Was rotating tires and noticed front shocks are leaking. I've been wanting tp put HDs on anyway, so now's the time. It looks like the spring isn't loaded when the car is in teh air, and looks like just a couple of bolts - am I missing something?

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former: 83 300D, 97 C230, 93 400E

current: 08 C300 Luxury , 92 500SL

I did my 202 shocks a few months back, do a search here and at www.club202.com for my write-up and hints on the job.

Do you have a lift to work on?

I used the Bilstein HD's

The spring is not really a factor in shock replacement.

Just curious, but is Bilstein the OEM shock that comes equipped on the 202?

If so I've noticed the parts houses only sell a HD and Sport version which leads me to believe that the HD is the direct replacment shock ... unless another m'facturer (Sachs, Boge) supplied the orignal 202 shock.

Anybody know definitively?

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-Paul-
'01 E430, Sport 72,000 mi
'98 C280, 126,500 mi

yes; for a 1998 C230 the OEM shock is a Sachs and it is actually cheaper to buy the Bilstein HD than the OEM Sachs as far as I know.