W124 - Front Springs question

[Vectrolosys]

Hello,

I was completing a waxoyl and service on my 300TE today, when I discovered this. It explains the clonking noise over bumps, that I had just attributed to wishbone bushes!!.

Right, the question. Are 300E Saloon front springs, the same as 300TE front springs? reason I ask, is Euro Car Parts want to charge £27 a pair for estate front springs (incorrectly labelled on their site, as S123), but just £16 for E and CE springs.

Thanks in advance,

James

 

[d w124]

as far as i know yes.the rear ones are different

 

[retrodave111]

£16.00 sounds too cheap, I'm sure they were all ways around £25.00 each, i would double check, if you went to Mercedes, they would have lots of various ones, as they differ from air con, no air con, manual, or automatic, at one time even down to headlight wash wipe, or not, but they would be exactly right for your car

 

[grober]

Looking at the picture it would appear your springs are colour coded as follows .
one red blob=long spring + 2 yellow blobs=spring rating [MB part no is 124 321 2004 ]

if the code is different cos I havn't got the full picture

one red blob=long spring+ 3 yellow blobs=spring rating [MB part no is 124 321 2104 ]

Eurocarparts springs are made by KME-Lesjöfors Springs GmbH and cost about £30 inc vat each
If they are £16 each they are probably a cheaper make

 

[ray_hennig]

Retrodave is right

Anyone selling springs for these cars MUST ask you for the number of "points" that corresponds with your car's specification. My 300CE front springs got an extra point just because the car has a radio!

Bilstein suspension kits, Eibach and H&R springs are all supplied against this points rating and Mercedes main dealers will certainly be able to tot up the points on yours and supply the right springs.

In my opinion, buying springs from anyone who doesn't go through this points scheme is pure guesswork and utterly false economy, especially as genuine MB springs aren't that dear.

Just my 2 cents' worth.

RayH

 

[grober]

I have been told that MB have largely abandoned the points system in favour of the colour coding on more recent models. A good MB parts tech will sort out the correct spring for you from the EPC using the old points system, if you ask. Expect to pay about £55 plus vat EACH for MB springs over the counter. Eurocarparts are about 1/2 the price but you will find they will probably only have a choice of standard or heavy duty for your model.

 

[franey]

I agree, most aftermarket springs are generic and the only sure way of getting the correct ones is by using the points system from Mercedes.
Further to this, I understand MB have a special offer on springs at the moment ??

 

[Vectrolosys]

Hi All,

Thanks for your replies so far. I was checking Euro Car Parts for the prices, I'll also be checking MB, because if these are the original springs at nearly 20 years old, then £110 ish for another pair to last a fair amount of time, can't be bad.

Grober, thanks for the part numbers, very useful to know. Be interest to know what the dots actually mean!!

James

 

[Dieselman]

I have been told that MB have largely abandoned the points system in favour of the colour coding on more recent models. A good MB parts tech will sort out the correct spring for you from the EPC using the old points system, if you ask.

They still use the points system. The colour coding is for variations of the same parts, presumably due to different manufacturers, but still give the same spring rates.

 

[kth286]

James

The photo makes it look as if that spring position is quite dangerous in the sense it looks as if it could 'spring' out from it's location at anytime.

It is dangerous for BOTH you and your car, AND any pedestrian it might hit and disable.

There is a lot of energy stored in a compressed spring and they have been kown to cause a lot of damage if inadvertently released.

Should you still be driving that car at present ?

 

[Vectrolosys]

James

The photo makes it look as if that spring position is quite dangerous in the sense it looks as if it could 'spring' out from it's location at anytime.

It is dangerous for BOTH you and your car, AND any pedestrian it might hit and disable.

There is a lot of energy stored in a compressed spring and they have been kown to cause a lot of damage if inadvertently released.

Should you still be driving that car at present ?

Hello,

I tend to cycle to work on a daily basis, but as soon as I took the wheel off (initially to check the brake pads and waxoyl some things) I saw the spring in that position, completed my waxoyling and service and put the car back into the garage. It'll next be moving when I come to replace the springs. I refuse to drive it when it is in this condition for the exact reasons you highlighted above .

James

 

[Vectrolosys]

Hello,

My springs arrived yesterday. In the end I opted for the Euro Car Parts £27 per spring route, as I tried to get hold of the parts department at my local Mercedes Benz dealer, but either had the phone put down on me (twice, without even speaking to anyone in the parts department) or not having my email for a parts query returned. I assumed they must have been busy so opted for the less expensive, and possibly lower quality route.

I'll hopefully get some time to fit them this weekend. I shall post up how it all goes!!

James