When to change shocks?
 

'99 E300D with 151,000 miles. Trying to see when it's time to replace the shocks. Read some posts that some have changed them at 100K with no noticeable change. So I figured I'd wait until 150K. I'm not unhappy with the ride and handling of the car, but a gradual loss of shock performance might not be noticed. Any of you do the change and actually notice a difference? If so, at what mileage? What shock did you use? Sachs-Boge was OE I believe and if I got a good 150K out of them, using them as replacements doesn't seem unreasonable even though Bilstein seems to be the shock of choice on most other models like my 123 chassis.

Failure on a Bilstein is usually not catastrophic like on a KYB. When you start to detect a bouncy ride. This is when I replace them. I don't wait til they leak. I would expect to replace them before reaching 100K miles.

The shocks on my MB are dead - yet the car hold the road nicely, it bottoms out though. The bounce test passes - yet big bumps bottom them out.

So for MB shocks - if the ride becomes springy or hits hard - replace shocks - they are done, dont rely on the bounce test like all others.

Bottoming out easily always was an indicator they are gone on mercedes products.

Thanks guys - no bottoming out and the ride is still satisfactory to me ay 150,000 miles on the the original shocks, so I guess I'll let them go a little longer.