W124 Self Levelling Suspension

[jamsh]

I have a 'clunking' sound coming from the rear passenger side of my 300CE, when I hit a bump on the road. The suspension seems to be working fine and it is not a loose item in the boot or the exhaust, which is tight.
Does anyone have any idea what this might be? I would appreciate the name of a knowledgable mechanic in the Bucks area who could sort it out for me. I have tried Chris Gray at Wendover a couple of times but his promises to ring back never happen and I don't fancy the local MB dealer at over £100ph.

 

[bolide]

Has your CE got self-levelling?

I'd give Ivan a call at Automerc in Hornsey, North London. He'll be able to diagnose the problem

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[andy_k]

my guess is that the bushes on one of your rear drop links have failed.

They cost about £8 for the complete unit from MB and take about 20 minutes (2 bolts) to fit.

HTH

Andy

 

[jamsh]

Update on self levelling suspension

Sorry about the delay, but I had to go abroad for a while. I took your advice and went to Automerc who confirmed that the shock absorber was broken and needed replacing. They did it the next day(they showed me the old one) and also fitted a couple of rubber stops, missing from my exhaust. Total cost of new shocker,oil and labour was £340 inc. VAT.
Apart from the unavoidable high cost of the self levelling shock, this was a good experience discovering Automerc, who came across as very knowledgeable and friendly. Given the age of my car and the inevitability of more repairs, I will be using them in the future.

Thanks again for the info.
BTW - why do Coupe's like mine have self levelling suspension? Anyone know?

 

[fnkhan68]

self levelling standard on estates, optional on coupes and saloons. you might seen one with this feature but it is not generic.

 

[big x]

I've never really understood why someone would have specified self-levelling on a new coupe in the first place ?
Yesterday I replaced a leaking rear shock on my E320 and the O/E Bilstein which comes with new rubber doughnuts and bolts was £29 + vat each @ Eurocarparts.Bargin.
The 1993 dated original made a loud bang after going a bit to fast up a bumpy hill.The following morning there was a pool of oil on my drive.

adam

 

[jamsh]

I should have asked - why would the original purchaser ask for this as an optional extra? Maybe they were intending to carry huge weights in that large boot.

 

[bolide]

Cosworth 190s have it too. To my mind the self-levelling cars ride extremely well and it's an option I'd be happy to have

In my experience it's reliable too - though you may beg to differ!

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[Dieselman]

Cosworth 190s have it too. To my mind the self-levelling cars ride extremely well and it's an option I'd be happy to have

In my experience it's reliable too - though you may beg to differ!

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

I agree with both statements here. A nice option to have.

 

[big x]

Cosworth 190s have it too. To my mind the self-levelling cars ride extremely well and it's an option I'd be happy to have

In my experience it's reliable too - though you may beg to differ!

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

Most Cosworths have had the self-levelling removed when worn out.I posted recently on a TV program that showed how to do it.That's the great thing about MB the standard shocks fit straight in,anyone can do it at home !

adam

 

[bolide]

That's the great thing about MB the standard shocks fit straight in,anyone can do it at home

Except on W124 estates where it doesn't work

Whenever I read of people planning to replace W124 rear suspension with shocks & springs I think about French owners of Citroen BXs. Do they suddenly decide to re-engineer their car's suspension because it failed? Do they post on Gallic forums asking for help on modifying a fine-riding hydraulic car with steel springs?

Er, no. They fix the car, having first marvelled at how it has survived for 15 years whilst delivering superb ride quality all that time. I think we should do the same

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[big x]

Except on W124 estates where it doesn't work

Whenever I read of people planning to replace W124 rear suspension with shocks & springs I think about French owners of Citroen BXs. Do they suddenly decide to re-engineer their car's suspension because it failed? Do they post on Gallic forums asking for help on modifying a fine-riding hydraulic car with steel springs?

Er, no. They fix the car, having first marvelled at how it has survived for 15 years whilst delivering superb ride quality all that time. I think we should do the same

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

I used to own a Lexus Soarer active similar to this one

It had little to no pitch or roll as it was fully active and as such could corner faster than the standard coil spring soarer at the expense of steering feel and hugh complexity in terms of sensors,pumps etc.You can see the pipework going into the front suspension turrets. To much potential expense for a home mechanic like me once these cars are nearing 14 years old.
What difference does rear self levelling make in the MB coupe ? I've never driven one.

adam

 

[jamsh]

I've never driven one without, but mine handles surprisingly well on country roads at speed (legal, of course). I say, surprisingly, because of it's size/weight. High speed curves on motorways are effortless.

 

[Apial]

Self leveling suspension on the CE is mandatory if you fit a towbar according to MB.

 

[Dieselman]

Except on W124 estates where it doesn't work

Whenever I read of people planning to replace W124 rear suspension with shocks & springs I think about French owners of Citroen BXs. Do they suddenly decide to re-engineer their car's suspension because it failed? Do they post on Gallic forums asking for help on modifying a fine-riding hydraulic car with steel springs?

Er, no. They fix the car, having first marvelled at how it has survived for 15 years whilst delivering superb ride quality all that time. I think we should do the same

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

The best bit is it doesn't go wrong. Seriously if the oil is changed on schedule and the spheres when they wear out it is very reliable.

 

[Dieselman]

I've never driven one without, but mine handles surprisingly well on country roads at speed (legal, of course). I say, surprisingly, because of it's size/weight. High speed curves on motorways are effortless.

That's due to the hydraulic suspension.

The nitrogen gas is the best spring on Earth and the system cannot setup harmonic oscillations, so you never get any additional bouncing from previous bumps/dips, unlike a steel sprung vehicle.

A quick check of the spheres it to have someone sit on the boot opening and then to bounce the car up and down with the engine running.
There should be considerable movement without the suspension feeling stiff.

 

[Dieselman]

I used to own a Lexus Soarer active similar to this one

It had little to no pitch or roll as it was fully active and as such could corner faster than the standard coil spring soarer at the expense of steering feel and hugh complexity in terms of sensors,pumps etc.You can see the pipework going into the front suspension turrets. To much potential expense for a home mechanic like me once these cars are nearing 14 years old.
What difference does rear self levelling make in the MB coupe ? I've never driven one.

adam

That's sort of similar to the Citroen idea but it looks like it's in addition to the steel springs on the Soarer, whereas on the Citroen there are no steel springs, just spheres.

The Citroen Activa cars only allow 0.5 degree of body roll maximum, but can be very supple for straight line driving.
They use thicker anti-roll bars with hydraulic rams attached.
Supple for straight line work = rams free to expand and compress,
Cornering = rams locked,
More than 0.5 degree body roll = fluid pumped into/out of the rams to level the car.

Before we all flame the Citroen suspension think why did MB copy it and Rolls Royce fit it as standard?
Even the Citroen Rallycross cars used it because it keeps the tyres on the ground better than springs.

 

[big x]

That's sort of similar to the Citroen idea but it looks like it's in addition to the steel springs on the Soarer, whereas on the Citroen there are no steel springs, just spheres.

If you can find pesky bed-springs on an active Soarer your a better man than I Gunga Din !

http://www.planetsoarer.com/UZZ32/uzz32.html

adam

 

[Birdman]

Never understood why they didn't build in a tilting capability, like a bike or 'plane has naturally. Spose it's to do with driver feedback at the limit. Btw why the superimposed hand-drawn diagrams on the Toyota Motor Corp document?

The drawback of complex suspension is the car becomes a write-off when the system reaches its design life, which limits the car to 12-15 years use typically. If you pay £30k for a fifteen year old Rolls-Royce you'll spend £3,000 to rebuild the self-levelling suspension, but only a mad enthusiast would attempt that on an elderly mass-produced car (although I'm delighted some do). I recently paid £300 simply to replace one valve on my active system. When the car is fifteen years old and worth a couple of thousand tops, who will strip out and replace its nackered suspension (apart from me or some mad enthusiast)?

 

[big x]

Never understood why they didn't build in a tilting capability, like a bike or 'plane has naturally. Spose it's to do with driver feedback at the limit. Btw why the superimposed hand-drawn diagrams on the Toyota Motor Corp document?

The drawback of complex suspension is the car becomes a write-off when the system reaches its design life, which limits the car to 12-15 years use typically. If you pay £30k for a fifteen year old Rolls-Royce you'll spend £3,000 to rebuild the self-levelling suspension, but only a mad enthusiast would attempt that on an elderly mass-produced car (although I'm delighted some do). I recently paid £300 simply to replace one valve on my active system. When the car is fifteen years old and worth a couple of thousand tops, who will strip out and replace its nackered suspension (apart from me or some mad enthusiast)?

It is possible to fully rebuild Soarer active struts (the parts are listed in the EPC) for very little in terms of parts costs however the killer is the time it takes.You really need the facilities and time to do it at home http://planetsoarer.com/UZZ32/uzz32struts.htm
I used to race bikes and rebuild front forks and it's not that difficult as long as you keep everything spotlessly clean and work slowly.
The main hydraulic pumps will also be on their last legs, 13 years seem a typically lifespan.They are rebuildable but it takes 4 hours just to get the thing out of the car onto the bench.
The one big advantage Soarers have over Mercedes is Soarers don't rust ! However the quick twin turbo models fall into the hands of boy racers and their numbers are being culled at an alarming rate.

adam