A Shock'ing' Change
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 758
Likes: 1
From: Warren, NJ
'05 E320 CDI;'04 S2k;'94 Supra TT;'10 QX56;'38 Buick;98 Port City Offset Late Model
A Shock'ing' Change
All 4 actually. At 50-60k miles they seemed soft to me. By 70k miles I thought it was time. The dealer wanted $1600 for the MB shocks installed. Euro-Tire in Fairfield installed Bilstein Comfort shocks for $800.
It is hard to do the comparison back to back, however I had just driven a 2009 C300 and had driven a 2010 E350 a few weeks ago. More controlled and slightly firmer than either. Actually, firmer may not be right. Small imperfections seem to be reduced. Vibration in the car seems to be reduced. The wheels are highly controlled over the potholes and road imperfections that dominate our NJ/NY roads. The feel may be the result of more digressive damping in the shocks.
Only a 100 miles or so so far...but I would so far recommend the Bilsteins as a replacement shock.
The car is on Firestone Firehawk Wide Ovals, V-rated, in the stock size.
It is hard to do the comparison back to back, however I had just driven a 2009 C300 and had driven a 2010 E350 a few weeks ago. More controlled and slightly firmer than either. Actually, firmer may not be right. Small imperfections seem to be reduced. Vibration in the car seems to be reduced. The wheels are highly controlled over the potholes and road imperfections that dominate our NJ/NY roads. The feel may be the result of more digressive damping in the shocks.
Only a 100 miles or so so far...but I would so far recommend the Bilsteins as a replacement shock.
The car is on Firestone Firehawk Wide Ovals, V-rated, in the stock size.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 758
Likes: 1
From: Warren, NJ
'05 E320 CDI;'04 S2k;'94 Supra TT;'10 QX56;'38 Buick;98 Port City Offset Late Model
More controlled than smooth. It makes the whole car feel more solid. Definitely needed the change, should have changed them 20k miles earlier.
Cost was more an issue than performance. This a 5 year old 75k mile sedan worth US$16k used for drives to NYC over very bad roads (the only kind we have here). The shocks really made the potholes disappear.
Cost was more an issue than performance. This a 5 year old 75k mile sedan worth US$16k used for drives to NYC over very bad roads (the only kind we have here). The shocks really made the potholes disappear.
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,339
Likes: 11
From: Gulf Coast but not Florida
GLK350, SL63 AMG
Great prices. Ask them to validate fitment.
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Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 758
Likes: 1
From: Warren, NJ
'05 E320 CDI;'04 S2k;'94 Supra TT;'10 QX56;'38 Buick;98 Port City Offset Late Model
E320
04-05 Standard Suspension;
211.065/.265; F: Coil / B: Coil B4 (TC) 24-105910 24-105927
Sport Suspension;
211.065/.265; F: Coil / B: Coil B4 (TC) 24-121781 24-105927
We went with the standard. However, I'm not a big believer in sport suspensions for the following reasons:
1) They make the car easier to snap back and forth, but that isn't something you do if you are driving fast and smooth (a requirement for fast).
2) They are two hard for the normal street driving on the roads that exist in the US. On a bumpy track you setup the car with softer shocks, not harder shocks.
3) People are confused about stiff from cars 30 years ago; then stiff suspensions limited travel compensating for poor geometry.
4) People confuse stiff with race cars; race cars on fast tracks need higher rates to deal with aerodynamic loading and the shocks need to keep pace with the springs. No runs race wings at race speeds on the street; even race cars go softer on slower tracks.
Our car (BTW over 90k miles now) has the standard Bilsteins with Firestone Firehawk 500 Indy 500 tires (225/55VR-16) that have tremendous bite and maintain a very even tire contact pressure through turns. I think they would challenge any other setup for a comparable weight and power car on any race track.
http://www.bilsteinus.com/fileadmin/...ppGuide308.pdf Page 19.
04-05 Standard Suspension;
211.065/.265; F: Coil / B: Coil B4 (TC) 24-105910 24-105927
Sport Suspension;
211.065/.265; F: Coil / B: Coil B4 (TC) 24-121781 24-105927
We went with the standard. However, I'm not a big believer in sport suspensions for the following reasons:
1) They make the car easier to snap back and forth, but that isn't something you do if you are driving fast and smooth (a requirement for fast).
2) They are two hard for the normal street driving on the roads that exist in the US. On a bumpy track you setup the car with softer shocks, not harder shocks.
3) People are confused about stiff from cars 30 years ago; then stiff suspensions limited travel compensating for poor geometry.
4) People confuse stiff with race cars; race cars on fast tracks need higher rates to deal with aerodynamic loading and the shocks need to keep pace with the springs. No runs race wings at race speeds on the street; even race cars go softer on slower tracks.
Our car (BTW over 90k miles now) has the standard Bilsteins with Firestone Firehawk 500 Indy 500 tires (225/55VR-16) that have tremendous bite and maintain a very even tire contact pressure through turns. I think they would challenge any other setup for a comparable weight and power car on any race track.
http://www.bilsteinus.com/fileadmin/...ppGuide308.pdf Page 19.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,339
Likes: 11
From: Gulf Coast but not Florida
GLK350, SL63 AMG
+1
E320
04-05 Standard Suspension;
211.065/.265; F: Coil / B: Coil B4 (TC) 24-105910 24-105927
Sport Suspension;
211.065/.265; F: Coil / B: Coil B4 (TC) 24-121781 24-105927
We went with the standard. However, I'm not a big believer in sport suspensions for the following reasons:
1) They make the car easier to snap back and forth, but that isn't something you do if you are driving fast and smooth (a requirement for fast).
2) They are two hard for the normal street driving on the roads that exist in the US. On a bumpy track you setup the car with softer shocks, not harder shocks.
3) People are confused about stiff from cars 30 years ago; then stiff suspensions limited travel compensating for poor geometry.
4) People confuse stiff with race cars; race cars on fast tracks need higher rates to deal with aerodynamic loading and the shocks need to keep pace with the springs. No runs race wings at race speeds on the street; even race cars go softer on slower tracks.
Our car (BTW over 90k miles now) has the standard Bilsteins with Firestone Firehawk 500 Indy 500 tires (225/55VR-16) that have tremendous bite and maintain a very even tire contact pressure through turns. I think they would challenge any other setup for a comparable weight and power car on any race track.
http://www.bilsteinus.com/fileadmin/...ppGuide308.pdf Page 19.
04-05 Standard Suspension;
211.065/.265; F: Coil / B: Coil B4 (TC) 24-105910 24-105927
Sport Suspension;
211.065/.265; F: Coil / B: Coil B4 (TC) 24-121781 24-105927
We went with the standard. However, I'm not a big believer in sport suspensions for the following reasons:
1) They make the car easier to snap back and forth, but that isn't something you do if you are driving fast and smooth (a requirement for fast).
2) They are two hard for the normal street driving on the roads that exist in the US. On a bumpy track you setup the car with softer shocks, not harder shocks.
3) People are confused about stiff from cars 30 years ago; then stiff suspensions limited travel compensating for poor geometry.
4) People confuse stiff with race cars; race cars on fast tracks need higher rates to deal with aerodynamic loading and the shocks need to keep pace with the springs. No runs race wings at race speeds on the street; even race cars go softer on slower tracks.
Our car (BTW over 90k miles now) has the standard Bilsteins with Firestone Firehawk 500 Indy 500 tires (225/55VR-16) that have tremendous bite and maintain a very even tire contact pressure through turns. I think they would challenge any other setup for a comparable weight and power car on any race track.
http://www.bilsteinus.com/fileadmin/...ppGuide308.pdf Page 19.
