W211 Tailgate gas struts replacement - VIN # WDB211220 2B382603

[johnsco]

My gas struts in the E280 cdi Estate tailgate have been getting tired for some time.
The cold weather has caught me out.
The tailgate came crashing down on the top of my head and nearly floored me.
[Lessons in foul language for all the neighbours]

Is the job doable for an aging enthusiast ..... On my own ?
I've checked the diagram and parts list on Nemiga Parts.
It looks like the left and right sides are different part numbers.
There also seems to be a whole number of options.

Is there a write-up ?
Do I need any parts in addition to the two struts ?
Is there an alternative supplier who will supply the correct parts ?

I really need some guidance before starting a job like this.
Help please.

 

[pretzelmeister]

My gas struts in the E280 cdi Estate tailgate have been getting tired for some time.
The cold weather has caught me out.
The tailgate came crashing down on the top of my head and nearly floored me.
[Lessons in foul language for all the neighbours]

Is the job doable for an aging enthusiast ..... On my own ?
I've checked the diagram and parts list on Nemiga Parts.
It looks like the left and right sides are different part numbers.
There also seems to be a whole number of options.

Is there a write-up ?
Do I need any parts in addition to the two struts ?
Is there an alternative supplier who will supply the correct parts ?

I really need some guidance before starting a job like this.
Help please.

It's definitely doable, with a bit of patience. Used someone else's write-up and have done myself - twice now- ok N separate cars. Watching football just now - will update later.

 

[johnsco]

Thanks Pretzelmeister.
I hope you can guide me if you can access the write-up.
Thanks.
J.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

My gas struts in the E280 cdi Estate tailgate have been getting tired for some time.
The cold weather has caught me out.
The tailgate came crashing down on the top of my head and nearly floored me.
[Lessons in foul language for all the neighbours]

Is the job doable for an aging enthusiast ..... On my own ?
I've checked the diagram and parts list on Nemiga Parts.
It looks like the left and right sides are different part numbers.
There also seems to be a whole number of options.

Is there a write-up ?
Do I need any parts in addition to the two struts ?
Is there an alternative supplier who will supply the correct parts ?

I really need some guidance before starting a job like this.
Help please.

Didn't have to do it to my S211 and S212, but have done it many a time on my BMW 330is and 530is - those always fail after a decade.

Very straightforward unskilled process. Replacement OEM parts easily sourced from Amazon or Euro Car Parts.

You will need an "assistant" to just hold the rear door up while you replace the part. You can use a piece of wood but it's easier if someone can just hold up the door for you.

Mike

 

[johnsco]

Thanks Mike
I checked the ECP site and it came up with this:
"Stabilus Boot Strut (Rear Right)"
Price is just over £100.
Since I need a pair, that's not so helpful.
According to the Nemigaparts site, the left and right struts are not the same part no.
There are also many variants.
From my VIN No., can anyone provide actual MB part nos.

 

[Flyinspanner]

mercedes 211 tailgate gas struts for sale | eBay

Find great deals on eBay for mercedes 211 tailgate gas struts. Shop with confidence.

www.ebay.co.uk

search eBay - there’s loads on there.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

That’s insane. I paid ECP £40 net of discount for the last pair I did back in 2019 on my 530i. (Bilsteins)

You will find OEM parts on Amazon, EBay and ECP. Bear in mind that ECP will run discount deals after Christmas as they do promos every month of the year.

“If” these are the correct model for your VIN, they’re £100 for the pair, not £100 each from Amazon Prime. (Delivery within 24 hours)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/febi-bilst...bilstein+32045+and+32046+,aps,43&sr=8-1-fkmr0

Here’s a write up from an Mbclub member on how to do the replacement on an S211. From my notes it seems I used this back in 2018 although I’d forgotten this earlier.

Personally, I didn’t find it as time consuming as he did, and I’m just a jumped up desk jockey who hasn’t done much maintenance work myself since I was 30.

S211 tailgate strut replacement notes | Bodywork

Here’s some chitchat about Stabilus replacements. (Difference between right and left as well as instructions)

Tailgate Struts part number needed S211 | Bodywork

 

[johnsco]

Thanks guys.
That's what I needed.
I'm sure I'll be able to do the job with the guidance in those links.
Cheers and All-The-Best.
John

 

[johnsco]

I ordered the two struts from Autodoc ... Both Febi Bilsteins :-

Rear Tailgate Left A2119801964 /Febi 32045
Rear Tailgate Right A2119802064 /Febi 32046

Order placed and paid for 21.12.22
Received here in Leeds 29.12.22
Pretty good service .... And the correct parts.
I could have probably got them cheaper - But I'm confident they're correct.
I'm now looking for some warmer weather.

Order subtotal : £127.02​

Delivery : £8.45​

Security Delivery : £3.95​

Total amount: £139.42 ​

 

[amazighman]

Carparts in motion have them on ebay , bought mine from them.

Job is easy enough , you ll need a smallish pry bar

 

[92Adam]

I ordered the two struts from Autodoc ... Both Febi Bilsteins :-

Rear Tailgate Left A2119801964 /Febi 32045
Rear Tailgate Right A2119802064 /Febi 32046

Order placed and paid for 21.12.22
Received here in Leeds 29.12.22
Pretty good service .... And the correct parts.
I could have probably got them cheaper - But I'm confident they're correct.
I'm now looking for some warmer weather.

Order subtotal : £127.02​

Delivery : £8.45​

Security Delivery : £3.95​

Total amount: £139.42 ​

From memory I paid £90 including delivery for Stabilus struts from AUTODOC just a couple of months ago…
I watched my mobile mechanic fit them & it was quite a tricky & fiddly job from memory as they had never been changed…
I’m sure there was a useful youtube video which I will put a link up when I find…

 

[92Adam]

Found it…

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[johnsco]

Thanks Malcolmx92.
That's a real helpful video.
Many Many Thanks !
Happy New Year.

 

[ray_hennig]

Both Febi Bilsteins

It'll be interesting to hear what the quality of those is like, given the variable quality of Febi parts.

Good luck, hope they're OK.

RayH

 

[johnsco]

Hi Ray.
I know what you mean about Febi parts.
The items in the Febi packs are engraved with the name "STABILUS - Made in Germany".
I'll have a go at fitting them when we get a warm day.

 

[ray_hennig]

The items in the Febi packs are engraved with the name "STABILUS - Made in Germany".

Great. You sometimes find that with Febi. I received Febi flex discs and was prepared to send them back until I saw that they are made by SGF in Germany so OK.

The trouble is that some people believe Febi to be in some way connected with the Bilstein damper people. Not true.

Glad you received good stuff.

R

 

[johnsco]

OK - So I got the two struts back in December.
Unfortunately I suffered a bad fall on 7th January, resulting in a head injury and serious concussion.
This caused me to experience dizziness if I moved my head away from the normal position - So - I've not been able to do the strut replacement until this week. I'm about 95 per cent OK - It could have been worse !

Using the video (Post #12), I made a start on the right-hand strut yesterday.
I managed to complete this first side today.
BUT - What an awkward, fiddly job it was.
Every aspect of the replacement was a pain.
I got rained off as I was starting the left hand strut - So that's a job for tomorrow.
Hopefully, I've now learned the tricks, so the second side should be easier.

I had to unfasten and move out of the way the black plastic trim round the hinge - fastened by two plastic expansion rivets.
Also the long black plastic trim down the side of the frame - fastened by a slightly different set of plastic expansion rivets.
It's hard to see why they are different fasteners.
They appear to do exactly the same job and are interchangeable.
Unfortunately, as you press out the pin in the upper rivets, the plastic pin disappears out of sight.
Also one of the side-strip rivets broke.
Does anyone have part numbers - I can't find them on Nemigaparts.
Or does anyone have a link to an ebay source.
See photos.

 

[johnsco]

Success - The two gas struts are replaced and the tailgate opens and closes like when it was new.
[No more head-aches when it falls unexpectedly].
Once I knew the tricks, the second strut was done in half the time.
It was still something of a pig to do.
I did the job on my own.
See photo for supporting the tailgate, which is heavy.
Small adjustments of position are needed to line up the ball joints with the mountings points.
This is achieved by altering the angle of the wooden support.
To snap the ball joints onto the mounting points, I used a combination of a flat-blade screw-driver and a strong prying bar.
See photo.
I would appreciate an answer to my question regarding the expansion rivets in post #17.
Thanks.
J.

 

[johnsco]

See post #17.
I searched ebay for these expansion rivets.
There are thousands !!!
I order and received these:

Pardon our interruption...

They are not exactly the same.
They are a bit shorter.
But they have completed the job.
For £2.99, they are good enough.

 

[Troutman]

In the process of doing this and all fairly easy only I ordered these from SGS and they're totally not right , I think someone said they might be for the floor panel in the boot!! Not the actual tailgate as advertised. Wasted days waiting for them and now I have to pay to return them as they won't accept any responsibility. https://www.sgs-engineering.com/gsc1672-mercedes-e-class-tailgate-strut...don't order these !!!
Ordered some correct FEBI ones. In hindsight if i'd removed them first this wouldn't have happened but I wanted to fit them instantly.
So the clips do break and I found the exact ones from vehicleclips.co.uk

These Push Pin Plastic Rivet for Bumpers & Arches, 5mm Hole, Mercedes A0009903492

and these Interior Trim Panel Rivet, Mercedes-Benz A0009915940