Fortunately, I bookmarked the link before the information was removed by the author. Just sharing for the benefit of the community.

The higher quality part was the Bergen brand, sold by British Tools Company. Looks like it can be purchased through Amazon but is not cheap. Obviously lower cost versions exist as well but you'll need to research the differences. No doubt that labor costs in Europe are high, but I would also look for differences of material specs.

No replies expected, just leaving a documentation trail in case I want to purchase this for myself in the future.

 

 

Bergen brand for $275

Amazon

Amazon

 

Knock-off brands for vastly less money:

ONE

Amazon

Amazon

.
.

TWO

Amazon

Amazon

.
.
.

 

Pelican brand for $1000

https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_In...caAmbpEALw_wcB

 

I have the cheap eBay one and it' fantastic . Take a look on the mercades forums ETC and you'll see no one has anything bad to say about it . Don't knock the quality till you have it in your hands cause you'll be surprised. I know I was

 

Thanks. W.E.G.

That Pelican tool is uh..... spendy.

 

I would be very interested to hear from somebody who has used the inexpensive version of this tool on a third gen.

I suppose there is one theory that the expensive version is the only safe and trustworthy version.
Which begs the question, is the expensive version truly safe and trustworthy?

By contrast, is the inexpensive version not safe or trustworthy?
If not,... then WHY not?

We are at a very dynamic time in the production and availability of tools for automotive repair.
Even inexpensive HARBOR FREIGHT scanners can do some impressive stuff. Not as good as top of the line stuff, but for the money, if all you want to do is reset an ABS module, why spend six grand on the "top" scan tool.

This Mercedes spring tool is a glorified screw-vise.

How bad (or how good) are any of them?

 

Thanks for the report!

 

What's wrong with the OTC unit? When he said in the video cheap reproductions from China, that was enough right there. Why even chance this get the OTC unit. I used it on moog front Irocz replacement units which are one of the stiffest ones around.

 

Just ordered the OTC last night, will be using it tomorrow for stock springs, hope I make some progress.