For a 1989 420 SEL, what are the best shocks for the front end? I have bilsteins on the rear.

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1989 420 SEL

Hands down: Bilsteins

I have tried a lot of them including Koni, Boge etc .... you will never be sorry you installed Bilsteins. They also have a lifetime guarantee(whatever that really means)!

Do a search on this site, but to save you the time, Bilsteins always get the top rating.

Haasman

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'03 E320 Wagon-Sold
'95 E320 Wagon-Went to Ex
'93 190E 2.6-Wrecked
'91 300E-Went to Ex
'65 911 Coupe (#302580)

you will never be sorry you installed Bilsteins. They also have a lifetime guarantee(whatever that really means)!
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I think you may be certain that if you buy these (or anything else with a guarantee) you will need (1) a dated receipt of the seller, and (2) a box lid or some other proof of purchase that you have personally received these.

You would also need Bilstein's USA address, I imagine.

One has visions of a car up on blocks for weeks, while awaiting the arrival of the new replacement shocks.

My guess is that most such replacements are received by people with a shop who have mastered the procedure. Probably only a very few new replacements are actually made.

Bilsteins are extremely good shocks, and most people do not keep a car long enough to wear them out. After five or six years, many people would forget that the shocks were replaced, especially if they did not do the replacement personally.

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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)

What is the consensus on Sachs? I was going to throw a pair on my old 4.5 but that isn't going to happen so they were going to go on the 111 instead. I need to buy a set for the rear. Sachs/Bilsteins.

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63 220S W111
76 300D W115
2013 VW JSW TDI M6

previously-
73 280 SEL 4.5
86 300E 5 speed
2010 VW Jetta TDI M6

Richard

Here is what I recommend when you buy lifetime warranty shocks.
1. Be sure to keep the original receipt.
2. Be sure to keep one old front as well as one old rear shock, stored away.
When you do have a claim, the defective piece is returned to the original seller, who in turn will deal with the manufacturer.
You are right in suggesting this process could take weeks.
Hence, unless you want to drive around with 3 shocks, my suggestion # 2 applies.
Works for me, although it is a bit of a pain.

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2007 C 230 Sport.

I went through the warranty process from Bilstein and it was a piece of cake.
Called them told them make year and model and problem with shocks. Gave them my credit card # they inturn sent me new shocks 3 days.
Replaced shocks and sent back old shocks to Bilstein full credit was issued to my credit card 5 days.
Pleasure doing business with Bilstein.

It's real as long as you have your original receipt! A Bilstein that I installed on my Cosworth Vega in 1979 failed about 2000. Being as how I had to go to San Diego I stopped by Bilstein and they happily rebuilt ALL four because I had the original receipt, and they UPSed them back to me a week later, no charge.

I had already replaced them with a set of Spax adustables and ended up selling the Bilsteins to another CV owner for $150, and probably could have gotten more, but was happy to get about my original purchase price.

The Bilstein "comfort shock" is OE equivalent (I had to replace one front strut on my 190 circa '96), and I highly recommend them to restore Merc OE ride and handling qualities.

Duke

Only had one Bilstein go bad ever, and my experience obtaining a warranty replacement was exactly the same.

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Lenny

There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games. --Ernest Hemingway

'10 GL550/'04 BMW 545/'99 BMW 323/'98 ML320/'87 VW GTI (race)

Years ago I called Bilstein for a warranty issue. I was told that they test the shock(s) and as long as they do not comply within a small percentage of original condition, they will replace them.

Haasman

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'03 E320 Wagon-Sold
'95 E320 Wagon-Went to Ex
'93 190E 2.6-Wrecked
'91 300E-Went to Ex
'65 911 Coupe (#302580)

Does this lifetime warranty work when they are installed on a car at the factory and you are the original owner?

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Rick

'85 380 SL (sold)
'85 Carrera Flatnose
'71 280 SL Signal Red/Cognac

No, it only applies to original purchasers of aftermarket Bilsteiin shocks.

Duke

I put Boge on my 84 SD , then Bilstiens because the Boge's sucked
Sold them on ebay to a BMW owner!

Years ago I did the same on a Scirocco, except there wasn't ebay so I just threw the Boges out!

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Lenny

There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games. --Ernest Hemingway

'10 GL550/'04 BMW 545/'99 BMW 323/'98 ML320/'87 VW GTI (race)

Sachs and Boge are the same company now.

Thanks MTI. Anyone want to buy a pair of Sachs?

__________________
63 220S W111
76 300D W115
2013 VW JSW TDI M6

previously-
73 280 SEL 4.5
86 300E 5 speed
2010 VW Jetta TDI M6