Is it safe to drive?

[jberks]

F O/S Spring has broken. Rather than sitting neatly on the bottom of the strut, the bottom of the spring wrapped around the lower half of the strut down around 6-10".
I drove it back from Manchester (50 miles) and she handled fine but there's no give in the suspension (obviously) and I'm supposed to be back on the M62 tomorrow morning.
Is it safe to do another 400 miles this week or do I need to be sittig on the dealer's forecourt first thing instead?

 

[5pares]

Id say no with an e class is itl be sitting pretty low,the bottom coil has broke which is smaller than the others causing the whole spring to full down the shock as youve discovered.

 

[teddycatkin]

Forecourt definatley-- not a long job if you have a replacement handy you shoud be back on the road in an hour.

 

[jberks]

Thanks guys. Pretty much what I was thinking. There's no suspension on the front corner to speak of. Just rock hard. Not sure what she's siting on, the bump stops I guess. She rides fine and handles just fine but I did get a couple of creaks over the last few days that made me suspicious so I don't know how long its been like this. But now I know I can't really leave it. Very lucky the wheel clears the arch. It's tight but it does just clear or I'd have been looking for a new wing too.

So, based on your advice and the fact that I can't afford to take the morning off (paid by the hour) I've just been out to borrow the mother in Law's old megane so I can get to work in the morning. Not as nice as my E for the 100 mile commute but not a bad old bus.
I'll ring the dealer from Manchester and get them to come and pick the her up. Hope you're right on the 1 hour job. I'm desparately hoping to get change from £200. (Blind guess - Spring around £60??) What do you reckon my chances are?

 

[brianbrian]

I would change both while you are at it.

 

[anyweb]

he's right, otherwise the car will lean...

 

[television]

Yes more that 3 years old, then only pairs

That was bad luck Jb

 

[teddycatkin]

Your about right on the spring price --being the --ealer though you can add vat and nail varnish cost ! --It is wise always to fit springs in pairs--we get loads of them here at the local village garage with one broken -6/7 a month now due to all the speed bumps and all with a hard up budjet story -and do have to do as the customer asks and fit em just the one in many cases.
As regards the time they will have an official fixed time for each job --you can ask when you drop it off-- I do my own and get stuck in so do not work to fixed times-an hour per side would seem fair to me unless any other problems were encountered.

 

[jberks]

I've spoken to a couple of dealerships and both have quoted to replace just one. I suspect I'll get a 'recomendation' call later ;-)
£181.70 all in which I don't think is too bad for a dealer and is actually within £2 of the indie quote!

As I can't get near a dealership during office hours myself (I leave the house at 6:30am and roll back into Leeds about 7pm) I thought I'd take advantage of Mobilio. After all, it is one of the reasons I've been staying with the dealerships and I've never used it.
So far, very impressed. Very helpful, friendly and efficient. A recovery truck will be calling the Mrs shortly to arrange collection and Enterprise will call me to arrange a loan car whilst mine is in.
.
.
Just called, they've found me an E class in Huddersfield and are delivering it around 7:30 tonight!
Don't get that from the AA!

 

[Blobcat]

I've spoken to a couple of dealerships and both have quoted to replace just one. I suspect I'll get a 'recomendation' call later ;-)
£181.70 all in which I don't think is too bad for a dealer and is actually within £2 of the indie quote!

As I can't get near a dealership during office hours myself (I leave the house at 6:30am and roll back into Leeds about 7pm) I thought I'd take advantage of Mobilio. After all, it is one of the reasons I've been staying with the dealerships and I've never used it.
So far, very impressed. Very helpful, friendly and efficient. A recovery truck will be calling the Mrs shortly to arrange collection and Enterprise will call me to arrange a loan car whilst mine is in.
.
.
Just called, they've found me an E class in Huddersfield and are delivering it around 7:30 tonight!
Don't get that from the AA!

As long as it's not mine they have found....
I didn't see a sad E on the 62 yesterday but I did see quite a few accidents.

 

[jberks]

As long as it's not mine they have found....
I didn't see a sad E on the 62 yesterday but I did see quite a few accidents.

I'll let you know if they bring me a nicely loaded 320cdi
I suspect it will be a basic 220 but a merc is a merc.

Anyway - she's arrived at the dealer's now and I got the anticipated 'we recommend' call. They came up with £303.60 for the 2 which I thought was pretty good value considering I'd been happy to pay £181.70 for one, and, aside from driving into the workshop, there's no shared work on this afaik. But ever one to push my luck, I asked for a discount and we settled on £270 all-in, which all in all I'm quite happy with.

 

[Blobcat]

I'll let you know if they bring me a nicely loaded 320cdi
I suspect it will be a basic 220 but a merc is a merc.

Anyway - she's arrived at the dealer's now and I got the anticipated 'we recommend' call. They came up with £303.60 for the 2 which I thought was pretty good value considering I'd been happy to pay £181.70 for one, and, aside from driving into the workshop, there's no shared work on this afaik. But ever one to push my luck, I asked for a discount and we settled on £270 all-in, which all in all I'm quite happy with.

Good result, I've booked in Huddersfield for a "C" service next week. Price started out at £670 it is now down to £390. I will wait to see what the final total is.

 

[jberks]

Picked up the car from the dealer last night. £270 for 2 springs as promised.
Its a good few mm higher at the front now. Not sure if the broken side was pulling the other side down or whether the other side was bust too, but there is a lot more clearance over the front wheels that there was.

 

[Dosco]

I'll let you know if they bring me a nicely loaded 320cdi
I suspect it will be a basic 220 but a merc is a merc.

Anyway - she's arrived at the dealer's now and I got the anticipated 'we recommend' call. They came up with £303.60 for the 2 which I thought was pretty good value considering I'd been happy to pay £181.70 for one, and, aside from driving into the workshop, there's no shared work on this afaik. But ever one to push my luck, I asked for a discount and we settled on £270 all-in, which all in all I'm quite happy with.

That is a good price. Last summer had to have two replaced (by a MB) on a 220 cost £385.

 

[Cole@MBS]

Wouldnt be the first time wrong springs have been fitted!!

 

[jberks]

Wouldnt be the first time wrong springs have been fitted!!

crossed my mind, but she sits level and rides fine so I suspect all is well.

 

[Cole@MBS]

Sounds good to me! Not bad price either!

 

[teddycatkin]

Just thowing in my two penneth again--I will tell you first that the few mm higher is normal with new springs they will settle down a fraction in time !-
I am used to negotiating on the price of parts only (as from my prev post) and find the dealer prices unreal to my world--the price for MB work is fair you did well getting a bit knocked off --they should also call you with a customer service satisfacion follow up soon and make sure you are happy plus the work should carry a full no quibble 12 month warranty--any further problem take it staight back -it will be rectified free of any further charge so you do have peace of mind.
Get wizzing back and to again on your commute to Leeds --but just watch out for those Bast---d cameras ! Good Luck Teddy.

 

[brianbrian]

I grease my front &rear springs with a paint brush,along with brake & fuel pipes once a year.