w124 shock consensus
 

i have a 1995 E320 wagon with KYB shocks... the shocks are in good shape the ride isn't great. Engatwork recommended getting Bilsteins. Someone else recomended Boges. And i've thought about not doing anything.

i tried a search but couldn't find anything conclusive. what's the consensus on the best shocks for a w124?

bilstein comforts?
bilstein sport?

thanks

eric

I believe the Bilsteins are the OEM choice. Just replaced the rear set on my W124 w/Bilsteins. The KYBs will offer a stiffer ride. My old VW has KYBs and I picked them for a bit stiffer rear end (after all, the motor sits back there, as does the big subwoofer box).

Can't say about the Boge's but my motor mounts are Boge.

Does your wagon have hydropnematic shocks on the rear?

yea... it does... so im only looking for options to replace the front KYBs. and it was my understanding that KYBs are a softer, sloppier ride.. not stiffer.

the car does lean harder on turns than my old w124 with bilsteins.

I'm not an expert on this so I can only relay what I've been told as it relates to the 124 wagon. I have one of these with hydropnematic on the rear and regular shocks on the front.

Both front and rear shocks are Boge, I think Boge and Sachs are now owned by the same company. Anyway the shock for the front of my wagon is supposedly tuned to work well with the rears. The front shock is a Boge Automatic. I'm happy with the vehicles handling.

I installed Bilstein heavy duty shocks on anyother 124, a sedan. They give the car a firmer feel.

With the hydropnematic shocks in the rear I'll be inclined to use front shocks that are compatible with the rears.

If I had the option of using heavy duty Bilsteins on my wagon both front and rear, I'd go that route.