Shock absorber cover replacing?

[Rapid85]

Hey Guys,

I've recently had my car in at the dealers for a service and an advisory that's come up is that one of the front shock absorber covers has 'perished'.So i'm wondering a few things.....

1) Is this something you would recommend I get done?
2) With the cover 'perished' would this reduce the life of the shock absorber it's self?
3) Any idea of the labour time it would take for this job (and part cost??) on a 7 series? (yes....everything I expect to cost a small fortune)
4) If yes to 1) and this is remotely labour intensive compared to the cost of a shock absorber, would it be worth getting the shock absorber replaced at the same time as the cover? I realise I'm probably getting ahead of myself here.
5) Am I correct in thinking this wouldn't be an MOT failure? (MOT is a while a way but more out of curiosity).

I have no idea if any of the absorbers have been replaced before but I wouldn't assume so on 55k miles.

Thanks in advance.

[Rapid85]

Bump :-)

[Fastpedeller]

You may find you can't buy the covers anyway? I had some brand new rear shock absorbers delivered (ok it was 10 years ago) and the covers were split where they'd been forced into position. (Not) very helpful supplier said they could swap the shockers for a different make as the only remedy- but I'd also bought front ones at the same time so wanted 4 of same make. I just used the covers off the old ones I'd taken off the day before.

[andy43]

Rapid85 said:

Bump :-)

I see what you did there.

[Pica-Pica]

I would leave it until/if the shock deteriorates enough to fail - then replace both. To my mind, it is anyone’s guess as to when or if it will fail solely due to a perished cover.

[Rapid85]

bluezedd said:

The labour for changing a shock will be the same as replacing the cover. If you replace one shock though, you should do the one on the other side.

Blimey, this could easily spiral into a costly job for a £5 part. That's the way of things I guess.

So I guess the choice would be to replace both shocks or just the cover on 1 side. (Assuming I can source a cover).

When you say it definitely needs dealing with, any reason you wouldn't do what Piri suggested and wait for the shock to fail?

[E-bmw]

Rapid85 said:

When you say it definitely needs dealing with, any reason you wouldn't do what Piri suggested and wait for the shock to fail?

Will you be able to tell the instant it fails?

What if it fails just as you need to emergency brake/manoeuvre to avoid a child in the road?

Need any more reasons?

[Rapid85]

E-bmw said:

Will you be able to tell the instant it fails?

What if it fails just as you need to emergency brake/manoeuvre to avoid a child in the road?

Need any more reasons?

Sorry I didn't mean to say 'fail', I meant worn enough for the shock needing replacing. I have no idea how the cover would affect the life of the shock absorber i.e. whether it's likely to cause an imminent fail or whether it would be negligible to the lifetime of the shock?