job myself in 3 hours total (first time , too) with a floor jack. Oh, yeah, Bilsteins cost me $99 each on line (free shipping).

Piotr

Where did you find your shocks? That's a good price.

Haasman

Phil has them at Fastlane for $118. They show list at $151. The mechanic said that when he ordered them from where ever, they kept sending him the wrong parts. He said that when the right ones came in they were now $175 each. I have Bilsteins on my Alfa, I think they were $75 each.

I was considering doing the rears myself, but I don't want to have trouble if these are special. I also wanted to see if that mounting kit was a special tool or something that helps in the installation.

So I got my transmission fluid changed and two shocks replaced for $842. I think that is too much!

I agree. Tell him to take them off or accept the original estimate. If he takes them off, replace them yourself---can't be that complicated.

Haasman- performance Products, but they have NO selection-just one listing (standard) for my 190D.

The rear shocks (bilsteins) cost me $75 a piece, I think from the benzbin (performance prods had them for $99) plus $10 shipping.
it took me 1 hour to replace the first one, 1/2 for the second one (two screws each, but then you have to compress the old ones to take them out and the new ones to put them in - a pain in da...).
The fact that the mechanic had a problem with the supplier should not affect your price. It's his problem.

I thought I'd try one more time to see if a Tech can help straighten out some of this.

The M-B mechanic said that he got the original quote for labor from the M-B labor book. It showed 1 hr for R&R for shocks. But he is telling me that the shocks on the 4-Matic have springs around them and the extra labor was for removing the springs.

Next comes all the part numbers. The local M-B dealer gave this mechanic the wrong shocks a few times. Here are the part numbers:

1) B362154 - this is suppose to be the Bilstein part number for the shocks. He said these were wrong because they didin't allow for the springs. ???

2) 210.320.36.30 - This is the M-B # for the correct shocks ($179 each!!).

3) L4000-68403 - This is the number that I get when I look the shocks up online. These are about $70 cheaper than the #2. Are these the right ones that work with the springs?

4) L4049-99947 - This too comes from the online sources. What is this mounting kit used for?

The reason I would like all of this straight is that I would like to replace the back ones myself without having to get a loan.