I installed HD Bilsteins in my 124 in about five hours on the patio. About two hours was spent trying to compress the LR shock into the place where it dwells, AND lining it up to push the bolt through. After I figured out that this could be done more easily with a bottle jack and a "pickle fork" tool, it took 20 minutes, as did the RR shock.

It took me about 1.5 hrs, again, slithering around on my patio, to install nitrogen spheres on the 123 300TD wagon. No real difficulty. I bet it would have taken 30 minutes with a lift.

New HD front shocks on the wagon took about 2 hours. No major difficulties.

Jacking up the car and getting the jackstands in place was most of the difficulty.

Still, if each shock costs $100 and another $100 to install, that is over $800 for the whole job.

To pay the mechanic $800, I have to earn $1200: but if I do it myself, I need to pay only $400 and earn $600.

Five hours for $600 = $125 per hour, and I also get the benefits of exercise: the shock press, the jacking jumps, the carpal tunnel ratcheting exercise.

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Semibodacious Transmogrifications a Specialty

1990 300D 2.5 Turbo sedan 171K (Rudolf)
1985 300D Turbo TD Wagon 219K (Remuda)

"Time flies like and arrow, yet fruit flies like a banana"
---Marx (Groucho)