W124 Estate -can I drive with to garage with failed self levelling down?

[MB250TD]

My W124 estate has corroded rear suspension pipes (from spheres to struts) and a broken valve control rod on the self levelling suspension. I took it to the garage to have work assessed and parts ordered. On the way back, the offside pipe leaked hydraulic fluid. The car soon dropped onto its springs (but at least level on both sides). The wheels still have clearance in the body work, but the car has little shock absorbance. I managed to limp it home (a mile or so) before 3/4 of the fluid had gone. I now need to get it to the garage (a distance of 20 miles of dual carriageway). If I understand the system correctly, the car is now resting only on its springs but has no 'slow' self levelling system in operation. It cannot drop lower unless the springs break, and cannot rise without fluid (and a broken valve control rod).
Two questions:
Is it safe to drive that distance? (I suspect not - even unloaded).
Can I do harm to the springs or struts if I drive it slowly in this state? (I suspect so)
I understand that the pump might run dry if the rod is in the up or down positions, but I am not sure that I can get the link rod to the valve into the middle (level) position since it is broken. Furthermore, the car is low and I cannot get underneath it to look. I understand that once in the level position, the hydraulic fluid will just circulate from reservoir to valve and back, but I cannot think how to get it there.
I assume that it must be possible to disconnect the pump? Can this cause any damage?
The road is good with no speed bumps, but I do not want to risk breaking a spring or damaging the rubber mounts and struts. I understand that the unladen car will be sitting on the springs, but without the hydraulic fluid in the struts, it will have no damping, so I am going to feel seasick.
I do not want to take any risks to anyone else, me or the car!
Thanks for your advice.

 

[jaymanek]

I would ask them to recover it for that distance... around the corner would be ok but no absorption for 20 miles seems a bit heavy on the springs etc...

 

[MB250TD]

Self levelling hydraulic fluid pumping out from corroded pipe

OK, I have jacked the car up, inserted axle stands, and got under to put the control lever into the middle (level) position. However, after dropping it down again, and starting the car, I am noticing hydraulic fluid dribbling out once more. Should this happen, or do I need to let it run for longer? I only have about 25% of the reservoir full, and no easy source of more ZH-M fluid. I can see no way to disconnect the pump and probably have the same arrangement as Richard and Myros explained. The springs look good, but I do not want to damage the pump. Looks as though I am down to risking a 20 mile drive or arranging for collection.

 

[proser]

If you have breakdown cover, I would drive it a mile or so down the road (if you don't have 'at home' cover) and then call them out and then they should recover it to the garage for you

 

[ray_hennig]

Empty self-levvelling system

In about 1989, we drove, in our 1980 W123 280TE, our family of seven from London to Algarve for holidays. Somewhere between Madrid and Seville, a pipe up near the engine ruptured and, when we arrived outside the hotel in searing heat, I noticed oil dribbling its way up the bonnet. Underneath, there was oil everywhere.

We continued to our destination in Lagos, Portugal and during the next week I found MB in Portimao. They replaced the pipe, filled and adjusted the rear suspension and all was fine until we sold the car in 2001. Total cost of work in Portugal? - £30.

Added to that was the £30 we had to pay during the same holiday when the aircon sprung a leak and had to be welded up by MB and then refilled by Renault. Happy days!

So, the answer to your question is that we drove that car some hundreds of miles with seven people and 2 full roof boxes and, apparently, nothing suffered.

RayH