Shopping shocks for the w123 240d.. are there significant ride differences? Any other considerations? Comforts are a bit cheaper looks like.

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You're a daisy if you do.
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84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting

I recently put on HDs all around. I like the ride, feels very in-control and seems I can go over large speed bumps at any speed. I feel everything in the road, but it doesn't bother me. In retrospect I might have gone with comforts simply to make traveling easier on the wife and kid. It's a little harsh, but I hear that HDs last much longer. Not a very scientific opinion, just my $0.02.

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From what I heard, the heavy duty ones are the way to go, though a few people have said they're too stiff.

I need to get some too, and am wondering where the best place is to get them for price. My car's only worth $3k at this point, so I hate to spend $450 on new shocks/struts.

Where have you found the best prices?

Jeff 1991 300d, 141k

Considering freight costs for heavy items, I got my Bilsteins from the local parts wholesaler (they have a retail desk) - paid $52 ea for rear and $86 ea for front. The local options for my 201 were "regular" and "sport." I opted for regular. At 252K, the original shocks were still on the car.

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327K on 1986 W201, 602.911, 722.414 2.5 190D ("The Red Baron")
139K on 1993 W124, 104.942, 722.433 2.8 300E ("Queen")

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4081/...0bb92d3c_m.jpg http://i370.photobucket.com/albums/o...g?t=1325284354

Do not worry about your difficulties in Mathematics. I can assure you mine are still greater.
- Albert Einstein

take a walk down memory lane...

FWIW, I put HDs on my 85SD and they are fine.I don't consider the ride to be harsh at all but I drive a diesel ram & 78Z also.

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85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.

allshocks.com has the HD's, front and rear same price, 85.80 including shipping, but I'm still looking. My indie quoted me 98 bucks apiece, but only if he puts them on. 3.5 hrs. labor at 91 dollars per, no thanks. I'll do it myself. I saw them cheaper somewhere but didn't bookmark it. I'll keep looking. I don't consider new shocks on any car to be a bad investment if you plan to keep it for a while. I just bought my euro. It's physically/mechanically almost a 10 so figure it's worth it. It has original shocks also, and at 203k, they're gettin' purty mooshy.

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You're a daisy if you do.
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84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting

shockwarehouse.com has them at 90 apiece with a 10 percent discount on Bilsteins thru November, free shipping. I'm going to do the steering shock too, it's only 25 bucks. I live in the boonies so a local parts wholesaler is out of the question. Gotta take delivery or go with my indie.

__________________
You're a daisy if you do.
__________________________________
84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting

+1 for comforts.

3.5 hours to replace shocks???

Sixto
87 300D

+2 Comforts!

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1981 240D 143k 4 spd manual -SOLD

2004 VW Jetta TDI 5 speed 300k -still driven daily

+3, if you live where the roads are made of marbles and moon craters (like I do). Driving surfaces here in Michigan are laughable, so comforts are the only way to go. They are great on my 300D.

You're in Arizona? HD, all the way.

FWIW...

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1984 300D: 275,000 miles (soon to be for sale)

In search of my 1987 300D in anything but white.

hd all the way. be sure to do all 4.
i love my ride, i dont think they are a bit harsh. they took out a lot of that crosswind sway as well.

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http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u116/OC03/240d.jpg
Current Car:
1985 300DT 55K miles

Coming off shot shocks to HD in one jump is going to make you think twice about why you did that. It's going to seem like a pretty harsh ride. Just fair warning.

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Cheers!
Scott McPhee

1987 300D

I like my HDs, but I spend 90% of my time driving on pretty smoth highways. They are a little harsh on rough surfaces.

On the W123's over the years I have heard "comforts" by about a 3-1 or 4-1 margin.

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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 have HD's on my SD but they are quite harsh around the city driving on our various "surfaces". Most of my driving will be freeway now though, so I will be ok.

My 300E has comforts, and it shows, it is much more smooth in the city and way more comfortable.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)