New shocks installed yesterday and what a difference on just the front!
I found a set of Gabriels for about $22 each after the rebate at Autozoo and even though I don't go there much because of all the chinese crap they sell, these were made in Mexico. Bigger pistons and valves and a metal upper tower shield and better gas charge pressure. I don't know how the new bilsteins are, but they weren't available around here without waiting for a week and I needed them now. Gabriel was my first choice for servicing fleet vehicles in Seattle and they held up well! Suprised they were on the shelf and in stock! Monroe makes a good shock as well for the W123.

Just curious what others have used and how you like them.

Bilstein HDs on both mine, I wouldn't use anything else.

Dito

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

I would have preferred Bilsteins, but I couldn't wait a week! Yesterday my right front shock rod busted and I didn't hit a hard bump or anything! Something inside the MB part shock (Bilstein?) busted in the tube and even though the rod didn't come out, what a racket and handling got real interesting on the Superstition freeway! My choice was Bilsteins in a week, Monroe on Monday, KYB in Mesa at Bap now or Gabriel right here in town in half an hour. What a variation! Once I pulled the right front shock off it felt and sounded like rocks were clacking around inside when you shook it. Rod wobbles but won't pull all the way out and any kind of bump absorbancy? Forget it!

My 300D had some KYBs on it when I bought it, very scary handling.

Are the KYB's still white in color? I haven't used one in 20 years! Mine were a battleship grey, but no name on then. I was really suprised that the piston diameter was so small. Christ, I hope these weren't the originals! It handled well and the bumper bounce test was ok when I got it! Yeah! I didn't want to go with an Asian made shock. Monroe has always been one of my favourites and they are still American made. Or at least they were the last time I looked! I always check the country of origin when buying anything.

I don't even remember what the KYBs looked like, I hit one bump in a corner and took it to my indy with instructions to put HDs in it (I hate suspension work). I don't think I even looked at the old shocks, I think he just said something like, "Some idiot put KYBs on this car!"

i just replaced the shocks on my 126. Amazing the difference. Now I can get on an onramp without feeling like the cars going to fly off. The suspension is way way stiffer. I used monroe shocks. Hey also did anyone have any troubles replacing them? The bakc ones usualy go smooth (ive done this on a 123 and 126 now) but the front ones are a bear becuase of the 10mm star bolt holding them on.The first star bolt I removed, it sheared off completely and I had to weld an allan wrench to it. Then up top, I couldnt get the damn shaft to stop spinning when I turned the lock nut and vice grips wouldnt lock onto the chaft becuase its too smooth, and I had to weld on that too. I started at 9 at night and ended at 1:30

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1981 300SD 512k OM603

Put KYB's on the rear of China and they are a complete disappointment. They came free in the trunk of the Squash so I didn't hand over any $$ for them. {nor would I}
I almost bought some Bilsteins off the parts section but the seller wanted more than online stores plus shipping.
$49 bucks at Adsit and that includes shipping. Can't beat that.
I was going to say that waiting a week ain't that big of a deal since they will go a hunnert thousand miles or much more. Gabriels and KYB's: Good luck with all that....
Remember:
KYB = Keep Your Bilsteins

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

I'm happy with my bilstein HD's. Much better handling then my 125k OEM shocks, and at 50something per shock at autopartsworld.com with free shipping (It's worldpac like most other parts suppliers, but the lowest price I found) , I couldn't be happier. The ride isn't much rougher, the handling difference is worth it.

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1980 240d
1999 SL500

I put one on the right corner of my old SD to fix a clunk, the Bilstein looked old and I though it was leaking. Well the clunking didn't improve and man that corner of the car was messed up. Felt like I put a 2X4 in place of the shock. I took the damn thing out and put the old Bilstein back after a week.

These cars really only like Bilstein or Sach's shocks.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I went with Koni shocks. They are built MUCH heavier than the Bilsteins. They ride well, but control the car well. I bought my 300SDL new and was very disappointed that the Bilsteins on the new car didn't even last a 100,000 miles. I would think that premium shocks should last longer. I've had Koni's on two other cars and loved them. And, they never seem to wear out. They had a lifetime warranty on them, although that may not be the case now. Koni's used to be standard on the higher end (racing type) Porsches (have not checked lately) and are used alot in racing. I bought the shocks and then had my ind. mech. put them on my SDL. He had never thought about Koni's either. Since then, he's put them on other W126's. They are adjustable, also.

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Paul 1987 300 SDL; 2000 ML; '69 MGB; '68 VW Fastback

Bilstein HD's on the Coupe and Bilstein Comforts on the 300SD - don't ever settle for anything less than Bilsteins on an MB - you'll never be totally satisified with anything less.

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Houston, Texas
1984 300CD 235K miles, Elvira, one owner
1987 300TD 180K miles
1974 TR6 78K miles Sarah Jane, one owner
OBK #27

so i just put bilstein hd's on the front of my w126 just now. am i supposed to transfer to the bilsteins the big red rubber thingies that go under the dust covers?

i'm going for a short drive right now to settle the suspension before tightening down the top nut on each side.

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1982 300sd from craigslist $800 greased on one tank with NO CONVERSION in the Hot Texas Sun. (currently dead & awaiting engine damage investigation and/or longblock swap)
new daily: '03 vw 5speed jetta tdi wagon. bagged&chipped

I was stunned at how small the tracking rod is on the shocks! The Gabriels have bigger pistons, bigger shafts and slightly higher pressures and greater load bearing capacity. They look like OEM shocks. The Gabriels appear to be well made. I have always found Gabriels to be well made. The shocks I removed look flimsy by comparison!