W140 with leaking suspension Help..

[NigelOB]

I have a leak on one of the pipes for the rear self leveling suspension of my S280. It stopped a couple of weeks ago but has started again after the car returned fromthe body shop (another story), a couple of indies have quoted £250 + just to replace the leaking section stating its special pipe. is this correct?? I have just spent nearly £1k replacing the bonnet and the wife will kill me if I spend anymore on the car.. All comments and assistance welcome..

 

[grober]

I doubt that its anything but standard hydraulic pipe. Might have an unusual bore size-don't know. Any brake specialist should be able to make up something for you. The cost may be because its in an awkward location which might mean dropping the rear subframe to run /access it. A good automobile engineer could dream up a work around I'm sure.

 

[NigelOB]

Thats what I thought I think its standard 8mm steel hydraulic pipe as he said would use standard compression joints. The leak is at the front so nothing to drop apart from the plastic cover. I get the feeling that a lot of these guys dont like touching the suspension so make up stupid prices.. He said it would be over a grand to replace the pipes the run from the pump to the compensator which is infront of the rear wheel

 

[moakesr]

If it is any consolation, I am in the same boat with my 500SL

I have bought a new pipe, however I have to drop the subframe to change it.... looks like I will be waiting until spring!

Sounds expensive BTW, the pipe cost me about £50

Richard

 

[grober]

Maybe he's quoting the price of the mercedes part. Have a look here.
http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb2.as...GM=717.438&CT=F&cat=19B&SID=32&SGR=285&SGN=10 and then look up the part price here http://www.mercedes-benz-parts.co.uk/ you may have to phone them for aprice if its not listed?
remember to put an A before the part no if its not there already!

 

[NigelOB]

Thanks Grober, that spot on nothing more than £20, looking at the breakdown I think I will check the hoses as its poss the fluid is running down the pipe and floor as there is fluid all over the floor pan in that area.. and it did stop the last time a topped it up and moved pipe round. looking at the pics looks like mine has sls and asd. I think he A: doesnt want job or B: having a laugh as he said he would only replace the area round the leak..

Will get it up on ramps and have a rake if weather good

 

[NigelOB]

Done yahooo Cost £4.59 for a in line straight one cut with the dremmel 5 mins later jobs done and I only have the use of one hand..

So what this guy was on about I don't know I have found a next to Gateshead Stadium called autopipe he said if need could make the whole pipe for around £15.. At the other guys rates he's charging more than a main dealer !!

Nevermind all done.. Does the system self bleed or is there a bleed point am not sure wether the pipe supplied the diff or the suspension..

Thanks for all of your help 1 done now to sort the 190 out :

 

[BlackC55]

I know where the other garage is coming from as I have just done a repair on a 140 for some suspension issues and needed to replace some pipework. I got a local pipe making company to make me a pipe. The pipe from MB was on back order and the car could not move becuase of the lack of pipe.

The pipe they made leaked.....badly. It spat all of the oil out on the road outside the workshop. They are a well known pipe making outfit too.

I had to wait for a geniune pipe to arrive and drop the subframe a bit to fit it. A very fiddly job with limited acess, but it was done properly with the proper pipework and does not leak.

It is all about making sure the car is 100% perfect when it leaves and not relying on someone else for such a critical part. So thats why they quoted so much.

 

[NigelOB]

I would have understood if that was the case, however the pipe in question runs along the floor and is not obstructed in anyway in fact I didn't even have to put the car on ramps to do the job. The quote of £250 was for them to make a section up and splice it in using inline connectors which is what I have done. to change the pipe that joints just behind the front wheel and terminates in a baffle at the just in front of the rear wheel was over £1000 Bearing in mind the only thing that needs to be removed is the plastic in the wheel arch and the screws the remove the brackets holding the pipe to the floor.