S212 Front Strut Spring Broken on Airmatic?

[jjc2020]

Hey there I'm hoping someone can help.

My 2010 S212 E250 CDI Estate has airmatic suspension as I know only too well because the rear dropped fully and was repaired.

I noticed my front driver side dropped, I thought it was a front Air Strut issue but now I've taken the wheel off, I can see its a Macpherson Strut and the spring has snapped. On the opposite side i noticed there was also spring strut but with ride height sensor arm but with no link attached. I don't know whether it was originally air spring all round, and thats been replaced with Macpherson at the front, or whether this is as it was from the start. The internet is saying it could be either but I don't know. It doesn't matter but I'm just trying to work out what replacement spring to get.

Theres no colour coding and how do I work out what spec it is to get another spring? Pic attached. Any suggestions welcomed, and I'm guessing don't drive it till its replaced?

Thanks

 

[jjc2020]

Euro Car Parts say Starline coil spring? Does anyone have any experience of them? Although saying that, they say they can't deliver, and I can't collect from any store, but it's available.

 

[Jobsworth]

No, you have air on the rear only. The sensor you see is for headlamp levelling

 

[Jobsworth]

Starline are not the best. Sachs are a good aftermarket choice, but they will give you a single choice for your car. If you go to Mercedes they will supply the correct spring accurately calculated for the options your car has. If you only want to replace one spring I recommend going to Mercedes so it will match the one you aren’t changing. If you are going to replace the pair you can happily go aftermarket

 

[jjc2020]

Hi Jobsworth, thank you so much. Thats a great and really helpful response. Thank you.

 

[Petrol Pete]

Looking at that photo I would buy 2 struts and 2 springs. Its not that expensive overall , and you will only be doing the job once.

 

[ALFAitalia]

Agreed.... do you park it on the beach?.... not often I see struts that rusty. I assume you have checked/replaced the rear subframe....as I don't hold out much hope for it based on the front suspensions condition. Personally I would NEVER change a single spring or damper....always pairs or all four.

 

[jjc2020]

Hey AlfaItalia and Petrol Pete, agreed, I'm definitely doing both but cash is tight. No beach use at all, just infrequent cleaning. And a very bumpy drive with permanent puddles. I'm contemplating the 'extra ground clearance' option.

I've spent a fortune on this now (£3k in 6 months) and my webuyanycar valuation last week is £2.5k. I'd be in a better situation if I'd just scrapped it. At least it owes me nothing officially, so I'm doing the minimum poverty spec maintenance to keep it going & safe as its only done 100k miles, but I'm still doing both springs and struts. Anything else and its in the bin.

 

[Petrol Pete]

How many miles on the car ?

 

[jjc2020]

How many miles on the car ?

107,000, so I don't think thats many for one of these, I was surprised at webuyanycar valuation. Funnily enough I was also surprised at their valuation on my 2013 golf, student spec, where they offered me more for it now than I paid for it retail 2 years ago. Merc halves, Golf increases. I'm glad I'm not a dealer - it's seriously complicated. I just wish I was more of a mechanic...... I could probably stop working

 

[ray_hennig]

I'd be in a better situation if I'd just scrapped it.

Depends on the car. I've no idea what yours is but I've spent ove 15K€ on a 300CE-24 that was probably worth 5K. It may be worth 10+K now but I'm happy as it's ready to be by last car for 10+ years. And buying an alternative would probably have cost 30K followed by its depreciation. And what would I get for 30K? Plastic Benz? More problems that I don't understand?

Old fool talking here.

Oh, and the 300 will probably join my son's W201 and S124 estate after I cough off.

RayH

 

[toteimerced]

Definitely wouldn’t go by what any of these,
“ we will rip you off dot com” jokers say, they offered £4.5k for my old Focus ST, which I sold privately for £8.5k.

 

[jjc2020]

Depends on the car. I've no idea what yours is but I've spent ove 15K€ on a 300CE-24 that was probably worth 5K. It may be worth 10+K now but I'm happy as it's ready to be by last car for 10+ years. And buying an alternative would probably have cost 30K followed by its depreciation. And what would I get for 30K? Plastic Benz? More problems that I don't understand?

Old fool talking here.

Oh, and the 300 will probably join my son's W201 and S124 estate after I cough off.

RayH

I think you're exactly right. That was my logic, but I just wobble every now and then and think 'should I?', but then I think yeah but what would I buy thats risk free? Nothing.

And I don't want a plastic benz either. I've still got my W123 as backup so I do appreciate a proper mercedes. These S212's are just very complicated to someone like me who's used to old, simple cars. If I can get this one over its current 'everythings falling apart' phase while I haven't got any money, I'd be delighted to hang on to it for decades as it's a stellar car, with the safety features I want, but it feels a little daunting every now and then.