Sachs Springs?
Eurocarparts have a sale on at the moment and their rear springs have almost £30 off, they're Sachs, I've heard of them but don't know about quality or how they would fare on a G wagon, so was wondering does anyone have any experience of them on a G? Or should I go for MB? Does anyone have an idea how much they are from MB? It's for a 280ge 460. Cheers
What is your G-Wagen SWB or LWB? Chassis number would be of help as on some models a chassis cut off having different part numbers. At a guesstimate I have a figure of some £160 per spring banding in my head for M/Benz pricing.
You do need to be careful buying aftermarket springs. There is a distinct difference between SWB and LWB coil springs. Some manufacturers do not differentiate and the customer ends up with a problem like bottoming out.
In order to compare that you do infact have the correct coil spring, upon removing your originals make a note of the colour code on the spring and keep that as part of your records as the after market coil springs do not go by such markings.
Measure the coil height, coil diameter at the top coil and middle point. Measure the coil outside diameter and finally the number of winds from top to bottom.
I am a little suspious of the Sach catalougue, in one example of a 280 G - rear spring two different part numbers are shown but both models are described as SWB (Error - maybe).
Euro carparts do not show a cross reference number to sach numbers so it is difficult to compare. The price however, is attractive similar to a few years ago. Prices to-day by many retailers seemed to be artificially inflated anyway.
Not a problem if I can help Chris.
Hope Fred This is not too Loud. 
BOGE/Sachs are a German company and they supply original equipment to many German manufacturers. I have their gas struts fitted and would be happy to use their spings too.
Normally I'd agree with you prwales and if the part wasn't for the G I'd have probably bought them up right away but as I'm planning to get the G tip top for some overlanding in the distant future I will pass on them, I think I need to concentrate on getting proven quality and be sure I get the rating I want.
Just to give a fuller picture (and I suppose an introduction even though I've been lurking for a few years), I parked up the G a few years ago as she failed the mot on a cracked rear spring and one of the mountings for a rear door hinge had rusted and detached itself. At the time I had no inkling or cash to fix the relatively minor problems.
Unfortunately since then the wagon has been parked up outside in the elements under some tarp (which would regularly disintegrate). I've decided to concentrate on the bodywork for the time being and I've only just begun stripping her out, I am new to rebuilding cars so this is going to be a steep learning curve! I would love to get the body off but lack the space and lifting equipment but I may be able to get something rigged up later on, needs some thought.
My only experience so far has been keeping my decrepit old Vw transporter on the road for the past 4 years. I do all repairs and maintenance myself and seem to spend far too much time on the VW T4 forum as a result but I think at the back of my mind I've always thought of maintaining the van as a stepping stone to doing up the G Wagon.
I've attached a picture (if it's loaded ok) taken a couple of days ago. What you can't see is all the rust! Rear light panels of course, drivers' side sill is particularly bad, drivers' side front wing and some on rear wheel arch. Back door not too bad - I''ve seen worse, the panel between front wing and driver's door is also pretty bad, the bonnet and last but not least windscreen frame (of course!).
I was fairly amazed though when I went to try and start her - I attached a battery, switched the ignition on, engine turned on the starter. I then put in 5 litres of fuel and she started 1st time - this after 5 years, now that's german engineering!
So in all, I've plenty to do, I'm going to take my time to hopefully make fewer mistakes, need it to be right at the end to, as I said earlier, hopefully go overlanding. Well, that's the plan and if it gets my backside in gear to get her up and running, so be it! Apologies for the essay, all advice and observations welcome and gratefully recieved!
Back on after a few days away and comment on this thread as follows;
Have changed brocken rear springs on swb and lwb g's for mot over the years...Gav Helme is the most informed member on the MB part no's and colours. A minefield and often hard to match....MB springs fail as often as a/market ones....Sachs is a good 'name'....the best pair I had some years ago were made by a small firm from 'Motorsport News'....no trick to coils...just blacksmithing.
Have just dealt with the rust on a '87 low miles swb.....not my first g job...did'nt think it was too bad and went for it piecemeal - MISTAKE...is now as good as done BUT wish I had had the body off [easy peasy] air gun ,maybe some heat.
Please double check yr rear shock and spring mounts...great deceivers....THE slightest rust bubble will reveal extensive damage ,even to mounting tube - is there any rust 50-100 mm inside tube ?
Wings - satisfactory repair to front or back not possible unless highly skilled and patient...however inner wings can be done although the front mounts can be of concern...with new front wings at c.£300 and rear wing panels and rear 1/4's quite sensible ££ [easyish to install] not worth wasting time on repairs...rust will be back quick
'A' panel can be tricky ,perhaps Gav can price if availble
Thanks Tony, some good points there, sounds like I should make the effort to get the body off. In any case I think it'll give me a better idea of the condition of diffs etc. and give me a chance to clean them up properly.
My welding is no where near up to scratch but will decide once I've finished stripping down on which panels are salvagable, my guess is that you're probably right and replacing more than not will be on the cards. In truth I haven't had a decent look at the mounts and will make a point of it.
And yeah, if Gav could give me an idea of costs and availability that would be great.
Anyone have any thoughts on raising the body? I'm toying with the idea of a makeshift gantry using scaffolding poles possibly? Don't know if it'll take the weight but perhaps if I somehow strapped/ bolted some together. I've got a tirfor so I'm thinking I could use a pulley with that to hoist.
Cheers, Chris
Hi Chris
Drop me a PM with the chassis number and a list of what you need pricing and i will have it back in a day or so.
Springs are easy with the chassis number and i can tell you whats fitted from factory to help you search...
If you send me your email aswell, i can send EPC bodywork pictures also to suss out what you require
Cheers
Gav
That would be great thanks Gav. I'm away for a couple of weeks and not near the wagon at the moment so I'll get in touch when I'm back if that's ok? I appreciate the help.
Coolio...
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Thanks for the reply Rakesh, it's a LWB, don't know the chassis no. as I'm some miles away from it at the moment.
The points you made just reminded me that I was reading about the colour coding last night but the price blinded me, ha! I'm going to pass on it and save for decent ones I think. I'm starting out on a rebuild as the G has been parked up for a few years so may fire some questions your way if you don't mind?
Cheers, Chris