duncanh
Senior Member
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2007
- Messages
- 390
- Reaction score
- 1
- Location
- Wiltshire
- Your Mercedes
- BMW 520d SE F10, formerly c220cdi estate (for 12.5 years and 345k miles), before that w124 and w210
I have had a thump on bumps/potholes for the last 3 years on my s203 (2002). It sounds like suspension (I have tried just about everything else). With no tools/spare wheel, load covers and with the tailgate open it still rattles. An indie told me it was a broken spring. I have taken the spring out and can guarantee that it is not broken. It has now passed its last 3 MOT tests like this. No one can find any play anywhere around the rear suspension. The exhaust is not hitting, there appears to be no play in the rear subframe bushes. It is less apparent when the car is loaded (or maybe that is imagination).
The one thing that no one has mentioned is the self levelling spheres. I have one of the few W203s with SLS. Is this the sort of thing that could happen with a worn sphere? If it is the sphere, would it not show up at MOT time? There is no sign of any sagging at the rear.
I don't think that replacement spheres are available other than from MB.
Is there a way that the operation of a sphere can be tested?
The car has done 303K miles, the only bits of the rear suspension that have been changed are the ARB bushes and droplinks. The diff damping bushes have also been changed.
It would be nice to get rid of this noise. It is a dull thump.
I would welcome any other suggested possibilities.
The one thing that no one has mentioned is the self levelling spheres. I have one of the few W203s with SLS. Is this the sort of thing that could happen with a worn sphere? If it is the sphere, would it not show up at MOT time? There is no sign of any sagging at the rear.
I don't think that replacement spheres are available other than from MB.
Is there a way that the operation of a sphere can be tested?
The car has done 303K miles, the only bits of the rear suspension that have been changed are the ARB bushes and droplinks. The diff damping bushes have also been changed.
It would be nice to get rid of this noise. It is a dull thump.
I would welcome any other suggested possibilities.