SRS LIGHT CURE - leaky self levelling strut

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stivesvelo

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Well here it is, having covered approx 100k mls in my ownership (154k total), much of which was with the srs light on I was forced to get rid of it for the mot.

(2002 W210 320 cdi estate AG)

A couple of years ago it was checked out by indie with star & the red dash light stayed on but the one on the centre console went out, his diagnosis was no communication with the srs ecu, but he said the airbags would function so I left it till now (others disagreed).

With the new mot I had to get rid of it, read all of the various threads & thought of changing the seat pad & other suggestions. Rang up indie who remembered checking it & said I need to change the ecu before anything else.

Rang Mercedes & quoted £375 ish + but need to order from Germany, 2 yr warranty no returns.

Rang Dronsfield on Friday, £35+ vat & del. 3 month warranty, got it sent to indie, arrived approx 12.00 today & fitted shortly after, 3 errors on unit cleared(approx 20 minutes in all), all ok. total job incl parts vat etc less than £100. Very happy with the result as it was a lot less hassle/cost than expected.

Used part from Charltons breakers £175 +vat + del.

MOT this pm - ok

Advisory for light corrosion on rear brake pipes & leaking right rear strut (had this since I had the first mot.

Are these units serviceable for new seals etc or any alternative replacements (non self levelling ?) or is it a case of shelling out a large wedge of cash?

Open to suggestions as it doesn't lose much fluid, last top up a year ago & still above the max & have been told they all do that!

Rob
 
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television

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With struts if misting then no problem for the MOT, if dripping then a failure
 

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Thanks,

Need to give it a good wash to find out

Any fluid in the bottom joint would indicate a leak, the whole strut can look oily and that is OK, I washed one down to see and it stayed the same for years
 

television

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If a strut has misted it has therefore leaked and is therefore unsafe and should be changed immediately.

Please take read of the MOT guidelines on this, you are wrong
 

Miffy

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If a strut has misted it has therefore leaked and is therefore unsafe and should be changed immediately.

3. Examine each shock absorber for fluid leaks.

Note; Ensure that any fluid near the unit is from the shock absorber and not from
another source,

Slight seepage causing a film of fluid on a shock absorber is not a reason for
rejection.


http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_270.htm
 

whitenemesis

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What about section 2.4 D 2 which deals with Fluid/Gas/Air Suspension systems? Doesn't this section more correctly describe the ABC and AIRmatic suspension set-ups?
 

st4

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What about section 2.4 D 2 which deals with Fluid/Gas/Air Suspension systems? Doesn't this section more correctly describe the ABC and AIRmatic suspension set-ups?

Exactly, under MB guidelines any fluid based strut like on ABC if has any leakage needs changed. I've been told this by two top drawer Mercedes specialists. Perhaps our resident expert would care to discuss this with them further.

It's also an MOT fail for the reason you post.
 

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Exactly, under MB guidelines any fluid based strut like on ABC if has any leakage needs changed. I've been told this by two top drawer Mercedes specialists. Perhaps our resident expert would care to discuss this with them further.

It's also an MOT fail for the reason you post.

You do not know and all hear say, where as I have owned a car that had a misted rear strut. It was seen by a special guy from MB head offices at the Exeter branch when two leaking struts were replaced and the misted strut did not need to be replaced as all OK. The car had 6 MOT's while in my owner ship with no advisories, mainly from all different sources, the car was sold and Had an MOT with Mercedes in the midlands with no advisories and has since had another from a Mercedes dealer down South.

What makes you think that your so called experts had any more training than Mercedes themselves.
 

television

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6 unwise MOTs and six years piloting an unsafe car.

Not something to boast about.

You know nothing at all about the subject and just here to wind things up in your usual way by ignoring who has checked the car.

It is post like this that make me put you back on my ignore list
 

Cavanmick

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I cant speak for england but in Ireland I am an NCT tester which is the same as your mot and a misted strut will absolutely NOT fail the test, in all honesty it would take many hundreds of thousands of miles for a strut to empty itself if its just dampening the outside of it.

Sent from my GT-I9305
 

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I cant speak for england but in Ireland I am an NCT tester which is the same as your mot and a misted strut will absolutely NOT fail the test, in all honesty it would take many hundreds of thousands of miles for a strut to empty itself if its just dampening the outside of it.

Sent from my GT-I9305

Thank you and a man from heaven :D:D:D:D:D:D
 

whitenemesis

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I cant speak for england but in Ireland I am an NCT tester which is the same as your mot and a misted strut will absolutely NOT fail the test, in all honesty it would take many hundreds of thousands of miles for a strut to empty itself if its just dampening the outside of it.

Sent from my GT-I9305

Is it the same for standard shock absorbers and for ABC and AIRmatic systems?
 

Cavanmick

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We cannot differentiate between systems, our guidelines are set by the RSA (road safety authority) and it states that if there is not visible pooling of fluid or dripping from it we cannot fail it as it is safe, thinking logically if the strut holds 500mls of fluid for arguments sake then how long is it going to take to empty when it is just enough to make dust stick to the outside of the tube, of course Mercedes will recommend a change at any sign of a leak as they are making money from it.

Sent from my GT-I9305
 

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The top indie in Scotland, who advises the official club would recommend changing a strut if there was any sign of oil as would a top indie on the south coast.

Basically two top MB trained people say this and they know more than me so would respect their judgement.
 

Cavanmick

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Are either of them willing to say how long it will take to leak enough fluid out of the system to deem it unsafe. Going by their logic it would mean if your engine develops a tiny oil leak you shoukd throw it over your shoulder and fit a new one.....

.

Sent from my GT-I9305
 

television

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The top indie in Scotland, who advises the official club would recommend changing a strut if there was any sign of oil as would a top indie on the south coast.

A top Indie knows more than Mercedes own special adviser in these matters:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

Basically two top MB trained people say this and they know more than me so would respect their judgement.

Exactly and you know nothing about the subject at all, where as I do, you are just here to wind things up up :lol::lol::lol:
 
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