Hi,

Two questions, one about the bilstein instructions that come with the HD shocks, and one a more generic question... I got a set of bilstein HDs for the front. B36-0704. Looking at the picture for installation, most of it makes sense, however it sems liek there are more parts than are supplied.
Using the correct instruction picture (B36-020/021), It shows two locking nuts, the metal plate, the rubber donut, then the car. Thats fine. But its below that where I get confused. It shows the top of the protecting sleeve, but below that it shows another rubber donut and then this whitish cylinder. Neither of mine came with that white cylinder. Then, it either shows that furhter down is the rubber bump stop that came on the shaft, or else some sort of another washer that is thinner and has a little slit in it.
So neither of my shocks came with that white cylinder, or this washer with the slit in it. They did come with the bag of hardware (it is identical in each bag), and that long rubber bump stop that came on the shock itself.

Am I missing parts?

The second question is more general...
I cannot compress these new Bilstein HD shocks by pressing on them. If I hold the metal shaft in my one hand and the black body in the other, they will not go together or budge at all. I purchased a set of yellow bilstein HDs for an E30 BMW 3-series from a freind. They have been previously installed, and have ~10k miles on them. It is 2 shocks and 2 strut inserts. All four of them I can push in with a strong push on either end. Does this mean that I either have to do something to the new bilsteins for the MB, or does it mean that the bilsteins that I have for the bMW are shot?

Any info would be great.
Thanks,

JMH

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