I don't know about Bilsteins, but not all replacement shocks have a metal or rubber boot/skirt. SO, you run the possibility needing those boots if you replace the shocks at some point in the future and the replacement set come w/o boots.

I believe SWMBOs 300D had OEM Bilsteins (w/ removable rubber boot) and at 265,000 miles they needed replacement...not wanting to break the bank, I put on a set of KYBs (which just so happen to have the metal skirt). Consequently, I didn't need the boots anymore. But, I seemed to remember Larry Bible writing somewhere on the forum that he had tossed the boots in an earlier shock change and was now lamenting the loss of those boots becasue the new shocks he was installing needed them.

Hope this helps.

R Leo

IMHO, "shock standardization" is an oxymoron!

__________________
Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.