Hi everyone,

I started off on Saturday with the idea of changing out (just) my front brake pads.

I kept going like a kid in a lollie store! I also changed the following:-

-Brake hoses (so cracked I don't know why they were not leaking)
-Brake discs (very thin with more than the allowable lateral runout)
-Lower balljoint, the one on the control arm (crap..that was hard work on the driveway, my bones are still aching two days later)
-Sway bar bushings x4

I'm so far in to things it would be stupid not to change out the lower control arm bushings as the rubbers on these are cracked and new struts as they've got 161,000 miles on them.

My question is, (and I've googled for hours on this) what is the correct factory strut for this car? It seems most online stores supply 2 types:- Heavy duty and sportline. My gut feeling tells me I am wanting comforts...The Buick ride feeling.

I think my original struts are made by Sachs. Are these available?

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1995 E300 Diesel

Sachs is available...as is Bilstein. Bilsteins are designated comfort (or touring)...which seems to be what you want.

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 157k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 175k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver on Tan, 144k mi, wastegate conversion, ALDA delete

19 Honda CR-V EX 70k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

Thanks for that. I'll try and get a part number for those.

Would anyone know where abouts on the strut I might find the original part number for mine?

Even with a torch I can' find one- just a large number '1’ painted on the side of the strut.

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1995 E300 Diesel

I looked on Pelican's catalog for your '95 300d & they showed Bilstein Sport & Heavy Duty struts (fronts). Part number are 22-003652 & 22-003614 respectively.

Usually there is a p/n stamped somewhere, but I'm not sure where you'd find it on your struts.

Hope that helps

I usually order from Pelicanparts... The two options heavy duty and sportline don't seem like either ones I need. They both sound like my ride is going to become a lot harder if I use either of those.

Still looking for 'comforts' if that is what they are known as or at least a part number so that Pelicanparts could order them in.

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1995 E300 Diesel

The Bilsteins should be OE replacement. I think those will serve you well. The HDs you will notice, those are a much more firm dampening rate.

But where you will really change the feel of your ride will be in the springs. If you're leaving the originals, that should be fine. If you were putting in springs for a SportLine w124, you'd get a big difference.

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'85 300TD "Puff The Magic Wagon" - Rolling Resto
'19 Mazda CX-9 Signature - Wife's sled
'21 Morgan 3-Wheeler P101 Edition
'95 E300d - SOLD
'84 300TD "Brown Betty" - Miss this one
'81 240D "China Baby" - Farm grocery getter

The painted number on the old struts mean they are the factory originals. BTW, make sure you replace the foam buffers too, and check the upper mounts for cracks.

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970