Bilstein, Koni, KYB - What shoks to use???
 

I have a 1999 C230 Kompressor. My first Benz. I needs shocks all around and I am researching which ones to go with. I don't do any high performance stuff or hotrodding around so I am looking for a good solid replacement. I like a sporty ride without being harsh. I don't want to sacrifice quality for price. I have seen the Bilsteins for about $75 dollars per corner (in both HD and sport versions) and KYBs for under $200 for all four. Anyone have any input of what might be the best choice. Is there any discernable difference? Thanks a bunch!

JB

Just curious, how did you determine that you needed new shocks?

You should always use Bilsteins but not for 5 or 10 years.

As someone once said in this forum, KYB just stands for Keep Your Bilsteins. I personally did not like the ride quality of KYB's installed on a friends 400e, there were not half the ride of the Bilstein's he later installed.

i have the original bilsteins on my CE..... i have rear replacements to do some day.... the car handles well now.....

we replaced the rears on my son's 300e.... that and a few other rear pieces stopped the floating in his car...although it still doesn't handle as well as mine... we need to do the idler arm on his and maybe that will do the trick..

to answer your question.... the rear of his car floated and wandered before changing the shocks and rear arms.... i had never experienced a float like that...well maybe in my dads 66 buick le sabre... ha-ha-ha

anyway... i like the bilstein comforts.... not the hd's

The car has 100K miles on it and the shocks are seeping. I figured they were due.

Thanks for the info directing me toward the Bilsteins. That was my gut on it but I wanted to make sure. In the looking around on the internet, I have see Bilstein Heavy Duty and Sport. I have not seen anything described or stated as comfort. I didn't even see that on the Bilstein web site if I recall. Would those be the factory shocks?

Jeff

HD's and sports are valved pretty much the same. The only difference between the two is that the sports are designed for cars that have been lowered.

If you like as sporty ride, go with HD's. If you want something a little more comfortable, go with the comforts (aptly named!). Don't get the sports unless your car is lowered. That's what I have on my car, and it feels pretty close to stock (obviously a bit more stiff, but I'm not sure if the cause is the springs or the shocks).

Bilstein - the comfort, or nearest equivalent you can get - probably are the best bet. Worth the extra you would pay for them. I replaced them, along with the swteering damper, at about 100,000 miles.

My car ('91 S-class) is lowered, and I went with the comfort shocks, the HD ride I am told, is a bit too stiff and harsh, and I don't go canyon carving in that car.

Even so, I once had an emergency, on the highway, near Oregon, when a fladbed shed a load of 55 gallon plastic drums all over the highway right in front of me without warning, I was able, at 70 mph, to steer my way through all of them without hitting any of them and still able to control the car.

I couldn't have accomplished this with the big cars ( 1970s -80s Olds 88s, Coupe de Ville, and Crown Victoria I owned before)

A huge attraction of the Mercedes cars for me has always been their ability to help the driver avoid accidents, and, if worst came to worst, to walk away unharmed from a real bad one.