Thanks to these instructions I replaced the boot/trunk struts on my 130k-mile car the other week - easy job and it lifts/stays perfectly now.
The bonnet/hood was 'lazy' too - there was no danger of it falling but it needed to be slowly pushed up with the old struts. I replaced those today in 10mins max and it lifts perfectly now.
Here in UK there are a few options for replacements. On ebay an MB dealer sells the originals for £45 per pair. There are also Febi/Bilstein struts for £36 per pair and unlabelled aftermarket struts for £15 per pair. I tried the cheap ones for the boot/trunk and they work perfectly so I tried the same seller for the bonnet/hood. Again, prompt delivery and the product seems all good.
To recap on a few key points:
- At the rear only the rubber 'stops' needs to be removed to allow full extension
- Support is easily achieved with a cable tie at the rear and a broom handle for the bonnet/hood
- The old struts lift off once the metal clips are levered off with a small screwdriver
- The new struts pop on without needing to touch the metal clips
Hi, wish I had seen this post before doing the job. I used a long length of wood to lever the strut shorter on the lower hinge. Some swearing was involved prior to that solution
The best 15 quid I've spent this year .. (or about 25 bucks to theguys over the pond)
Evening all
Having had one too many bumps to the head from the boot (trunk) coming down due to failing gas struts (and it's always the locking mechanism bit that hits on the head too!!) , I've finally changed them for fresh ones ... what a difference!
No idea why I waited so long - I guess I though they were not that gone!!
30 seconds to fit per side - if you need them, do it!!
Hello I have just registered.
I must thank you everyone for the instructions and the photos.
It made the job so simple and quick less than ten minutes with my Son holding the boot up.
Thanks to the OP and others on this thread, for me this was a 5-minute DIY. I used a pair of BOXI 1717500036 struts from amazon.com @$22.99US for the pair.
Ha ha.. the boot hit Clive on the head the other day :frown: .. so I showed him this thread and he has got replacement struts on order....:smile: should be here by next Thursday..
We shall be wandering through Medoc country 2nd April and will need the boot to be in perfect working order ! With 50+ châteaux to visit... there will be lots of wine on offer and the boot will probably be packed to capacity by the time we take the homeward road.. :x:x Can't afford to have the driver knocked unconscious.. that will be my rôle after all the wine tastings...:wink:
Kudos to the OP for the DIY. As with a lot of other owners, I wasn't too sure how heavy the boot (Trunk) lid should be, but it got to the stage where I thought 'this can't be right'. Search came to the rescue and I found this thread. I ordered the new struts from the Gas Strut Guys in Melbourne for $29.95 (Aus), delivered. The struts arrived today and five minutes later they were installed. I didn't believe a DIY could be so easy. Thanks to everyone for their input to the thread, as every piece of advice is useful.
From my experience , and with the new struts installed on my car, when I press the remote trunk release on the fob, the trunk only unlocks, and opens a small amount, it doesn't pop open, you still have to lift the lid to gain access to the trunk. The aftermarket struts I've just installed certainly do the job. Hope that helps.
My experience with the original factory-installed OEM struts was identical to my replacement BOXI struts: a button push on the remote fob only unlocks the trunk lid and lets it rise just a little bit. You still have to raise the lid by hand. Cheers!
Ha ha.. replacement struts arrived today... sadly, Clive is worn out after giving me a super birthday yesterday.. he has taken to his bed with man-flu or similar.. so I might have to change the struts myself :surprise:
We have an outing due on Saturday.. so I must mollycoddle him until then :wink:
I was surprised how stiff the boot felt to lift. It was not falling back down (yet) but, in comparison to my 2014A class that lifts with zero effort. I have therefore ordered a set of new struts. As someone that in my younger days removed engines, I should be ok with this little DIY task.
I just fitted a couple of struts to my 05 350 , wow ! what a difference ,
I used to have to hold up the boot lid with my shoulder while rummaging around in the boot , not anymore though , I can now access the trunk injury free .
Very easy to fit after following this guide , awesome thread .
Thank you thank you thank you .:grin::grin::grin:
I have just this minute fitted mine. Much easier to lift the boot and no longer slamming shut. Nice simple yet effective fix and, this easy to follow guide.
Thank you to the OP from both myself and, my SLK :grin:
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