How to Assemble the Front Strut and Coil

[leandro_hernandezj]

Greetings to everybody,
My 2011 ML350 is getting new front struts and coil springs. This vehicle has over 190,000 miles on the odometer and is a base model with rear-wheel drive (no 4-matic). I've chosen to have my mech handle it because of time constraints, but I'll be providing my own parts because his prices are too expensive. So that when he's finished, he's done, I want to make sure I obtain all the components necessary, but it looks like Rock Auto will have the greatest pricing for me. So then...

Which struts should I purchase?

Fast-Growing Monroe
Arnott Coil Strut Assembly by FCS Auto

Based on fantastic ratings and a wonderful price ($86/ea), I'm leaning towards the Monroes, which have 190K miles on the clock. The "get what you pay for" mentality would make me reconsider that, though. At $186 a unit, the Arnotts are the priciest, but they also appear to be well-received. Despite being priced similarly to Monroe, FCS struts have received surprisingly few reviews.

Second Question: Aside from the strut assembly, what additional parts am I responsible for supplying that are necessary?

Thirdly, while he's taking everything apart, are there any other parts that are connected that he should replace?

If you have any suggestions for how to proceed, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you!

[maya.watsonoq]

The ML350 is heavier than typical SUVs, despite sharing a similar suspension setup. Because of this, you should probably use the old thick coil spring on the new strut. In order to ensure the same level of durability and handling as the original, I recently opted for a Bilstein OEM replacement strut. Toss in the additional cash if you intend to retain the car. Otherwise, if you're aiming to get rid of it, you should be fine with any of these.

[leandro_hernandezj]

Apologies for the response. Yes, I did ponder about it, however my mechanic is claiming the front is drooping and that the springs may have collapsed slightly. The fact that it will be easier to replace the assembly than to swap the coils is probably a deciding factor in his opinion. However, the spring has been bearing the brunt of the load on the front left side since the struts were totally destroyed for the past two or three years (yeah...I know...I should have changed them a long time ago). At 190,000 miles, isn't it reasonable to assume that the spring isn't fully extended?

[maya.watsonoq]

Got it. Everything changes because of that narrative. If I had to choose one from your list, it would be Arnott's.

[maya.watsonoq]

Yeah, I should have started with that definitely.

Is there anything else he should replace while he's there?