I have never driven a 123 with bad shocks yet. Just my luck I imagine. The older gas cars would bottom out the front ends pretty easy with bad front shocks though. If yours are that bad a bounce test on the fender might be an appropiate test. Might even indicate another source of the noise for all I know.
New shocks are nice even if the old ones are only half bad. Adsit has them for 100 a pair or less. I would only buy normal blisteins regardless of price though.