I just called Performance Products, and they will replace a leaky shock I bought in 1999! Now, that's customer service by Bilstein.

And to add more praise to Bilstein, I climbed in the attic and grabbed the original 1990 shocks that I had saved, and bolted them on. They seem to ride just fine. I took them off at 100k and threw them in the attic, just assumed they had to be getting soft by then.

WOW,
DG

Great to know!

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former: 83 300D, 97 C230, 93 400E

current: 08 C300 Luxury , 92 500SL

That's fantastic !

I was under the impression that their warranty didn't run out. Perhaps things haven't changed.

Good to hear since I decided to order them for my W202!

__________________
99 C43
98 S420
99 C230K
01 C240

did you have to present a receipt or proof of purchase?

Yeah, the Performance Products guy asked for the receipt/order number.
Luckily I had it in the box with the old origional shocks.
I don't know how you would handle a warranty claim on original shocks, or some that were replaced by the previous owner of your car.
Maybe you could go directly to Bilstein and struggle through some kind of replacement process?

DG

Koni and Bilstein both claim lifetime warranty to the original purchaser assuming you can produce a receipt.

The lifetime warranty starts with the shocks that replace the originals. The originals are not warranted for life.

__________________
Len
'59 220S Cabriolet-SOLD and living happily in Malta
'83 240D 351,500 miles original owner-SOLD
'88 560SL 41,000 miles - totaled and parted out
https://sites.google.com/site/mercedesstuff/home
'99 E300 turbo 227,500 miles
'03 SLK320 40,000 miles - gave to my daughter
'14 Smart electric coupe 28,500 miles
'14 Smart electric cabriolet 28,500 miles
'15 Smart electric coupe 28,000 miles

My $20 Autozone (Gabriel) shocks for my Toyota truck have a lifetime warranty too. I've replaced them three times now in 12 years and 100k miles.

__________________
'83 240D with 617.952 and 2.88
'01 VW Beetle TDI
'05 Jeep Liberty CRD
'89 Toyota 4x4, needs 2L-T
'78 280Z with L28ET - 12.86@110
Oil Burner Kartel #35

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b1...oD/bioclip.jpg

I've been wondering what to do when I receive the one new replacement shock:
- Do I install it along with the still-good other front shock that has 100k miles on it? Surely the 100k unit, though not leaking, has lost some damping?
- Do I go ahead and buy a 2nd new shock, to get a matching pair.
- I temporarily installed the old 1990 originals that I had saved in the attic - they seem fine, but a bit softer. Do I just leave them on until they go bad, then make a decision?

I like the third option, less work!

DG

Yes, that's how a "lifetime warranty" works.

Be very sure to save your purchase receipt because you paid a lot to buy this warranty.

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Kent Christensen
Albuquerque
'07 GL320CDI, '10 CL550. '01 Porsche Boxster
Two BMW motorcycles