AliExpress ABC Shock Absorbers

[Meatfeast]

Hi All.

I have recently discovered that my nearside rear left ABC shock has begun leaking badly on my 2004 C215 CL500.

I looked at the options of buying a new genuine Mercedes unit at £800 plus VAT and there are a few refurbished units on eBay at £750 plus shipping that I also considered.

I was pointed in the direction of AliExpress by another member on this forum and was astonished to find what I did, so I've taken the plunge and ordered a Shock for just £300'ish including delivery!

My question is has anybody else had experience of these parts before? I wouldn't normally ever consider buying something like this but my curiosity along with a glowing recommendation kind of gave me the impetuous to try one.

My thinking is its literally a punt, even if it buys me a little time until I can sort something else out. The ABC is still working fine, however yesterday a mechanic friend of mine ran some diagnostics (for an unrelated reason) and we got a code to say there is a problem with the aforementioned rear shock!

Any pointers, opinions or experiences would as ever be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks again and kindest regards.

 

[richlumb]

Dont forget you will have import duty to pay on that to the delivery company before they hand them over

 

[Blobcat]

@Craiglxviii is the man

 

[Craiglxviii]

Like I said when I pointed you to AliExpress, I sourced 3 struts from there (all from the same store). They came with a 24mth warranty, were physically indistinguishable from OEM Mercedes parts to either Phil @ Welwyn Merx or I, and fitted, worked and calibrated first time. They then lasted variously between 2-5 years of me having the car.

 

[Meatfeast]

Like I said when I pointed you to AliExpress, I sourced 3 struts from there (all from the same store). They came with a 24mth warranty, were physically indistinguishable from OEM Mercedes parts to either Phil @ Welwyn Merx or I, and fitted, worked and calibrated first time. They then lasted variously between 2-5 years of me having the car.

Thanks Craig, It just occurred to me that others may have used them too.

I suffer with anxiety very badly and just wanted to get others thoughts, I genuinely meant no offence.

Did you have any issues with them at all?

When you say about calibration, what needs to be done bud?

Cheers

 

[Craiglxviii]

Thanks Craig, It just occurred to me that others may have used them too.

I suffer with anxiety very badly and just wanted to get others thoughts, I genuinely meant no offence.

Did you have any issues with them at all?

When you say about calibration, what needs to be done bud?

Cheers

Not so many 215 owners on here, when I was basically rebuilding the ABC on my car there was only really @Naraic (who has spent about £3.57 on repair parts since 2014, the jammy git). Many 230 (SL) owners, and 216 (newer CL) and 231 (newer SL) owners, but not 215. There were only ever 40,000 of the things built and half went to the USA.

Edit. No offence taken! Not for a moment. Don’t worry!

There were zero issues with fitting the strut. But, once it’s been fitted the car’s ride height really should be calibrated in Star; at standard ride height (no red lights on the dash button) the centre of each wheel arch should be at 700mm when the car is on flat level ground.

If you don’t have Star you may end up with widely different strut heights, and occasionally this calibration will drift so it’s a good idea to get it checked every major service. Mine varied between +/- 5mm all round and +/- 30mm all round. But it always calibrated back to zero with the Chinese struts.

 

[Meatfeast]

Not so many 215 owners on here, when I was basically rebuilding the ABC on my car there was only really @Naraic (who has spent about £3.57 on repair parts since 2014, the jammy git). Many 230 (SL) owners, and 216 (newer CL) and 231 (newer SL) owners, but not 215. There were only ever 40,000 of the things built and half went to the USA.

Edit. No offence taken! Not for a moment. Don’t worry!

There were zero issues with fitting the strut. But, once it’s been fitted the car’s ride height really should be calibrated in Star; at standard ride height (no red lights on the dash button) the centre of each wheel arch should be at 700mm when the car is on flat level ground.

If you don’t have Star you may end up with widely different strut heights, and occasionally this calibration will drift so it’s a good idea to get it checked every major service. Mine varied between +/- 5mm all round and +/- 30mm all round. But it always calibrated back to zero with the Chinese struts.

Thanks for the information.

So its ok to fit the shock myself but I should get it calibrated asap on Star?

Did you ever have any issues with the shocks you bought?

Cheers

 

[Craiglxviii]

Thanks for the information.

So its ok to fit the shock myself but I should get it calibrated asap on Star?

Did you ever have any issues with the shocks you bought?

Cheers

I didn’t fit it myself no. For the sake of an hour’s Labour it just wasn’t worth the hassle.

And for about the third time no, I had no problems with any of the Chinese struts; one of them had done about 50,000 miles by the time I sold the car a year ago.

 

[LostKiwi]

If you fit yourself they will need bleeding. This is done via Star.
Also I would be drenching the connector in penetrating oil (not normal WD40) to make sure you can undo the connector. Also do the pressure bleed nipple. You can't undo the connector if it's under pressure.

 

[Craiglxviii]

Actually the CHF.11S is very good penetrating fluid in its own right. I’ve seen it beat WD40 in tests!

 

[00slk]

Might need a link too Craig as the 55 has sprung a leak......lol, now there's a surprise....

 

[Meatfeast]

Might need a link too Craig as the 55 has sprung a leak......lol, now there's a surprise....

Which shock has failed?

 

[00slk]

Which shock has failed?

Off side front
The Near side front was replaced with a reconditioned one from Mercedes and has covered over 30,000 miles since then

 

[Meatfeast]

Off side front
The Near side front was replaced with a reconditioned one from Mercedes and has covered over 30,000 miles since then

 

[Craiglxviii]

Might need a link too Craig as the 55 has sprung a leak......lol, now there's a surprise....

I did a search for SL struts on Aliexpress a while ago and they were double the price of those for the CL. No idea why…

 

[Craiglxviii]

Off side front
The Near side front was replaced with a reconditioned one from Mercedes and has covered over 30,000 miles since then

£800…

https://m.aliexpress.com/item/33015800095.html?spm=a2g0n.productlist.0.0.a6ceDuoHDuoHXQ&browser_id=c93c0c266cd9420ca52902b7d424e44c&aff_trace_key=e7d3ffb5d35e4ec9ae0067ee9feca4be-1637875638900-04814-_AE9atc&aff_platform=msite&m_page_id=xkvig1vkbb4caqve181c33db88119cfe3d031117f1&gclid=&pdp_npi=2%40dis%21GBP%21%21772.75%21%21%21%21%21%402100bdd816568380110794115ed1d7%2167125323735%21sea&algo_pvid=faa99e41-eee7-43ba-a3cd-fb8609b86753

 

[00slk]

£800…

https://m.aliexpress.com/item/33015800095.html?spm=a2g0n.productlist.0.0.a6ceDuoHDuoHXQ&browser_id=c93c0c266cd9420ca52902b7d424e44c&aff_trace_key=e7d3ffb5d35e4ec9ae0067ee9feca4be-1637875638900-04814-_AE9atc&aff_platform=msite&m_page_id=xkvig1vkbb4caqve181c33db88119cfe3d031117f1&gclid=&pdp_npi=2%40dis%21GBP%21%21772.75%21%21%21%21%21%402100bdd816568380110794115ed1d7%2167125323735%21sea&algo_pvid=faa99e41-eee7-43ba-a3cd-fb8609b86753

Thank you Craig. AMG stuff is always double of triple the prices
Mercedes can supply one for around the same price to me with trade discount. Never mind the Missus has plenty of money

 

[00slk]

If only I had a CL

 

[LostKiwi]

Might need a link too Craig as the 55 has sprung a leak......lol, now there's a surprise....

Leaks are a regular thing for you Peter!

 

[Meatfeast]

If only I had a CL

So sorry, my bad, I thought yours was a CL, hence the pic of the shock.

Sorry for the misunderstanding, I hope you get your car sorted out.