In an attempt to firm up the ride of my floaty 210 I decided to replace the rear shocks on my 1999 E430 with standard suspension and 100K miles. After doing a fair amount of research here is what I have found:
1) the original MB part number for the 1996-99 (up to June of 99) was
210 326 12 00. It been since changed to 210 320 05 31 and then again back to the original and now current P/N 210 326 12 00. They are still available at the king's ransom amount of $174.80 each. The MB dealer's brand could be either Bilstein or Sachs since both are a production line supplier.
Bilstein has come up with an exact duplicate part for the aftermarket (over the counter auto parts company) OF B36-2157 listed for the standard suspension and B36-2155 for the heavy duty part number. The 2155 is listed for sport suspension but, come to find out, I have positively verified that the working tension in both directions is exactly the same on both parts. The only difference are the travel limits of the 2155.
2) I called www.theshockwarehouse.com to get their interpretation of the older Bilstein P/N 2157 and they said it is Bilstein's P/N 24-108263 at a price of $176 for both rear shocks freight paid to Seattle from Florida. Sounds good!! I ordered them and installed them in about 40 minutes.
3) Pulling out of the driveway everything felt great so I went out on the freeway to give them a good test. The first thing that I noticed is that it felt like the back end had been raised about 2 inched but, actually, it is probably only about a half inch. I actually had to readjust my seat position a bit. Once at speed I could EASILY tell that the back end was really stiff. Going over bumps was a substantial thump and I found the ride to be really harsh. After 30 minutes of driving I wanted out of that car!
4) I contacted the shockwarehouse to backtrack a bit and they verified that their shipment of P/N 24-108263 was correct and they were nice enough to give me the 'internal' phone number for Bilstein US of (858) 386-5900. I discussed with the Bilstein factory people the rough riding issue. The person that I was talking with (strong German accent) had me look at the original part number stamped on the bottom of my old shocks
(210 326 12 00) and he verified that the P/N 24-108263 is positively the same part that they furnished to MB for the four years of production at the factory for this exact car/suspension.
5) If you were to go to O'Reilly's or other auto parts house you would probably be most successful asking for the Bilstein 24-108263 part number but you could also try the B36-2157.

I'm not sure about the outcome of my experience. It may just be that I need to adapt to the new rough ride (tire pressure is 29lbs) or else buy a '63 Buick Electra to get the smooth ride back.

 

how did the length of the replacement shocks compare to the ones you removed from the car?

 

yes, same dampening rate for Bilstein HD and Sport shocks

when i was shocks shopping a few yrs back, i came up with these part#s for the E320

Bilstein 96-99 W210
Sport Front B36-2156
Sport Rear B36-2157

HD Front B36-2154
HD Rear B36-2155

Bilstein 00-02 W210
Sport F/R
BE3-A057-H0 / BE3-A058-H0

HD F/R
B36-2156 / BE3-A056-H0

Koni Sport
Front: 26-1602
Rear: 26-1603

OAL for the HD was same as OE shock up front, but in the rear, the HD was 1" longer. the OAL for Sport was 1" less than OE all around.

 

If you decide to go with the deuce and a quarter, I recommend a '70 or later model, with front discs and a 455.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buick_Electra

 

Funny, I was just looking for shocks for my 97 E420 and was confused by the same issues. What were the difference between the HD shocks and comfort or touring class....talked to someone at Bilstein and said the HD shocks were made for a different type of road (he said roads differ all across the world) ...the HD shocks were about 1 inch longer in length and a stiffer ride then the touring class or comfort shocks....being my wife does most of the driving I am going to opt for the touring class shocks. Thus to avoid the stiffer driving problem and my wife beating me up for no reason.

 

The best of both worlds is where I put 150 lbs of bagged potting soil in my trunk until I get used to the new shocks... plus then I'll be ready for spring planting.

 

Are you saying the 108263 was your shock of choice and can you load that much in the trunk and have good ride? Is this the shock with the "higher" feel to it?

What about the front?

 

It was the only choice that Bilstein offers that fits short of the HD's. Knowing what I now know I would have tried some low tech Monroes. I have spotted a '99 E430 with 55K on it that is being parted out and I am trying to get the shocks for $40. I figure half worn out shocks might be perfect! My front shocks have been replaced already. Yes-the 108263's are the higher feeling ones.

 

i'm wondering why shocks would change the height? they're fully compressible
by body weight alone so when installed on a car, spreading out the weight of
a car to 4 shocks still should have enough weight to compress them. this means
that the car's initial sag should be the same regardless of shock selection,
wouldn't it? their purpose is to fluctuate in response to the spring. the spring
is the component designed to affect height.

just speculating via keyboard.....

 

The old style shocks on our '65 Impalas would stay in any position that we set them in as soon as the pressure bled off. The Bilsteins always return to what is predetermined to be an approximate mid point. Old shocks had to be pulled through the mounting hole on the body whereas the Bilsteins are pre-adjusted to just barely be short enough to get them off but long enough to be within an inch of the body mount. You have to put them in between the A-frame and brake line. Then all you do is lower the body about an inch and check to see if they are perfectly aligned with the body. If they are you fully drop the jack down and they feed themselves through the body holes. Since they have a self-centering point then they do control ride height just a bit.
Since I am still not happy with the harsh ride, even with 130 lbs of potting soil in the trunk, I am heading for a new set of Monroe P/N 39021's for the rear.