C124 Springs - Replacement cost/advice please?
Discussion
Hi
Im looking at buying a tidy C124 (non-sportline) where a previous owner has fitted Bilstein springs (and probably cut them before fitting).
How much might I expect to pay to replace the 4 springs, taking the car back to original spec?
My guess is that the labour will cost pretty much the same as the parts and I'm anticipating £400-£500 - is that realistic?
Am I likely to have to replace dampers at the same time (and/or anything else?)
Thank you!
Im looking at buying a tidy C124 (non-sportline) where a previous owner has fitted Bilstein springs (and probably cut them before fitting).
How much might I expect to pay to replace the 4 springs, taking the car back to original spec?
My guess is that the labour will cost pretty much the same as the parts and I'm anticipating £400-£500 - is that realistic?
Am I likely to have to replace dampers at the same time (and/or anything else?)
Thank you!
It would depend on where you get the springs, they have different weight ratings depending on spec for alot of the cars at this age, so Mercedes would work it out for you, I feel like quite a lot of the other suppliers would just give the same part to all versions of the same model, but that's up to you.
Remember that the coupe is heavier than the estate and saloon.
With regards to fitting, you should just need to lift the wheels into the air, remove the wheel, then you use a specialised spring compressor that goes through a hole in the wishbone and connects to 2 plates through the middle that you slide into the spring.
Then you compress it, take it out, carefully release the pressure, then compress the new spring and slide it in, then carefully release the tension.
You shouldn't need to unbolt anything (except the wheels) to install the new springs and no alignment ans no angles have been changed. If you change the dampers, you will need to have the alignment checked.
Time wise, it shouldn't take a competent mechanic that long to change them over with the correctly designed spring compressor.
Remember that the coupe is heavier than the estate and saloon.
With regards to fitting, you should just need to lift the wheels into the air, remove the wheel, then you use a specialised spring compressor that goes through a hole in the wishbone and connects to 2 plates through the middle that you slide into the spring.
Then you compress it, take it out, carefully release the pressure, then compress the new spring and slide it in, then carefully release the tension.
You shouldn't need to unbolt anything (except the wheels) to install the new springs and no alignment ans no angles have been changed. If you change the dampers, you will need to have the alignment checked.
Time wise, it shouldn't take a competent mechanic that long to change them over with the correctly designed spring compressor.
The price differential between Genuine Mercedes and aftermarket springs is not that great. I seem to recall genuine rear springs were of the order of £50 each and fronts a little more. Installation is straight forward for an expert with the right tools, as suggested. It is not without danger, however, and I would happily pay someone else to take the risk (the springs are under mighty compression when removed and installed and spring compressors have been known to let go suddenly).
BlueMR2 said:
It would depend on where you get the springs, they have different weight ratings depending on spec for alot of the cars at this age, so Mercedes would work it out for you, I feel like quite a lot of the other suppliers would just give the same part to all versions of the same model, but that's up to you.
Remember that the coupe is heavier than the estate and saloon.
With regards to fitting, you should just need to lift the wheels into the air, remove the wheel, then you use a specialised spring compressor that goes through a hole in the wishbone and connects to 2 plates through the middle that you slide into the spring.
Then you compress it, take it out, carefully release the pressure, then compress the new spring and slide it in, then carefully release the tension.
You shouldn't need to unbolt anything (except the wheels) to install the new springs and no alignment ans no angles have been changed. If you change the dampers, you will need to have the alignment checked.
Time wise, it shouldn't take a competent mechanic that long to change them over with the correctly designed spring compressor.
If your changing the ride height then alignment will be affected. Remember that the coupe is heavier than the estate and saloon.
With regards to fitting, you should just need to lift the wheels into the air, remove the wheel, then you use a specialised spring compressor that goes through a hole in the wishbone and connects to 2 plates through the middle that you slide into the spring.
Then you compress it, take it out, carefully release the pressure, then compress the new spring and slide it in, then carefully release the tension.
You shouldn't need to unbolt anything (except the wheels) to install the new springs and no alignment ans no angles have been changed. If you change the dampers, you will need to have the alignment checked.
Time wise, it shouldn't take a competent mechanic that long to change them over with the correctly designed spring compressor.
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