1998 Mercedes-Benz CL420 (C140)
Discussion
Hi Tobinen
Have you had this done yet?
Where did you order the shims from
My garage suggested just removing the shims completely but , having had problems compressing the springs to fit, they don’t fancy taking them out again to fit/remove shims.
I never thought that something apparently simple could be so complicated
Have you had this done yet?
Where did you order the shims from
My garage suggested just removing the shims completely but , having had problems compressing the springs to fit, they don’t fancy taking them out again to fit/remove shims.
I never thought that something apparently simple could be so complicated
Hello, from eBay seller carpartsinmotion. I just entered the MB part number and these came up. I don't think you can run without the shims as they cushion the top of the spring to the body.
I am booked in 18 May. My garage says it is a tricky job as the springs are large but I chatted to him yesterday and he says he's now used to it, or at least less stressed about it.
I am booked in 18 May. My garage says it is a tricky job as the springs are large but I chatted to him yesterday and he says he's now used to it, or at least less stressed about it.
I called in to a Mercedes specialist near me last week to show them my issue with the ride height before booking it in - the mechanic seemed to understand what was bugging me but told me that getting the ride height correct was a trial and error process....
I was going to wait to see how you had fared with your visit on 18 May but can you tell me which shims you ordered - I was thinking of 8mm ...
In the meantime, I have booked the car in to have the front seat repaired - quoted cost £750 - £1000 but it will essentially be a re upholster of the front seat.
My next task is to get the parking sensors working and then the rain sensitive wipers to become rain sensitive.... they work on 2 settings but manually and the intermittent setting doesn't work.
Its like painting the Forth Bridge...
Having a car like this is frustrating if you are a perfectionist with no practical skills ...
I might be a little more laid back if I had not just spent £8k on the XJ40 inherited from my father (for purely sentimental reasons)
And then there is the house .....
I was going to wait to see how you had fared with your visit on 18 May but can you tell me which shims you ordered - I was thinking of 8mm ...
In the meantime, I have booked the car in to have the front seat repaired - quoted cost £750 - £1000 but it will essentially be a re upholster of the front seat.
My next task is to get the parking sensors working and then the rain sensitive wipers to become rain sensitive.... they work on 2 settings but manually and the intermittent setting doesn't work.
Its like painting the Forth Bridge...
Having a car like this is frustrating if you are a perfectionist with no practical skills ...
I might be a little more laid back if I had not just spent £8k on the XJ40 inherited from my father (for purely sentimental reasons)
And then there is the house .....
I'm not sure that its good for me...
I tend to fixate on an issue and can't relax until its sorted
I get a momentary sense of satisfaction when its sorted but then fret about the next thing
The overwhelming sense is of disappointment
To quote Brian Stimpson from the film Clockwise:
" It's not the despair, Laura. I can take the despair. It's the hope I can't stand".
I tend to fixate on an issue and can't relax until its sorted
I get a momentary sense of satisfaction when its sorted but then fret about the next thing
The overwhelming sense is of disappointment
To quote Brian Stimpson from the film Clockwise:
" It's not the despair, Laura. I can take the despair. It's the hope I can't stand".
Yes I ordered 8mm shims (1 bump) as stated earlier to replace 18mm shims (3 bumps). You need to feel your current shims to check what you have now. See my earlier post below:
tobinen said:
I didn't know if one could find out what shim is fitted without removing the springs but it's remarkably easy. Run your finger across the shim at the top of the spring and one can feel the 'bumps'. I have three therefore my shims are 18mm.
It's better but not as it was before all this palaver. I will take a picture later. Overall it's just about acceptable and given another £240 has left my wallet my resolve is waning. The garage also missed my request to check the alignment as it still pulls to the left. It's booked in next week for that.
I wonder if it's time for a change..?
I wonder if it's time for a change..?
I deferred booking mine in until I heard how your visit went; the problem is that this is not an issue that either of us expected but it has proved really difficult to resolve and, if you're like me, you can't relax until its sorted...
I had my wheel alignment sorted a couple of weeks ago - there is a specialist alignment service with Hunter system that is more accurate than most garages can offer - type "Align my Wheels" into Google and it should show you your local centre (it cost me £78 - but I will have to get it checked once the shims are fitted)
I look forward to seeing the photos
I had my wheel alignment sorted a couple of weeks ago - there is a specialist alignment service with Hunter system that is more accurate than most garages can offer - type "Align my Wheels" into Google and it should show you your local centre (it cost me £78 - but I will have to get it checked once the shims are fitted)
I look forward to seeing the photos
Back to the SACHS springs and 8mm Febi shims
Well it's not all good news. In fact one might say it's 50% good/bad news. I picked it up and it looked better - not as it was before all this caper but just about acceptable and I could live with it. When I returned home I wandered around it and thought the other side didn't look quite right.
Out with the tape measure and sure enough the left side is 10mm higher than the right. I swore loudly in my head.
Thus it is booked in next week for the left spring height issue and alignment.
I will take some snaps later. To be continued...
Well it's not all good news. In fact one might say it's 50% good/bad news. I picked it up and it looked better - not as it was before all this caper but just about acceptable and I could live with it. When I returned home I wandered around it and thought the other side didn't look quite right.
Out with the tape measure and sure enough the left side is 10mm higher than the right. I swore loudly in my head.
Thus it is booked in next week for the left spring height issue and alignment.
I will take some snaps later. To be continued...
I've booked mine in for 8 June.
There were 3 ridges so I will order 8mm shims - hoping it makes a difference as I'm tired of the car looking as if its sitting up & begging although the problem with getting excited about it is that one is inevitably disappointed with the result ....
I have also bought a second hand parking sensor from R129 in the hope that this revives the system (I can feel another disappointment looming)
Its booked in to have the driver's seat re upholstered on 14 June
If it revs a little high on start up - is that due to worn throttle springs ? If so, is that a small job to replace them?
Its like painting the Forth Bridge (but less enjoyable.....)
There were 3 ridges so I will order 8mm shims - hoping it makes a difference as I'm tired of the car looking as if its sitting up & begging although the problem with getting excited about it is that one is inevitably disappointed with the result ....
I have also bought a second hand parking sensor from R129 in the hope that this revives the system (I can feel another disappointment looming)
Its booked in to have the driver's seat re upholstered on 14 June
If it revs a little high on start up - is that due to worn throttle springs ? If so, is that a small job to replace them?
Its like painting the Forth Bridge (but less enjoyable.....)
honevo said:
I have also bought a second hand parking sensor from R129 in the hope that this revives the system (I can feel another disappointment looming)
Has anyone tried the Chinese knock offs of these. I see them on AliExpress for as little as $6 each. Obviously you get what you pay for but would be interested to hear any user reviews.I took it out for an evening blast, put some fuel in it and had another check. I either made a mistake measuring or something has changed as now both springs are at 380mm, so 25mm lower than MB springs and 18mm shims. I don't think it looks too bad and at some angles it's pretty much there. In a perfect world I'd want another 10mm but I've had my fill of front springs for now.
It's job done unless I really want to risk another pair of front springs with the associated labour. It also had a treat of £10 worth of Romanian love
Sadly I scraped the Romanians' workshop door on the way out. FML etc.
It's job done unless I really want to risk another pair of front springs with the associated labour. It also had a treat of £10 worth of Romanian love
Sadly I scraped the Romanians' workshop door on the way out. FML etc.
that's what happens when you drive a 
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