Interesting diesel...

I know the suspension on mine has ben kept up with other than shocks...

I just had a 5 year old Bilstein HD rear shock blow out on my SD recently.....I followed the greasy puddle under the rear right up the coated nasty shock. The other 3 are fine so far....but it decided to die. May have been a MI pothole.....the roads are pretty bad lately.

I put a set of all Saachs touring on my bro's 300D half a year ago and it rides beautifully.....makes the comfort shocks tempting.

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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)

So where is a good place to purchase said HD shocks?

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1983 300D ..... So little time, so much work.

Two of each:

http://catalog.peachparts.com/ShopByVehicle.epc?q=&yearid=1983@@1983&makeid=63@@MERCEDES+BENZ@@X&modelid=6191%3AED|10000135%3AMBC|1504@@300D&catid=241464@@Suspension&subcatid=241545@@Shock+Absorber+-+Front&applicationid=W0133-1620728@@Shock%20Absorber%20-%20Rear&mode=PA

http://catalog.peachparts.com/ShopByVehicle.epc?q=&yearid=1983@@1983&makeid=63@@MERCEDES+BENZ@@X&modelid=6191%3AED|10000135%3AMBC|1504@@300D&catid=241464@@Suspension&subcatid=241545@@Shock+Absorber+-+Front&applicationid=W0133-1714802@@Shock%20Absorber%20-%20Front&mode=PA

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1985 300D (CA, 173K)

Dynamite Biodiesel Co-op, Phoenix,AZ

Best combo is HD in the front Comfort in the back. Try it and then decide. BTW people our w123s and w126s are made to have body roll more than most other cars, but too much is too much

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Wie lange wird Ihr Auto leben?

Yes, can understand this. Seems our butts ride on the rear shock and the handling more from the fronts.

I had comforts with lots of roll but could cloud cushion over speed bumps. Then changed to HDs.

I like the handling of HDs in the elimination of 65% of the roll. The rear is good, but not wonderful over speed bumps like before.

All myself. About $1000 in parts including $150 alignment. Lots of time.

Front:
-tie rods
-steering damper
-idler arm
-shocks
-spring pads
-sway bar bushings
-LCA's/UCA's
-lower ball joints were the only part not replaced, they were OK

Rear:
- pulled entire suspension subframe and POR-15'ed the whole thing
- subframe bushing
- rear rubber mount
- front subframe mounts
- shocks
- trailing arm bushings
- axles
- sway bar bushings / sway bar links
-spring pads

I *did not* replace springs.

It drives like new. Tight, responsive at highway speeds. I was *super* surprised to read everyone liked HD's over comforts. The comforts are a good compliment to the tightness of the rest of the suspension. Maybe I'll get HD's on the '82 when I rebuild the front and compare.

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'85 300D, 'Lance',250k, ... winter beater (100k on franken-Frybrid 3 Valve Kit)
'82 300D, 'Tex', 228k body / 170k engine ... summer car
'83 300TD Cali Wagon 210k, wife's car

Sorry for not keeping everyone updated like I promised.

Started the project today. Got the fronts swapped out and started the rear. Not difficult at all save the passenger side top mount that didn't want to cooperate.

Started the rear. I got the top mounts off really easy on the rear and will drop them out tomorrow.

I have to say the old shocks were WAY to easy to move up down by hand. Obviously needed to change them all out.

I am happy with the HD shocks.

Having said that, it didn't solve the roll as much as I thought it would, although there is a fair improvement. I guess that may steer me toward stiffer springs...but I am content to leave it be...it's good enough.

It is somewhat better in turns and curves...

Definitely took care of the slight bounce I had noticed when going over bumps, and the slight bounce I noticed in the front end when I brake.

I do believe the shocks needed replacement, and I don't think I would have been happy with the comfort shocks.

The car does not seem to be like a "battleship" anymore.

I guess I can't complain on a 30 year old car I suppose...

HDs. Tighter ride without being harsh.

I put them on all my Euro cars minus the ones with SLS, those I go with the Comfort Bilstein to match the SLS dampening more evenly.

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I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

How would a shock help with roll? It seems impossible.The only way I have seen roll controlled effectively is with a sway or anti roll bar where some of the load is transferred to the other spring. I guess it could help initial turn in but once in a turn it should no longer aid in roll.

That's true, maybe "rocking" would have been a better description...

So the HD shocks don't really improve the rebound? The car is going to lean in turns exactly the same no matter what shock.

It definitely improved the rebound, but I was hoping I wouldn't rock or lean as much. There is some improvement still in turns.

It used to be when I would go through a dip or something on the road the car would bounce a bit.

Now going down the same roads, or even over railroad tracks it is much better.

It's kind of hard to explain how the car was handling in the turns, specifically curves. It didn't feel right.

It was kind of springy/rocked sort of. Specifically on my way to work going up the hill on the highway there is a curve. Speed limit is 65mph. When you go into the turn and come out of it to go straight it was noticeable.

Overall the car is better. I am happier with it now.

well a shock won't help flatten in turns but can make it feel more stable if it hits bumps in turns. to cure leaning you have to employ anti sway bars. I come down on comfort side because I use it on long trips not as a daily driver.