2004 E320CDI front suspension failure

[BrianM]

Driving along and it felt like I had a flat tyre. Got out and had a look, all tyres ok. Got home and parked up on the drive. Son came out and remarked that the front of the car looked low and the wheel arch was close to the tyre. On closer inspection it was, looks like the front suspension has collapsed!

I've a service plus contract on the car and it's been recovered by Roadside Assist to my local MB garage. The man who collected it said he's recovered a few E class's recently with the same problem. Hopefully it'll be covered under my service plus contract, the garage are going to have a look at it in the morning. He says it's likely that one of the coil springs has failed. I'll keep you posted.

Anyone else had this problem?

 

[television]

It depends on whether you have the active or standard suspension

 

[BrianM]

It depends on whether you have the active or standard suspension

Not sure, I'm not aware that it's active suspension so I'd say it was standard. Will find out more tomorrow after the cars been inspected but just with the recovery man saying he'd seen quite a few recently made me wonder if it was a common (and expensive) fault.

 

[Cole@MBS]

Spring snapped, common as hell now with the 211, did one today!!

 

[BrianM]

Spring snapped, common as hell now with the 211, did one today!!

Thanks, I'm pretty sure that's what it'll be. Not good for a supposed 'quality car'! I've a service plus contract which I'm hoping/expecting will cover the repair. Just out of interest how much would it cost if I hadn't this in place?

 

[Martin Ellis]

Suspension

Hi
I've got a 2004 E220CDI estate, owned from new, 25,000 miles. Looked at in my drive, front offside is right down over the wheel - looks like the spring has failed. I'll be ringing MB tomorrow to see if they will do anything for me!
Would be interested in knowing your outcome and anyone else with similar faults and is this common.

 

[Cole@MBS]

As i have already said, its getting very common.

Welcome to the forums

 

[television]

Welcome Martin to the forum

 

[Mercedes 190E]

But WHY is it so common? I have a 45 year old Rover P6 that has NEVER broken a spring. My Porsche 924 broke one last month....but it is 27 years old! A "quality" car shouldnt be breaking up after 5 years!

 

[television]

But WHY is it so common? I have a 45 year old Rover P6 that has NEVER broken a spring. My Porsche 924 broke one last month....but it is 27 years old! A "quality" car shouldnt be breaking up after 5 years!

They are thinner and lighter, this can make them faster to respond, but easily broken. Volvo's do not break springs, but many others do including most cars from Japan

 

[Xtractorfan]

I have even known one that broke whilst sitting in the garage, the recent cold spell also seems to have caused a few breakages...

 

[BrianM]

The car is now back with me and they've replaced both front coil springs under my service plus contract. Still staggered that they've failed though!

 

[television]

The car is now back with me and they've replaced both front coil springs under my service plus contract. Still staggered that they've failed though!

I agree its not good, as said before this is a new hazard in motor cars, they never broke in the 60's and 70's even on large cars like a XJ6

 

[Blobcat]

I agree its not good, as said before this is a new hazard in motor cars, they never broke in the 60's and 70's even on large cars like a XJ6

My father had the rear springs fail twice on his XJ6

 

[television]

My father had the rear springs fail twice on his XJ6

It could have been a later version than the ones that I had, I think that the latest one that I had was around 1979

 

[Blobcat]

It could have been a later version than the ones that I had, I think that the latest one that I had was around 1979

His was an 82, apart form the springs, 3 engines, rust behind the headlights and poor ventilation it was a good car.

 

[television]

His was an 82, apart form the springs, 3 engines, rust behind the headlights and poor ventilation it was a good car.

Yes those 4.2 engines could fail.blowing pistons, and eating up oil, the odd thing was that you could re build one, all bores good, and it would smoke like mad, shame really

 

[type49]

As i have already said, its getting very common.

Welcome to the forums

I 2nd that!!
Only consolation is that BMW 3 series are even worse for breaking

 

[Cole@MBS]

I 2nd that!!
Only consolation is that BMW 3 series are even worse for breaking

Thats one up for the star then

 

[wireman]

Does anybody else out there think that the proliferation of so called traffic calming safety measures (speed humps) may be in some way significant in the respect of premature wear of suspension parts? It is not only mercs that are suffering from suspension failiures.