How Long Should Control Arm Bushings Last?

[mbsickness]

I have a 97 C280 with 65K miles. While having the transmission fluid changed, the delaer told me that the lower control arm bushings are cracking. For some reason I find this "failure" to be premature. At the present time the car is rock steady on the highway and I have no vibrations or strange noises from the suspension. What I want to ask the forum is at what mileage did your lower control arm bushings fail? Thanks in advance.

[ryhi]

78k miles for me... keep in mind that this is a common problem on the 202.. it should also probably depend on your suspension setup and your driving style

[mbsickness]

Originally posted by ryhi
78k miles for me... keep in mind that this is a common problem on the 202.. it should also probably depend on your suspension setup and your driving style

Thanks. I do know that bigger wheels will not help the situation as well as road quality. I recently purchased the car from a older couple who maitained it at the dealer religiously (including coolant and brake fluid flushes). The car does have the original 15" rims.

[mbsickness]

From what the dealer told me it sounds like I can lift the car and just look at the bushing to see the cracking/wear. Is this the case or do you have to disassemble things to get a good view?

[SLAMMED_C]

you should be able to see them by just looking underneath.. no need to remove anything.

and control arm bushings may last the life of your car or 60,000km, or even less.
there have been lots of W203 with cracked front lower control arm bushings, 2001, 2002, 2003 W203's.. some with not very many km's on them.