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Woefully disappointed with the Bilstein shocks and struts
Back in 1998, I had an '88 300 CE. It was the nicest riding car I'd ever owned. You could really feel each and every wheel independently working the road for you to keep the car smooth and steady. It made other cars I'd driven previously, seem like a unibody roller skate by comparison, where every bump you hit, or every dip the road had in it, the whole skate went with it. But not with the Mercedes. You could feel each wheel giving you a smooth, protected ride. What a great feeling! If there was a bit of a gulley in the road on the right, the suspension on the right side did what it had to, to give you a nice ride over it, while doing its best to keep the car level. I sold that car around 2001.
About 4 years ago, I got my 1991 300D which didn't ride nearly as good. I just figured it was the shocks being old. After asking around about 2 years ago as to which shocks/struts were the best to go with, I decided to go with Bilsteins. Some said the Heavy Duty's were too stiff, like riding in a truck, so I went with the Comforts. I put the front struts on, and the ride was so bad, I held off putting the rear shocks on, until I could figure out what to do. The thought of changing them out to see how the HD's were wasn't an exciting one, and for all I knew, the HD's might be worse! So I left the Comforts on until I couldn't take it anymore. I mean, heaven forbid you run over a sewer cover that's just 1" recessed into the road, it's just bam! the front tire goes down hard like you just hit a 4" pothole. I talked to Bilstein directly, they said HD's actually have a faster reaction time, so you would actually get a smoother ride. So just 2 days ago, I put on new Bilstein HD's on the front, and the ride was much improved. I can hit 1" recessed areas on the road now, without fear at least, but they still don't give me that nice ride I was looking for. Then today, I put the rear shocks on. I think they're too stiff. The car is like a broncin' buck just slightly, as though it's kicking up in the back over every slight wrinkle in the road due to the stiffness. I was hoping that all 4 of these new shocks/struts together, would provide that nice ride that I'd been looking for, but no dice. I don't know what kind of struts/shocks my old 300 CE had on it, but they were much better that what I have now. Is there anything else I'm missing? Any other parts of my car not working properly along with the shocks/struts? (Also added later: Below, EdCarls makes a reference to "Jeff aka Babymog". To anyone wondering, I am not Babymog) 1991 300d 166k Last edited by jbach36; 12-21-2011 at 11:13 PM. Reason: clarify. |
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Good bushings (subframe and suspension), good ball-joints, and MICHELINS.
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Gone to the dark side - Jeff |
#3
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I'm surprised....most people around here seem to love Bilstein Comforts...except those who prefer the stiffer HD's. I have them on both of my cars and they're great.
But I guess it's largely a taste and preference thing. Are you certain there's not some other issue going on? Again, the Bilsteins are so consistently highly regarded.
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14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles 06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU 91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion 19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi Fourteen other MB's owned and sold 1961 Very Tolerant Wife |
#4
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Jeff AKA babymog,
I'm still waiting for the refund of my payment for the non-op MC3194 CD-changer I returned to you in May 2011. You acknowledge receipt of the cd-changer I returned and you said you'll mail the check on May 27, 2011. Which I haven't received to date. It might have been misplaced or fell through the crack of your busy schedule. I don't know. Several follow up PM seems not to work. So, I hope open discussion would do. Ed |
#5
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I always felt that the majority of ride comfort is based on the rear suspension. I think this is because the engine weight dampens the front end. Just replacing the rear shocks on several cars resulted in massive improvements in ride quality without even touching the fronts. I suggest getting comforts for the back and then see what happens.
If the 300 has SLS in the back, then you may also want to consider that there are issue with that too.
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1991 560 SEL / 185k miles 1992 750il / 17k miles - project car |
#6
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The rubber bushings on everything have a huge impact in ride quality, especially over small bumps. If the bushings are original, they are surly hard and tired by this point... time to start replacing!
-J
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1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states! Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels. 2014 Cadillac ELR 2013 Fiat 500E. |
#7
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I am not familiar with w124 coupes, but I wonder if perhaps the suspension setup was sportier out the factory door, than a 300d.
Alternatively, I wonder if your CE was a Sportline or had aftermarket suspension components installed. I don't like Bilstein comforts myself, but your comments are way more extreme than how I feel about them....
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Mac 2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d “Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22 |
#8
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New shocks will be a little stiffer at first too. I like the HD.
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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC] ..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis. |
#9
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HD on a 300SD ride nice, but on a 420sel, too stiff. I put comforts all around on my wife's 300E and it rides excellent. And all around on my sister's 190e. rides excellet also. Put Sachs touring all around on my bro's 300D, and it rides fantastic for a W123......I am leaning towards sachs touring on my 420 pretty soon when I replace them before the summer driving season....
I've had one Bilstein fail, rear HD on my 300SD after about 6 years of michigan roads....other one was still good. It blew the oil seal and drooled itself to death. Replaced with two Sachs touring. Bilstein HD front and Sachs comfort rear....makes for a very pleasant ride. Considering this also for my 420sel.....
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-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) |
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Rubber bushings on what parts?
Quote:
But I do wonder if there's anything else I can do for a better ride. |
#11
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I put comforts on my 300TD with no issues, they were much better than my previous shocks.
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#12
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Quote:
jbach36, I apologize for any misunderstanding my post Re: babymog (Jeff) might have caused. I was just so overwhelmed by my frustration that when I saw his user name I immediately posted what I wanted to tell him. I have been following up my issue with him through PM and he is not responding. And I've been monitoring the board and this is the first post I've seen from him in a long while. So, I grabbed the opportunity. A short note from him stating he cannot or he don't want to pay my back would have been enough for me because I believe in "Karma" and somehow someone would collect that amount from him. Again sorry for the thread hijack. |
#13
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Start with simple things. Tire pressure correct? Set the pressure by the specs in the fuel flap. Too much pressure will make the car ride like a skateboard.
__________________
1968 230S Automatic, Elfenbein 1975 O309D Executive Westfalia Camper Bus, Blau/ Weiss 1972 280SEL 4,5 Dunkelrot 1966 VW Type 34 "Grosser" Karmann-Ghia 1963 VW 1500 Variant Pearlweiss 1969 VW Variant Automatic, Perugruen 1971 VW Squareback Automatic, Clementine Orange 2001 E320 4Matic Wagon- Our belated welcome to the 21st century! Polar White 1973 280SEL 4,5 Sliding Roof "The Bomb", Dunkelblau. |
#14
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Better control and comfort
As I posted several years ago: When I bought my '87 300SDL new, I hated the ride. No control and no comfort. Changed tires a couple of times, but no real improvement. Then I switched to KONI shocks. The improvement was fantastic: great control in turns, etc and great comfort. Ten plus years later and they're still great. I push this heavy car in turns and look for twisty back roads to drive briskly. People overlook Konis because they're more expensive, but they are worth it. Hold a Koni in one hand and a Bilstein in the other and you will see and feel the difference. The Koni is built much, much heavier. They are adjustable and as far as I know still have a lifetime warrantee. They are either standard or an option on high end sport cars. Koni is a Dutch company with some manufacturing in the US (Virigina). Try them and you will love them. I've also used them on a Jag coupe and my MGB.
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Paul 1987 300 SDL; 2000 ML; '69 MGB; '68 VW Fastback |
#15
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Subframe and "Bushings"
jbach36,
LOTS of "Bushings": 1.SubFrame: (Front,Rear and Differential) 2.Suspension: Control,Camber,Torque,Tie Rod [Rear] (In Picture) New Shocks (AND their Bushings) are ONLY the Beginning of restoring your W124 's "Ride" to Teutonic Health("Specs") Photo and Tutorial credits to GSXR. Index of /images/W124_subframe
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'84 300SD sold 124.128 |
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