I have worn out Boge's on the back of my 84 300SD.. Was looking to replace them..

I'd previously heard good things about KYB shocks-- in VW forums. Maybe they're okay for "lighter" cars??

I can't find anything but "junk" and "fine, if you're going to dump the car..."

I can get a set(4) delivered to my door for ~$175.. Looks like an easy install, and they're lifetime warranted.

1) Does anyone have them and LIKE them??
2) What makes them so undesirable.. Early failure?? Poor damping qualities?? Crap handling??

I like seeing other's experiences on these discussion forums-- I've found products that I wouldn't know about otherwise. I know Bilstein makes a good shock/strut, whatever.. If I have to shell out the extra $$'s "for a reason," I will.. I'm not snooty about who makes anything, as long as the things work the way they need to.

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Agnes (the Limo) '84 300SD
Pearl (the Taxi) '81 240D (preparing for the 'afterlife')
Bridgette (baby girl) '82 VW Pickup-- currently getting readied for her rebuilt (overbored) engine.
1 VW 1.6 NA diesel **not installed in vehicle**
Gidget (the bimbo) '87 VW Cabriolet-- the diesel engine it above is eventually going there!

and a BMW Motorcycle. (1998 R1200C)

Did I mention I'm of German Heritage??

BTW--

I know that Bilstein, KYB, Gabriel and Boge/Sachs make (made) shocks for the 126. Looks like KONI may have as well, but if I 'can't afford' Bils' now-- KONIS would have to wait to well into my NEXT lifetime..

Is there another "option" out there, worth considering???

__________________
Agnes (the Limo) '84 300SD
Pearl (the Taxi) '81 240D (preparing for the 'afterlife')
Bridgette (baby girl) '82 VW Pickup-- currently getting readied for her rebuilt (overbored) engine.
1 VW 1.6 NA diesel **not installed in vehicle**
Gidget (the bimbo) '87 VW Cabriolet-- the diesel engine it above is eventually going there!

and a BMW Motorcycle. (1998 R1200C)

Did I mention I'm of German Heritage??

[quote=ajrn;1619566]I have worn out Boge's on the back of my 84 300SD.. Was looking to replace them..

I'd previously heard good things about KYB shocks-- in VW forums. Maybe they're okay for "lighter" cars??

I mistakenly tried a set of KYB's on a 911E Porche that I no longer own - what a mistake.
A big car like the SD should have Bilsteins - MercedsShop and Adsit both have good prices on them - the HD Bilsteins are a bit more, but you don't need them on an SD.

__________________
Houston, Texas
1984 300CD 235K miles, Elvira, one owner
1987 300TD 180K miles
1974 TR6 78K miles Sarah Jane, one owner
OBK #27

Autozone has Bils Comfort (~70/each) and HD (~90/each) and with them, I'm not paying shipping..

The car handles "okay" (for it's size/power) with the worn Boges, so do I need the HD ones?? Will I benefit, and if so how, going to the HD shocks?

__________________
Agnes (the Limo) '84 300SD
Pearl (the Taxi) '81 240D (preparing for the 'afterlife')
Bridgette (baby girl) '82 VW Pickup-- currently getting readied for her rebuilt (overbored) engine.
1 VW 1.6 NA diesel **not installed in vehicle**
Gidget (the bimbo) '87 VW Cabriolet-- the diesel engine it above is eventually going there!

and a BMW Motorcycle. (1998 R1200C)

Did I mention I'm of German Heritage??

I have KYB shocks on my 126 and I don't think they work very well at all. Yes poor damping is one reason, especially on the rear. A bump of any size causes a lot of bobbing up and down, uphill is nearly drastic. The fronts aren't much better. I just don't believe they have enough uumph for a car as heavy as a 126 (which weighs about the same as a 1/2 ton pickup). I see Bilsteins in the very near future or possibly Sachs-Boge at a minimun.

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Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

Monroe SensaTrac?

http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductDetail.aspx?MfrCode=MON&MfrPartNumber=39001&PartType=50&PTSet=A

Well....

They show "Struts" for the front.. Hmm...

http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductDetail.aspx?MfrCode=MON&MfrPartNumber=71808&PartType=49&PTSet=A

I used to have Monroes, years ago-- but I'm sure that was when they were still built HERE..

__________________
Agnes (the Limo) '84 300SD
Pearl (the Taxi) '81 240D (preparing for the 'afterlife')
Bridgette (baby girl) '82 VW Pickup-- currently getting readied for her rebuilt (overbored) engine.
1 VW 1.6 NA diesel **not installed in vehicle**
Gidget (the bimbo) '87 VW Cabriolet-- the diesel engine it above is eventually going there!

and a BMW Motorcycle. (1998 R1200C)

Did I mention I'm of German Heritage??

I put a pair on the front of my SD before selling it. What crap, the shot Bilsteins were better.


If I got a set of KYB's for free I wouldn't put them on my car.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

This has been discussed for many years on the forums, and the near unanimous choice is always only one, for the W126.

Bilstein comforts, and nothing else for all the W126 cars. The HD are WAY too stiff, only good if you are going to autocross

KYB = Keep Your Bilsteins

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

We have the HD's on our cars...and they may ride a bit hard, but its still a nice ride, way better than dead-shocks, thats for sure!

Why do you say lots of people go for comforts....when I was reading up on it the vast trend seemed to be towards the Billstein heavy duty shocks....

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

[quote=ajrn;1619602]Autozone has Bils Comfort (~70/each) and HD (~90/each) and with them, I'm not paying shipping..

Better price here on MercedesShop check the prices and Adsit - Adsit usually has the comforts for $49 - shipping yes, sales tax no.

__________________
Houston, Texas
1984 300CD 235K miles, Elvira, one owner
1987 300TD 180K miles
1974 TR6 78K miles Sarah Jane, one owner
OBK #27

I used them in my W123 240D with very good results.

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99 Gurkha with OM616 IDI turbo

2015 Gurkha with OM616 DI turbo

2014 Rexton W with OM612 VGT

Don't use anything but Bilsteins .I tried Monroe from Auto Zone N/G . Made the car bounce were to stiff . $-Spend a little more now ,but do it right the first time.

For some reason my 300D had some kind of crap shocks (KYBs, I think) when I bought it, they were very scary. I put on four Bilstein HDs and am happy with them. I've never tried the comforts, but I spend most of my time driving on decent freeways. If I had to drive on rough roads, I might look into the comforts.

Cheaper on the ol' ebay.

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I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

I recently sold a cherry 82 SD and the new owner immediately put a pair of KYBs on the back. He claimed to really like KYBs.