W203 avantgarde suspension

[ampwhu]

I have been trying to buy replacement front shocks for my car but have hit a brick wall. the car is an avant-garde se. its late 2004.

according to a Mercedes supplier, my car isn't fitted with sports suspension. the code is 486??????? this means nothing to me except maybe a London bus route.

ive looked at my data card that is with the service book and there is no code 486. codes listed are:

249
354
386
423
461
474
500
523
543
551
580
613
668
690
693
805
882
926
954
983
989
R19

anyone have an idea what any of that means?

thanks as always

 

[GP801]

Go direct to MB. They will know exactly the right ones and in my experience are not too costly for springs and shocks. At least they will be the correct items. Avantgarde spec did not come with sports suspension as standard although many think they did. It was optional though.

 

[ampwhu]

thanks for the reply, I shall find out by going to MB then as I feel they are the only ones to give me the correct answer.

 

[HB]

Easier than that, just go get to Ecp and buy the Sachs shocks for sports suspension about £100 each and your problem is solved.

 

[MWCLS]

OEM Springs should have a paint colour blob on them denoting which ones you require..something to do with the options fitted to the car and kerb weight.

 

[markjay]

If you pay £10 or so for an EPC subscription, you can enter your car's VIN online and get the exact Part Number for the shocks you need.

 

[markjay]

http://www.service-and-parts.net/dcagportal/DCAGPortal/portal.action

 

[ampwhu]

Easier than that, just go get to Ecp and buy the Sachs shocks for sports suspension about £100 each and your problem is solved.

according to this supplier, sports suspension code is 486. this doesn't appear on my data card. therefore I cant see it having sports suspension fitted.

would you know the difference between the 2 set ups? they look the same to me.

 

[ampwhu]

OEM Springs should have a paint colour blob on them denoting which ones you require..something to do with the options fitted to the car and kerb weight.

there looks like 2 x yellow marks on the springs.

 

[MWCLS]

there looks like 2 x yellow marks on the springs.

There's your answer, have a chat with your local MB parts dept, Hopefully you'll speak to someone fairly in the know.

 

[Leabrooks]

Did your shocks get sorted? I came across the same problem with my late 2004 CLK Avantgarde....from what I can make out Avantgarde models do not have true sports suspension unless ordered with 'sports' package code 486, they use standard struts, and anti-roll bars etc but they DO have slightly shorter firmer springs, allegedly?

 

[ampwhu]

Did your shocks get sorted? I came across the same problem with my late 2004 CLK Avantgarde....from what I can make out Avantgarde models do not have true sports suspension unless ordered with 'sports' package code 486, they use standard struts, and anti-roll bars etc but they DO have slightly shorter firmer springs, allegedly?

I am really grateful for this leabrooks. I have asked this question for a couple of weeks as this thumping noise from the front rhs, is driving me insane when I go over speed bumps etc.

yesterday, I got 2 standard struts from GSF using their weekend discount code of 35% for £75. (for 2 shocks). the reg number of my car was entered on the site and its what it came up with. they look a match to me. I've also purchased 2 front springs from Germany (advert stated avant-garde models) and these look short to me. no yellow blobs though. I got 2 strut tops and rubber buffers as well from Germany. strut tops are the same both sides I hope???

so I have all the parts to 'build' up both sides off the car if you like. if I can find someone to compress the springs locally, then it will be a case of just unbolting the old and bolting on the new. right?? I've been told that they are difficult to compress without the correct spring compressor, so have been advised to go to a Mercedes specialist. is this right?

thanks again and with the right info, I should be able to fit some new suspension parts this week.

just a note: the car has passed 2 annual tests with no play in any steering / suspension arms/bushes so no need to replace any of that.

 

[Tim203]

Hi Ampwhu, just changed a front spring on my 04 W203 which failed the mot on a broken coil,( seems like nobody can temper a spring properly these days, never used to happen!) It was an easy job to take the strut off, if it's the same as mine you'll need a new cable tie to hold the plastic brake pipe retainer onto the strut. Yes, get someone with a proper compressor to swap the parts.The small left/ right hand threaded ones that hook on the springs won't suffice. The travel of the spring is so short you can only hook onto neighbouring coils and the threads on the tool don't clear the top and bottom seats. I'm interested to hear that the Avantgarde models aren't normally fitted with 'sports suspension'. Good to know because it shows that the journalists aren't always properly informed. I must find the spec for my car 'cos if it hasn't got a sports spec I cannot imagine a poorer ride quality at lower speeds than it already has. The roads in Devon appear to have got considerably worse since I bought it

 

[ampwhu]

did you change just the one spring? I did this recently on the wifes for focus at crimbo and last weekend, the other side snapped. so in future I will change both sides. this job was easy and I did it myself.

I shall have a good look before taking it all apart to see if the spring has actually snapped. mot man didn't notice it, but that was back in December when it was tested.

 

[Tim203]

Yes, just the one, the break had occurred near the end of the spring so had little or no effect on suspension movement.