Hi All
This is my first ‘off topic’ post on here (suddenly occurred to me).
I’m replacing the rear suspension struts on my 2002 SL500, which has the very complicated and often problematic hydraulic suspension ( and we thought Full Fat suspension was frustrating….).
Does anyone have any experience of the, ahem, quick release fittings as mine won’t release, even slowly.
I need to separate the coupling (photo) but 20 years of English roads and rust haven’t helped so the part whic( is supposed to slide won’t budge. The whole thing rotates but that’s about it.
If I could buy just the quick release female part, with the threaded end, I’d be happy but I can’t find any part numbers.
Any help gratefully received.

Click image to enlarge

I changed one on my CL500, was a PITA, used a pair of molegrips on it then hammered the grips, it had to come off or break so I was pretty violent with it...

It put up a fight but popped off OK in the end, it didn't look pretty but it went back on and sealed OK...

Don't forget the shelf life of the oil is only 5 years so if yours hasn't been changed recently it needs doing, they also did a new finer micron filter for it, well worth changing...

I thought it was an excellent system when working... Pete
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2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

Thanks Pete.
If I don’t get anywhere I’m probably going to remove the pipe on the new strut and replace it with the old part in the photo. That way I don’t need to worry about the quick release not connecting fully to the new one, if that makes sense.
In an ideal world I would buy a new quick release fitting but I suspect I would have to buy the full length of metal pipe from Mercedes just to get the small part I actually want.
And I have plenty of the evil green fluid  2017 Jaguar F Pace 25t Portfolio - still part of the JLR family 😀
2009 3.6 V8 (MY2010) - my first ever diesel! - now also gone
2004 4.4 V8 Petrol Vogue - now gone

I replaced one of the pipes on mine, wasn't that expensive...  Pete
__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

Thanks again to Pete for his input on this issue.
The good news is that I have now managed to replace one strut so the other should be a piece of cake in comparison
Not surprisingly Mercedes don’t supply the hydraulic fitting on its own, only the 3 foot long hose which costs £229.
I decided to use the old fashioned method - spray,tap,twist,tap,spray etc and eventually it all freed up.
In the meantime the FullFat passed another MOT with the usual ‘brake pipes covered in grease’ comment which seems to be a favourite in this part of the world  2017 Jaguar F Pace 25t Portfolio - still part of the JLR family 😀
2009 3.6 V8 (MY2010) - my first ever diesel! - now also gone
2004 4.4 V8 Petrol Vogue - now gone

Have a customer's SL55 here with a duff pump... Just waiting for it to arrive so i can fit it and get it up off its bumpstops...

Oh & P.S. he's a member here so be nice folks

Cam-Tech-Craig wrote:

Have a customer's SL55 here with a duff pump... Just waiting for it to arrive so i can fit it and get it up off its bumpstops...

No negative comments from me - I feel his pain  2017 Jaguar F Pace 25t Portfolio - still part of the JLR family 😀
2009 3.6 V8 (MY2010) - my first ever diesel! - now also gone
2004 4.4 V8 Petrol Vogue - now gone