Bang and the spring has gone!

[DSM10000]

We were alerted by a loud bang and then to the alarm sounding on the MB sounding this evening.

On checking the car the NSF Spring has broken and the car is sitting very low.

The first recovery vehicle couldn't lift it as the bed of the vehicle wouldn't go low enough.. Awaiting vehicle number 2,

Irionically the car is booked in for service and MOT tomorrow.

Rather glad it didn't happen on the motorway earlier!

 

[Athey]

i feel for you. we're both having car issues today.

 

[DSM10000]

Now recovered and will shortly be at the garage and fixed tomorrow or Friday!

 

[markjay]

Hopefully you'll get a service, MOT, and new spring(s) all on one go.

Are you replacing one spring, or both?

 

[DSM10000]

Hopefully you'll get a service, MOT, and new spring(s) all on one go.

Are you replacing one spring, or both?

I have asked for both to be replaced.

 

[DSM10000]

Well the end result was a little more work than expected.

The creaking from the front that I wanted investigating prior to the MOT was due to two ball joints that had failed .

One could be replaced by itself, the other formed part of the lower suspension arm (torque strut)

When replacing the non broken spring the nut holding the shaft of the damper in place stripped due to corrosion requiring the damper to be replaced so I asked for both sides to be changed together

Other than that that the MOT was passed uneventfully with no advisories and with a lower emissions figure than last time.

 

[DSM10000]

For those that may be interested the Springs were a very reasonable £52 each, the individual Ball joint was £48, the Torque strut was £144 (I have seen the Lemforder equivalent part advertised at £148) and the dampers £118 each. All from MB.

 

[Bigdrew]

It definitely pays to shop around

 

[DSM10000]

It definitely pays to shop around

???

 

[markjay]

It definitely pays to shop around

Are you suggesting that another dealer would have done it for less? Or an indie?

The OP is apparently happy with the service and happy with the price.... surely that's all that matters?

 

[DSM10000]

Are you suggesting that another dealer would have done it for less? Or an indie?

The OP is apparently happy with the service and happy with the price.... surely that's all that matters?

All parts fitted by an Independent who will only use OE MB parts.

I think the parts in question were good value and come with a 2 year warranty.

 

[OneForTheRoad]

It definitely pays to shop around

The only part I can see which is maybe priced high is the £48 ball joint , the rest of the prices id not quibble over tbh. Start shopping about buying different struts and arms in my experience you end up with a car that suffers from front end tracking and tyre issues.

 

[DSM10000]

The only part I can see which is maybe priced high is the £48 ball joint , the rest of the prices id not quibble over tbh. Start shopping about buying different struts and arms in my experience you end up with a car that suffers from front end tracking and tyre issues.

That is a genuine MB ball joint.
It's been some time since I have had to replace such a part so am unsure of relative prices.

My Independent has tried Lemforder and other brands but has always had problems with them after a couple of years. In his experience the MB part lasts significantly longer.

 

[clk320x]

For those that may be interested the Springs were a very reasonable £52 each, the individual Ball joint was £48, the Torque strut was £144 (I have seen the Lemforder equivalent part advertised at £148) and the dampers £118 each. All from MB.

Very reasonable prices, especially the shock absorbers.

 

[Bigdrew]

I

Are you suggesting that another dealer would have done it for less? Or an indie?

The OP is apparently happy with the service and happy with the price.... surely that's all that matters?

I think you have picked me up wrong here what I meant is it pays to shop around price wise instead of going to the main dealer

 

[clk320x]

I


I think you have picked me up wrong here what I meant is it pays to shop around price wise instead of going to the main dealer

Where do you think the parts were purchased from? ... the main dealer with trade discount of course...