W163 rear springs

[joderest]

Just over 4 years ago, i replaced both rear struts (with springs) on our old ML270, bought from ECP.( not the car, the struts !!!)
Last January at MOT the left one was found to be snapped, so garage put new spring on for MOT.
Last Saturday, backed car off the drive, and wondered what the bit was laying on the drive, when i picked it up a realised it was part of a coil spring, had a look under car, the spring was snapped in two places and had gone up inside itself. So was not prepared to take it to a garage. So up on jacks, stripped out strut ( cant believe how tight the bolts had become, run it down to garage who have floor mounted tool to remove and replace spring, £102 later, all back together.

It seems springs do not last long on the W163 !!!!

 

[oigle]

Interesting. My ML270 has done nearly 200000km on Oz roads, towed a van for half of that and done quite a bit of outback travel - no spring problems at all. Seems your wetter conditions and maybe salted roads might contribute to rust infiltration into springs in UK.

 

[joderest]

or, i bought inferior springs !!!!!!!

 

[mioba]

or, i bought inferior springs !!!!!!!

That

 

[rayhennig]

or, i bought inferior springs !!!!!!!

I know little about ECP, aside from a single purchase, about 15 years ago, of distributor cap and rotor arm. Garbage. Replaced them with the cleaned up 19 year old originals and all was well until funds allowed purchase of new MB parts.

So, maybe you're right.

Good luck.

RayH