W124 Dampers

[pongee]

I have just purchased a 92 260E for about GBP10K here, and for this you get a rather worn interior, no history, but that's just the way it is here unfortunately.

Amongst the many other jobs to be done on the car, the suspension needs to be sorted (bushes, dampers, etc.). I was just wondering what everyone uses for their dampers, and any recommendations that anyone might have.

Apparently the main choices out here are Bilstein & Boge. My fathers 93 200E was fitted with Bilsteins a while back and I found them to be a bit too firm for my liking.

My only priority is for comfort, KL's general standard for road repairs are that they should be at least 3 inches below or above the road surface, with sharp edges. I've lived in the UK, and the roads are much better there!

Would greatly appreciate your feedback.

PS: Andy Gayle, would dearly like to visit well informed independent garages such as yours, though I fear that the journey is a tad too far.

 

[teky]

for dampers/shochers i would go for original parts that were designed for that car rather than look at named brands which are mainly for upgrades to stiffer and better road holding qualitys which is a cost to comfort, original all the time these cars were designed for comfort and MB knew what was needed to achieve that

 

[mjtray]

£10k for a 260E.......blimey!......we should set up in business exporting 124's to Malaysia

What's the mileage on the car you've just purchased?

Cheers

 

[pongee]

Blimey..

Teky,

Thanks for your response - I agree with you 100%. Please excuse the next daft question - when you say original MB parts, does that mean that the dampers will actually be MB (badged) units in an MB box etc. A bit blur here..

Someone must OEM them though, as the term stealership doesn't even begin to describe the one & only local distributor (try GBP60K for a new E200 without very many toys). Have been told BOGE??

Mjtray,

They used to do that by the boatload ages ago (my Dad's 200E I mention above was a personal import back in 97) - that's why used 124s were/are a bit scarce in the UK. However, the Asian economic collapse caused the govt to put and end to this practise....

Cheers,

 

[teky]

find out what the spec mb use on the dampers then look to aftermarket options that give the same spec, it dosnt have to be mb stamped that costs you what you want is an equal to it and the same quality at half the price, im not knocking mb because they supply high quality parts but so do other manufactures and they all give the same warrenty

 

[Robert Cox]

Pongee,

I've just replaced all 4 dampers on my '86 230E W124, plus the rear springs and bought them relatively close to you (I was on a business trip to Singapore).

I got them from a MB parts place, but they are Bilsteins without the MB logo (which makes them a lot cheaper). I paid SGD$50 for the rear dampers and SGD$70 for the front struts (about GBP16 and GBP22 resp.)

This was a fraction of the rip-off prices we are forced to pay downunder.

Would they be the same price in KL? If not, is it worth getting them put on the train from Singapore???

Robert

 

[pongee]

Prices

Teky & Robert,

Thanks for your responses. I guess Bilsteins are the OEM item - just need to make sure that I don't get the firmer 'sport' items the parts suppliers seem to favour - as if I want to drive my Merc like an Evo or something.

Prices in KL are a bit dearer that Singapore (free port hence tax free) due to duties levied on car parts. Having them brought up will attract similar duties. The prices you mention are really cheap - maybe worth following my wife down there on her next trip. You couldn't give me the name/address of the place could you?

Mjtray, mileage is currently 190K km - 110K miles in old money...

Cheers,

 

[willydog]

pongee

go for Bilstein if you can source them as they are the best. There are
3 different types: comfort, heavy duty or sport

since you don't want a firm ride go for Bilstein comfort ones, which are similar to OEM

 

[Robert Cox]

Pongee,

The place I bought the dampers from was...

TYE SOON LTD.
64 Toh Guan Road Singapore 608832
Phone : (65) 6567 8101(sales) / 6567 8601 (admin) ; Fax : (65) 6567 8884
Email : busdevt@tyesoon.com
Website : www.tyesoon.com

I actually got my parts from their branch in Waterloo St close to my hotel. Their details are...

TYE SOON LIMITED
Address : Blk 261, Waterloo Street, #01-31, 33, 35 & 37, Waterloo Centre, Singapore 180261
Telephone Number: (65) 63366439, 63366431, 63366433, 63366434, 63366435, 65678601, 65678604, 65678101, 65678105.
Fascimile Number: (65) 63369106, 63395469, 65678884, 65678211
Email Address: tyesoon1@singnet.com.sg

Cheers

 

[pongee]

Bilstein

Willydog,

Thanks for the info - I shall seek out the Comfort spec Bilsteins as advised.

Robert,

Many thanks for the info on your Singapore shop. I shall certainly look into this as the prices look really attractive. Which type of Bilsteins did you go for i.e. comfort, HD, etc.?

Cheers chaps, & thanks again for all your helpful input.

 

[Robert Cox]

I went for HD, because I carry my mountain bike on the back, plus pull a trailer, and with 5 adults in the car it was grounding on rough roads during our Christmas vacation trip. (Which is why I replaced the springs too after 350K kms).

It rides absolutely perfectly fully loaded, but I must say, initially, it felt very firm with only one or two people and an empty boot. However, either it has "settled in" or we've got used to the harder suspension, but we don't notice the firmness anymore and it handles like magic.

Cheers.

 

[pongee]

Suspension & other bits

Hi Robert,

I couldn't wait any longer and have ended up renewing all dampers (black Bilstein Comforts), bushes (inc. rear subframe), steerings bits (rods, dampers, links). While they were at it, they also replaced the dizzy cap, rotor, plug leads, fuel filter & hoses, propshaft coupling, rear wheel bearings + other bits and pieces. Oh, and 4 new Michelin Energy's.

It appears that the previous owners never believed in doing anything beyond basic servicing. Thankfully the engine & gearbox appear to be OK. However, the cooling & A/C systems will probably require looking at when I've recovered from this bill (will be quite a while me thinks..)

She now rides like a merc should (though I do concur with that initial firmness - was told that they require some months to 'settle in'), and is a somewhat calmer place to be than my old ride.

The damage? Circa USD3.5K!! Hurts badly, but I must have spent more on my old car, though never in one go.

I might have the chance to nip down to Singapore next week, will try to squeeze in a visit to Tye Soon while I'm there for some other bits.

Take care,

pongee.

 

[NormanB]

Bargain - you would have paid tons more here!!

 

[Robert Cox]

US$3500!! About half the value of my 230E! And that's cheap by UK standards , Norman?

Still, it's worth having a Merc that feels like a Merc.

I guess our low Aussie $ means our $55/hour labour is cheap (about GBP20). I've done everything on the 230E myself, including replacing the head gasket, camshaft etc. so I guess I've saved heaps.

Happy Benzing...

 

[pongee]

Costs

Did I also mention that this included 4 new brake discs & pads + installation of (existing) ICE equipment. And a horrendously expensive seat belt set for the drivers seat only (USD340!).

I reckon the parts are dearer here, but we make up for that in lower labour costs. Of the 3500, only about 25% is labour, the rest is for over-taxed and over-priced spare parts. I think the ratio would be slightly different in Blighty...

I shall be looking to source some cheaper seat belts - hopefully Singapore will be able to provide this. I think I need to learn from Robert and do more of the work myself.

And I certainly agree with Robert about having a merc that feels like one - all the mechanics also kept saying this to me. Maybe it was their way of sweetening their bitter pill.... But now every time I get behind the wheel I certainly feel like it's worth it.

Cheers,

pongee