What is the difference between the following 2 bilstein shocks? They bothcost the same. Which would be the best for my 2000 E320? Is one higher than the other? Which is better handeling? Which has a more comfortable ride? Which ones should I get?
1. Shock Absorber Sport 2. Shock Absorber Heavy Duty
Pics are below; The first one (yellow) is sport The second one (black) is heavy duty.
These pis are of front only although I would probably replace all 4.
Last edited by Designo_E320 : 07-13-2007 at 09:04 AM.
The sports are shorter for those cars that have been lowered with lowering springs. If you're thinking of a drop you'd have to get these and you'd have to do it at the same time.
The bilsteins are quite expensive and offer a firmer ride.
If you like the ride quality you now have the OEMs are lots cheaper. Or the KYBs are a good middle ground, not much more than stock expense, I've never put them on a Benz but had them on a domestic and they were excellent.
Take care and enjoy the ride,
Greg
__________________ If the only prayer you say in your life is thank you, that would suffice. Meister Eckhart
When you learn from your own mistakes, that's experience.
When you learn from the mistakes of others, that's wisdom.
When you fail to learn from any mistakes, that's government.
The sports are shorter for those cars that have been lowered with lowering springs. If you're thinking of a drop you'd have to get these and you'd have to do it at the same time.
The bilsteins are quite expensive and offer a firmer ride.
If you like the ride quality you now have the OEMs are lots cheaper. Or the KYBs are a good middle ground, not much more than stock expense, I've never put them on a Benz but had them on a domestic and they were excellent.
The sports are shorter for those cars that have been lowered with lowering springs. If you're thinking of a drop you'd have to get these and you'd have to do it at the same time.
The bilsteins are quite expensive and offer a firmer ride.
If you like the ride quality you now have the OEMs are lots cheaper. Or the KYBs are a good middle ground, not much more than stock expense, I've never put them on a Benz but had them on a domestic and they were excellent.
Take care and enjoy the ride,
Greg
How is the ride with the heavy duty ones? Is it better than OEM or KYB? I enjoy a more comfortable ride more than a sporty ride.
C'mon, go back and look at the original, you're sneaky, Designo, the way you edited my quote.
Seriously, my apologies, I had two pages open and was "double-posting" (which is illegal in seven states!).
Re: your other question, to my understanding, the ride with HD should be the same as sport, noticeably firmer initially with increased damping across the range. They're essentially the same shock, just different valving and length for the Sport series.
Both KYB and Bilstein will be firmer than stock, if that equates to a "better ride" then the answer would be yes. Over speed bumps, etc. the Bilsteins initially feel almost harsh; I went with them because of the drop, otherwise very much appreciated the stock ride. If you're up near or over 100K your stock ones are so worn you aren't able to gauge the original ride quality, even new stock shocks would greatly improve the ride (Benz already has a fairly firm ride, at least by US standards).
Bottom line: if you want a noticeably firmer ride and have the available cash, spring for the Bilsteins. If money is an object, KYBs are excellent shocks and a great compromise. If yours are just shot and you want to restore the original ride, OEMs are available online for a great price.
so guys, if i changed my oem's for bilstein sports, will the car be lowered more than it is now, or do i have to change spring + pads too? also if i put new oem, will the ride look higher at first since the shocks will be brand new, i mean since the old ones have been used for over 10 years, are they compressed more than new ones and make the car look a little more lowered than when new? please educate me.
C'mon, go back and look at the original, you're sneaky, Designo, the way you edited my quote.
Seriously, my apologies, I had two pages open and was "double-posting" (which is illegal in seven states!).
Re: your other question, to my understanding, the ride with HD should be the same as sport, noticeably firmer initially with increased damping across the range. They're essentially the same shock, just different valving and length for the Sport series.
Both KYB and Bilstein will be firmer than stock, if that equates to a "better ride" then the answer would be yes. Over speed bumps, etc. the Bilsteins initially feel almost harsh; I went with them because of the drop, otherwise very much appreciated the stock ride. If you're up near or over 100K your stock ones are so worn you aren't able to gauge the original ride quality, even new stock shocks would greatly improve the ride (Benz already has a fairly firm ride, at least by US standards).
Bottom line: if you want a noticeably firmer ride and have the available cash, spring for the Bilsteins. If money is an object, KYBs are excellent shocks and a great compromise. If yours are just shot and you want to restore the original ride, OEMs are available online for a great price.
Take care and enjoy the ride,
Greg
Thanks Greg
My car has around 70K miles. I think I will go with OEM. Do you kow of any site that sells the OEM shocks for a good price? What company make them?
Again thanks for your help. You're awesome No wonder you are a MOD now
t-
Springs are for lowering...as well as determining the compression/rebound rate.
Shocks are used to attenuate the ever changing compression and rebound
dampening. The valving within determines how quick or slow this happens and
balances force vs motion. Shocks are not purchased to determine ride height,
though are fitted based only on how much lowering is done via spring and
spring pad.
Spring pads should be considered only after the above has been determined,
installed, and stabilizes. New springs need to be broken in (few hundred miles)
and if you're concerned about getting the proper wheel gap, the spring pads
are swapped out.
t-
Springs are for lowering...as well as determining the compression/rebound rate.
Shocks are used to attenuate the ever changing compression and rebound
dampening. The valving within determines how quick or slow this happens and
balances force vs motion. Shocks are not purchased to determine ride height,
though are fitted based only on how much lowering is done via spring and
spring pad.
Spring pads should be considered only after the above has been determined,
installed, and stabilizes. New springs need to be broken in (few hundred miles)
and if you're concerned about getting the proper wheel gap, the spring pads
are swapped out.
Hey raymond,
I saw your write-up on another thread here on this forum. DAMN GOOD JOB! Thanks for that. I will do this myself now. I was going to let someone else do it but I feel empowered to do it myself thanks to you. Where, what site can I get OEM shocks for my 2000 E320 online? I am not going the Bilstein route because I like a softer more comfortable ride.
Shocks question. 
Linear Mode
