C-Class, 2004, front suspension in bad way

[skippyozz]

Hi

I have a 2004 C-Class with 80,000 miles on clock. Just discovered that front suspension is pretty much wrecked. All silent blocks (the big round rubber things) on upper and lower front supension arms have gone (cracked), and the balljoints (I think that's what they are called) at the end of one upper and one lower have gone as well. Basically I need to replace the whole lot.
The car has been over some pretty bad roads here in Belgium, but I'm a pretty sedate driver with the Merc (diesel).It's never been crashed or anything. I drive my Saab turbo far more 'spiritedly', it's done over 100,000 miles and I've never replaced anything except brakes & batteries (and a noisy pulley) Question: is the Merc crap?

[skippyozz]

Hi Orb

Thanks for your answer! Mine hasn't actually started clunking yet. The trouble got spotted accidentally by the tyre guy (bust balljoint, one lower control arm replaced).
Is the Dronsfields shop you mention a chain in England? (I live in Belgium now). Do you find Dronsfield's in most towns? I'll be over in UK soon (Yeovil area), might be worth picking the other parts up then. Here -for non original parts- they are asking about 130 EUR for each complete control arm, so the prices you quote from Dronsfields are very interesting indeed.
As you mention, it seems easy enough to do the job at home (although I've never taken a Merc to bits before).
Thanks for your help
Skippy