Self Leveling?
 

I have a '94 s500. I am not sure if whether I have self leveling suspension or not. I need to purchase new shocks and I have to buy either w/ s.l. shocks or w/o s.l. shocks. How do I determine this? Thanks for any help.

If it's a US spec S500 then it has the self leveling feature. The struts don't normally go bad. Lots of times replacing the nitrogen cells will restore the ride.

What worries me about your question is that if you don't know that your car has leveling suspension, has someone been changing the hydraulic fluid and filter per the recommended schedule?

Sixto
95 S420
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD

Self leveling
 

All 500s and 560 SELs had self leveling suspension, the shocks rarely go bad, the accumulators loose their pressure. I you are handy you can change those for approximately $100 each, be prepared to get an oil bath. I have almost every tool, and still did not attempt it. A sign of bad accumulators is that the rear of the car bounces while driving. The shocks themselves are $450 each.
The fronts are normal Bilstiens, the only issue could be if the car has the adaptive suspension, which was an a option. Then the shocks on all four corners are controlled by the computer.
BTW who is telling you that you need new shocks, are they leaking, my dealer (MB) only replaced the acumulators, the ride is fine now.

Hi. sorry, i do have self leveling suspension. just wanted to make sure. the dealer recommended that i have the rear suspension cells worked on. they say that they are faulty. Are the stock shocks for the front bilsteins??? are they the HD's?? I was planning on getting new shocks cause the ride is really bouncy with the h&r springs. but now i guess the only problem is the front lower control arm bushings. i'll change those first and see if the ride gets better.

Peter, which bilstein's is my car running on? if it's stock? Thanks

My car doesnt have the ADS.

Sixto, I brought my car to the dealer last week. i'll just have the suspension cells corrected.