according to the bilstein insert in the box, there are different washer, rubber, nut, setups depending on the type of shock. The SD's looked to have a different shock style, and so whether or not you were supposed to have that second washer....???

Not to sound rude, but have you changed shocks before, and did you secure the top nut first. I put it on a jack stand from below to make sure it was "all the way up" through the body hole. It fit perfectly... although my new shocks only came with one top nut...

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85 300CD Turbo "Das Polluter" 230K sold for $3,000

98 BMW 323is