When to change shocks?

[sokoloff]

'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.

[t walgamuth]

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.

[Zulfiqar]

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.

[barry123400]

Originally Posted by Zulfiqar

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.

[sokoloff]

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.