Should I have the dealer replacing my rear shock?

[rmcat]

Started hearing this clunking noise since around one month ago and went to the dealer last week for oil change,it ended up being the blown rear left shock that caused the noise,dealer quoted me $210 all included to replace a new shock. I've been wanting to put on coilovers or Bilsten shocks/H&R springs, but now is not quite the right time to do it , so the problem is whether I should have it replaced by the dealer asap so that blown shock wouldn't cause any other problems, or I can wait longer to get some aftermarket shock/coilovers later on. Another thing is that I have no time to install the shock by myself,so dealer is probably the only choice I have for now if to do it.

Thanks for any words!

 

[BigDaddyMS3]

Wait!

The rear shocks are easy to install. However I purchased a set of Koni 4040s for $500 shipped from Adam at THMotorsports one of our site sponsors. So $210 for one shock seems like highway robbery.

Since you plan on lowering your car the Koni Sports, (Yellows) are for you. You could just order the rear shocks now, install them, then wait for the money to do the fronts and springs.

Depending on where you live another forum member can probably help you or just find a trusted garage for installation and negotiate the labor rate.

 

[#sand]

In the middle of last winter I noticed my left rear was leaking. People may have strong opinions on what I did, but in a pinch but I picked up a Monroe 5607 replacement for $36 including tax and installed it in about 30 minutes max. My plan has been to replace all with Koni's but the ride has been fine, money has gone to other priorities, and I'm getting too lazy. I've heard people trash Monroe's and rave about KYB but the facts are Monroe makes good shocks and Kayaba is nothing more than the Monroe of Japan.

 

[Peter B]

rmcat,
I'm in the same boat. One blown shock (back right) that started to go around 40K. Dealer wants to do both at $125 each plus $210 labor. I also am going to upgrade to Bilsteins or maybe Konis. However the Bilsteins are out of stock for another month or two and the Koni FSD 4045s are as we. I don't wan't the Koni sports (because I will never adjust them since the rears have to be removed inorder to do so) and I don't want the FSD 4040s which are made for the regular 3. (I know lots of people like them but still).

On top of that I just got an accepted offer on a house and I don't want to spend $700 on shocks plus labor.

I ordered a used oem one from another member here $50 shipped. Has less thatn 3k on it. I'm gonna install it myself and I don't know dick about cars. Look in the for sale section of this thread and i have post titled "WTB: 2008 MS3 rear shock". There are two responses there. The first from the user I purchased mine from and she has more, and the other from another friendly user who has a pair. PM them and one of them can probably hook you up.

Good luck

-Pete

 

[rmcat]

Thanks buddy! I ordered a pair of rear Bilstein Sport from a local vendor and was told it would be shipped in 3 weeks,but I'll still shoot a pm to the member you mentioned since my oem one is pretty bad now...

Thanks again!