Roger57
Senior Member
- Joined
- May 6, 2015
- Messages
- 47
- Reaction score
- 2
- Location
- Lancashire
- Your Mercedes
- 2011 E350, 2011 A180, 1973 VW 1303
A few weeks ago I was driving home from work, about an 80 mile drive and I was about a mile from home. I moved off at a set of traffic lights and felt a bump from the back of the car. A warning message flashed up briefly and then disappeared. Got the car on my driveway and the rear of the car was practically on the deck...
After a bit of tooting about it was apparent that the plastic N/S/R air suspension sensor link had broken. A high-end prestige car literally brought to its knees and disabled by a 25p plastic part. Who'd have thought it, eh.
Had a look around the usual suppliers, couldnt find the part so I made up a temporary replacement (still going strong after a couple of thousand miles...) but I wonder if anyone knows where these parts can be obtained from, since the O/S link will likely go the same way. The problem is that the ball which fits in the socket arm corrodes over time, and of course this causes it to expand and eventually the joint seizes and the arm breaks. A couple of quid spent on stainless steel by Mercedes would have solved this but of course the accountants thought that they would save a few dollars by making the balls from ordinary mild steel, didnt they?
Euro Car Parts dont do them, nor do GSF. Rumour has it that this is a dealer part only and you have to buy the complete sensor assembly at some exhorbitant price.
Has anyone had this problem before? Does anyone know where this part may be obtained from?
If not, I shall patent my design and get it out there.....
After a bit of tooting about it was apparent that the plastic N/S/R air suspension sensor link had broken. A high-end prestige car literally brought to its knees and disabled by a 25p plastic part. Who'd have thought it, eh.
Had a look around the usual suppliers, couldnt find the part so I made up a temporary replacement (still going strong after a couple of thousand miles...) but I wonder if anyone knows where these parts can be obtained from, since the O/S link will likely go the same way. The problem is that the ball which fits in the socket arm corrodes over time, and of course this causes it to expand and eventually the joint seizes and the arm breaks. A couple of quid spent on stainless steel by Mercedes would have solved this but of course the accountants thought that they would save a few dollars by making the balls from ordinary mild steel, didnt they?
Euro Car Parts dont do them, nor do GSF. Rumour has it that this is a dealer part only and you have to buy the complete sensor assembly at some exhorbitant price.
Has anyone had this problem before? Does anyone know where this part may be obtained from?
If not, I shall patent my design and get it out there.....
