300E Rear shock replacement

[Jordan_3202000]

Well it seems like the rear shocks on my car are going, i was wondering if anyone had experance replacing the rear shocks on a 300E so i know what is involved

[Robert Goodwin]

How do you know your shocks are "going?" I hope you didn't learn this from a tire salesman. Attachment describes George Murphy's rear shock changing experince. Section 31-0121 of the 124 Service Manual provides 10 pages of instructions for testing shocks. Basically, if it is leaking oil, replace it. If it is making noise, it is likely bent. Remove it and see if the noise goes away. If so, install a new one. Note that Mercedes does NOT require that shocks be replaced in pairs. Only that fronts and rears be matched with each other.

[Jordan_3202000]

Thanks for the advise, i actually determined that the shocks where going bad just by the way the car handled, it would bounce quite a bit when going over a speed bump, and so i did a test where i pushed down on the back of the car, and it bounced sevral times, so i figure its time for new shocks, i know it seems wierd that the shocks are worn with such low milage, but the streets where i live are really bad, they have ruts and potholes everyware

[Jordan_3202000]

When you said, that the fronts and rears need to be matched with each other, do you mean i need to replace the fronts when i replace the rears?

[Robert Goodwin]

Nope. If you replace the front right, the replacement must match the front left. Doesn't matter what's on the rear as long as they match each other.

[Tom Hanson]

Stick with Bilstein !!!!

[DLGarza]

Tom,

I noticed that many, including you, suggest Bilstein shocks. What makes them better than the MB brand? On my 300E many years ago, I had Bilstein installed and my car rode stiff like a truck. I went back and had new MB shocks installed right away. When my 300CE is due for shocks, I'm thinking about the Bilstein, but afraid to try them. I don't want my car to ride stiff. Could I have had bad shocks before?

Darrin

[Jordan_3202000]

I believe the mb branded shocks are manufactured by Bilistine, so if you get the correct model bilistine it should be the same as the mb branded one, maybe what happened was you got a diffrent model that was firmer

[Flakman]

I tend to agree with Jordan. I believe that Bilstein is what MB uses. I have Bilsteins on my 300E. It definitely doesn't ride stiff. I would actually say that it rides a little softer than I would like.

[DLGarza]

Thanks for the input. I went to the Bilstein website yesterday and it seems that they do make the shocks for MB. Could there be a difference of what they make for MB versus buying direct from Bilstein?

At that time I got the Bilstein, I was told that I would have lifetime warranty. That was what originally got me hooked. When I had the MB ones installed instead, I didn't care about the warranty, I just wanted that MB ride. Since Bilstein makes the shocks for MB, why doesn't MB provide lifetime warranty? Just got me thinking.

I didn't mean to over-shadow Jordan's issue. I'm just curious as to the whole Bilstein and MB shocks issue.

Thanks,
Darrin

[Jordan_3202000]

No problem, actually this is very intresting, now i'm curous about the shocks that i got, i ordered them from www.thebenzbin.com they assured me that they where identical to the OEM shocks, i havn't gotten around to installing them yet, so i'll see soon enough if they ride the same. Granted i wouldn't mind having a stiffer setup for autocrossing

[Robert Goodwin]

I have done business with The Benz Bin for several years and never had a problem with anything I bought from them.

[DLGarza]

I too, have done business with thebenzbin.com and have never had problems with them.

Jordan, when you are finished installing your shocks and drive around with them, can you please post your results? I'd like to know if you feel they are stiffer than the MB and if you felt it was worth the purchase. I know you don't mind it a bit stiffer. When I tried them some years back, my 300E rode horrible. It rode worse than my '94 Chevy S-10, which eventually got traded for the 300E. :D

Darrin

[Donald Holm]

Bilstein formerly offered a Standard shock, as well as a Heavy Duty shock. I believe they no longer offer the heavy duty, perhaps because they did ride vey firm, & stiff. On the black body of the Bilstein, toward the top end, I think, you will see either one white paint stripe approx. 2'' long & about 1/4' wide. If ther is only one stripe, it is a Standard shock If 2 stripes, it is a Heavy duty shock. FWIW. Don

[Jordan_3202000]

Well, i finished installing the shocks, and Darrin i have to say they are very much worth the purchase the improvment is day and night. The car now rides like it did new, very smooth, while at the same time actually handling better. The old worn-out shocks created a very uneasy floating feeling as well as loads of body roll. Now its perfect, i feel like i have finally gotten my 300E back, thanks for all your help guys:D

[DLGarza]

Jordon,

I'm glad it all worked out. I'm feeling better about it now. When it's time for me to get mine, I will do the same.

Enjoy the ride,
Darrin