"Spring" is in the air !!

[S.Speed]

Hi everyone..
Picked up my first MB last wednesday and asked the garage I bought it from to "Re - MOT" it even though the MOT was only 3 months old..
They phoned me up and told me they had to Fail it due to a broken spring (I think it was a rear one but not sure about that)...
They have ordered the spring from MB and will fit it on Monday..

I asked them if its OK to replace just the one spring and they said "Yes its fine.. Its shockers that you replace in pairs"..

He then went on to complain about the sheer amount of Suspension springs he is having to replace due to those damned so called traffic calming measures !!

Basically I want to know if it really is OK to replace just one spring..
My car is a C270 CDI with 39,000 miles on it.
Thanks for any advice..

 

[teddycatkin]

Hi Simon --The spring issue has been raised may times bfore --at your milage and date of car you will be safe to change just the one --its become a major fault on all makes of cars now-we are getting 2/3 a week now in the workshop showing up as we do pre MOT checks and servicing. If you have an older high milage car or are particularly fussy and and a perfectionist then do both.--! ( ps have sent you a private message)

 

[mikestrivens]

I replaced the front N/S one on my S600, which had also "passed" an MOT. About a month later the O/S one went. Fortunately only about £85 each and £55 to fit each one. There are a lot of springs being replaced at the moment. Must be the season.

 

[television]

If the springs are rusty, and one has broken then they should be replaced in pairs

 

[AndrewIles]

If it were my new car I would be seeking both to be replaced! (Even if I had to pay for the additional spring, about £55)

If I have read correctly your car is a 2003. So even though the mileage is reasonably low it has been sitting on those springs for 6 years. If you can see the spring I bet it is already rusty it probably won't be too long before that one gives up the ghost!

 

[rf065]

He then went on to complain about the sheer amount of Suspension springs he is having to replace due to those damned so called traffic calming measures !!

We have speed bumps on the road through our estate, I'm amazed at the speed some people drive over them at with their cars almost airborne at some points. I'd be surprised if springs are the only thing that breaks after a while.

Russ

 

[Geezer]

I had a spring break on my CLK and Hughes of Aylesbury replaced both. They said it was their (Mercedes?) policy.

 

[television]

I had a spring break on my CLK and Hughes of Aylesbury replaced both. They said it was their (Mercedes?) policy.

And the correct one at that

 

[turbopete]

we had the same problem on dads 203 c220cdi. local merc stealers said it had broken a spring and reluctantly replaced just the 1. car was only 4yrs old with around 40k miles on and barely knew wat a speed bump was at the time. 3 months later, car went to same stealers for another job. when on the ramp, they noted and informed him that the o/s rear spring was broken. new spring was purchased, i would fit it for him. removed o/s wheel and i noticed spring lookednew. no breaks, still even had a sticker on it. removed n/s wheel spring again looked perfect if a little dirty. needless to say, a meeting was arranged between dad, the service manager and the workshop foreman, the car was put on the ramp with all 3 present and inspected. no fault was found. needless to say they get no work from us now if we are able to do it ourselves!

 

[The Rock]

I had all 4 changed last year and he sits perfectly level now. The OSF was sagging and one of the rears was broken. I would always change suspension parts in pairs.

Rock

 

[television]

I had all 4 changed last year and he sits perfectly level now. The OSF was sagging and one of the rears was broken. I would always change suspension parts in pairs.

Rock

Absolutely, rust is metal leaving the spring, and the hardening process includes the skin on the outside

 

[S.Speed]

Good news..
I dont know if it was because I was dropping hints about "Only replacing 1 spring" but when I went to pick the car up he said he had changed both rears..
He also handed over a brand new spare key which was missing when I bought the car..
The new key is sooo much more snazzy than the original that I have decided to use it all the time and to keep the old one as the spare..
I commented that it was smart..
He said " It Bl**dy should be for £215 !!!!!!!!!!
God how can they justify a price like that for a key ??

Anyway it was not me that paid for it so I dont know why I am gasping at the price.

 

[television]

Most of the money for a key is to do with the handling of the order and the time to program it, they are not cheap to make, and a 1 million off price would be in the order of £20