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R129 suspension refresh advice needed

I'm not one to throw unnecessary cash at it, so just exploring options.

Do it all at the same time. Control arm bushings, idler arm bushings, struts, strut mounts, sway bar bushings and ball joints. You'll need to pull it all apart anyway and have to do an alignment at the end so putting it back together with old parts in nonsensical. The rubber is already 25 years old.

My 98 SL500 got a front end rebuild at around 60,000 miles. The struts which were not rattling but once removed, you could tell that they were completely hammered out. Use Bilstein shocks and genuine parts and you'll not have to worry about it for another 100k miles. Be very weary of cheaper aftermarket parts like URO for rubber which won't last 5000 miles. That stuff is okay for an antenna mast boot but not for suspension.
 
SS Motors in Surrey might be able to help/advise. They are long-standing MB specialists and quite possibly the main experts on ADS in the UK now.


Thanks for this, I got in contact with Sandown in Poole and they confirmed that the Part number for the front accumulator is: A129 320 0115 same as FEBI BILSTEIN 01915. I think I will try my luck with the Febi Bilstein parts first. The OEM product is over 3 times the price without shipping.
 
For anyone who didn't know, MB Poole are the official 'classic car parts centre' for the UK:


FWIW SS Motors did all 4 spheres on my later ADS II car for just over £900 all-in (MB parts, including a system flush & new fluid). This was a few years back, mind.
 

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