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The short version
- Every S-Class wheel bearing front through 2009 is a serviceable tapered set, never a sealed cartridge. The pairing changes by era, but the hand-adjusted design does not.
- 1985-1991 560SEL and 560SEC cars use A-5 inner (seal 3794) with A-3 outer. 1992-1999 S320, S350, 300SD and 300SE cars use inner 32008 (seal 710589) with outer 33205.
- 2000-2002 S500 and S55, plus the CL500, use inner 32008 with outer A-12. The 2003-2009 S500, S550 and CL/CLS family use the same inner 32008 with outer A-12.
- Rear bearings are pressed 510083 from 1992-2009 on the S500, S550 and CL500. The 1984-1991 cars instead used serviceable rear sets.
Mercedes sold sealed, pressed hubs on cheaper cars well before the S-Class ever got one at the front. The flagship kept a hand-set tapered bearing up front into the 2000s. Grease discipline, not part design, carried the weight of keeping this car quiet.
The front pairing that outlasted three body styles
This inner race appears at the S-Class front hub from 1992 all the way through 2009, spanning the S320, 300SE, S500 and S550 rows. What changes across that run is the outer race and the seal, not the inner.
Pair it with 33205 on 1992-1999 cars, then with A-12 from 2000 onward. An S-Class wheel bearing job on any of these years still comes down to setting preload by hand.
S-Class wheel bearing part numbers
| Years | Detail | Number |
|---|---|---|
| 2003-2009 S500, S550, CL, CLS | Front inner | 32008 check price |
| 2003-2009 S500, S550, CL, CLS | Front outer | A-12 check price |
| 2000-2002 S500, S55, CL500 | Front inner | 32008 check price |
| 2000-2002 S500, S55, CL500 | Front outer | A-12 check price |
| 1992-1999 S320, S350, 300SD, 300SE | Front inner (seal 710589) | 32008 check price |
| 1992-1999 S320, S350, 300SD, 300SE | Front outer | 33205 check price |
| 1985-1991 560SEL, 560SEC | Front inner (seal 3794) | A-5 check price |
| 1985-1991 560SEL, 560SEC | Front outer | A-3 check price |
| 1992-2009 S500, S550, CL500 | Rear, pressed | 510083 check price |
| 1984-1991 | Rear inner, serviceable | LM300849-LM300811 check price |
| 1984-1991 | Rear outer, serviceable | LM503349A-LM503310 check price |
Every model year this chart resolves: 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.
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Lookups run through the cross reference page.
Plenty of lesser Mercedes models moved to sealed front cartridges well before 2009. The S-Class front stayed a serviceable tapered set through the whole span covered here, 1985 to 2009.
That means grease age and adjustment quality matter more on this car’s front hub than on a comparable sealed-bearing sedan of the same year.
Where this bearing catalog overlaps with siblings
The 32008 inner and A-12 outer pairing used from 2000 onward is not exclusive to the S-Class. The same combination turns up on the E-Class front hub in its own years, and the full breakdown is at the E-Class page.
The SL500 roadster runs a related 32008 and A-12 front pairing in its later years too. See the SL500 bearing guide for that comparison, or start at the Mercedes-Benz hub page for the wider range.
Why grease discipline is the whole story here
A pressed rear bearing like 510083 needs no maintenance beyond replacement when it fails. The front tapered set is the opposite, and its life depends on correct preload and clean grease, covered in general terms on the adjustment page.
Skipped repacks shorten the front bearing’s life faster than mileage alone would suggest. The repack guide covers the service interval and process for that job.
Diagnosing an S-Class wheel bearing
- Listen for a low, speed-linked hum. A worn S-Class wheel bearing produces a drone that builds with road speed, not engine RPM.
- Compare the sound in left and right turns. A bad front bearing often gets louder loading one way and quieter loading the other.
- Check the tires before the hub. Uneven or cupped tread wear can produce a similar drone, so tires come first.
- Raise the wheel and check for play. Grip the tire at 12 and 6 o’clock and rock it, feeling for looseness at the hub.
- Spin the wheel and feel for texture. Grinding or notchy resistance with the wheel off the ground points to the bearing itself.
Common questions
Did the S-Class ever get a sealed front bearing?
Not through 2009, based on the years covered here. The front stayed a serviceable tapered set across all four eras listed above.
What front bearing fits a 1995 S320?
A 1995 S320 uses inner 32008 with seal 710589, paired with outer 33205. That pairing runs from 1992 through 1999.
Is the rear bearing the same on a 1990 and a 2005 S-Class?
No. The 1990 car used a serviceable rear set with separate inner and outer numbers, while the 2005 car uses the pressed 510083 rear unit.
What is different about the 560SEL front bearing?
The 1985-1991 560SEL and 560SEC use A-5 inner with seal 3794 and A-3 outer. That is an earlier pairing than the 32008-based sets used from 1992 onward.
Do the S500 and CL500 share a front bearing?
Yes, for the 2000-2002 and 2003-2009 years listed here. Both use inner 32008 with outer A-12 at the front.