Snake, recommend Bilstein Comfort struts. Last year I installed Bilstein HD struts on our 1995 E320 and the ride was too harsh. Replaced them with Bilstein Comfort struts within a few days. New Comfort struts and new accumulators will dramatically improve the ride/handling of your 560SEL.

From what I've read ceramic brake pads provide reduced braking effectiveness in cold weather, until the pads warm up. For that reason I would never use them personally, but to each his own.

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Fred Hoelzle