I own an 88 300CE and I think it has the original struts and shocks on it. 174k miles. There's all kinds of rattles, creaks and groans in the suspension; all suspension bushings have already been renewed.

My tech says the choice on struts is the stiffer Sachs units or the softer Bilsteins. Which would you choose? I don't know how much difference there is between the two.

I'm replacing the struts, mounts, bump stops, and bellows up front; shocks in the rear.

How much bang for the buck can I expect from these new parts vs. the old stuff?

Thanks for any replies!!

Go with Bilstein HDs or Comforts, whichever you can find a better price on, there is no way the Sachs are going to be stiffer. Bilsteins always have a lifetime warranty and really make the car feel new again.

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1991 300E - 212K and rising fast...

Bilstein HD shocks. I believe the cheapest price is at *********.com I might be wrong though. Check around.

Also if you're having creaks and groans in the rear you might want to consider having the rear links replaced. Parts are about $200 or so.

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82 300SD 145k
89 420SEL 210k
89 560SEL 118k
90 300SE 262k RIP 5/25/2010
90 560SEL 154k
91 300D 2.5 Turbo. 241k
93 190E 3.0 235k
93 300E 195k

gld1203, Bilstein are high quality shocks and struts, as are Sachs-Boge. Replacements should greatly improve the ride and handling of your 1988 300CE if the shocks/struts are original.

Let me caution you about installing HD shocks/struts because they provide a stiff, annoying ride in my opinion. Last Summer I installed Bilstein HD struts on our 1995 E320 and objected to the ride so much that I removed them and installed Bilstein Comfort struts a few days later. If you prefer a bone-jarring, busy ride or race your 300CE you might want to go with the HD shocks/struts; otherwise, I recommend the Bilstein Comforts.

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Fred Hoelzle

bilstein comforts. mounts and stops will help too..

in the back... comforts as well....don't replace all links.... just the dog-bones....which you could do your self..

actually this is all diy.... especially if you have a young strong helper.

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1989 300ce 129k
( facelifted front,updated tail lights, lowered suspension,bilstein sports, lorinser front spoiler, MOMO steering wheel, remus exhaust,stainless steel brake lines). (Gone)

1997 s320 154k (what a ride). Sold with 179k miles. Replaced with Hyundai Equus

1994 e320 Cabriolet 108k



1972 280se 4.5 153k Owned for 12 yrs, sorry I sold it


[/SIGPIC]

Bilsteins.

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- Brian


1989 500SEL Euro
1966 250SE Cabriolet
1958 BMW Isetta 600

Or Sachs.

Bilsteins.

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1989 300E 144K

If keeping car less than 5 years KYB.

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1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran, deutschland deutschland uber alles uber alles in der welt

Thanks very much for all of the input. A forum like this is the best source of opinion on our cars, and I really appreciate your time in responding.

I think I'll go with the Bilstein Comforts. I've owned this car for 5+ years already, and it's the first Mercedes I've ever owned. I'm not going to stoplight race it around town; I appreciate it for the sedate and solid vehicle it is. It's a money pit, I have to say, as you all well know about these cars at this age. But I drive it, every day, wherever I have to go. I replaced the O2 sensor last month, and now the car gives me 23-24 mpg highway. It could probably do better, but the car feels great at 80mph. As the latest Mercedes ads say, "it's not so much about how it does the quarter mile, but how it does a quarter century."

Pumping money into a car this old is probably not the wisest thing, but I like it, it is solid and rust free, and it just keeps going. There are maybe 3 in town where I am, versus 25,000 Toyota Camrys.

Maybe I can go a year without another big repair...