Review on Bilstein 24 024648 Monotube Shock Absorber by Reynaldo Guzman

<b>Background:</b> I have a 2001 SLK230 (R170) with 75,000 miles, all stock. I was starting to wonder if the shock absorbers needed replacing. Driving has been tough since I bought the car (40,000 miles in 2007) but it's a tiny sports car, isn't it? Must not drive like an S-Class. But 75,000 miles is the expected lifespan of shock absorbers. My car is 16 years old. And a classic sign that they were worn was the front end diving a bit under hard braking. the conclusion that only fully worn shock absorbers can be diagnosed by any of the classic methods - error checking, oil leaks, etc. There seemed to be no way to tell if they were out of specification. So I decided to remove the left front shock and just push it in. Removal from the car was a lot easier than I expected and I didn't need a coil compressor. (Despite what Pelican Parts says.) Upon removal, the damper felt okay, but maybe a little soft. It still had a gas charge, but it also seemed too light to fully compress by hand. However, I wanted better performance, so I ordered a pair of Bilstein B6 series HD shock absorbers, their performance is shocking. But to be on the safe side, I bought a front-only set. If they weren't a big deal, well, they would be at the most critical point and I would only be wasting half the money I spent buying the full set.<b>Overview/Results:</b>The new shocks are amazing! In the city, they provide a smoother and more controllable ride. Bumps and potholes cause much less irritation than before. But on the Autobahn, they really shine. After installation, I drove from Redding, California to Dunsmuir, California about 110 miles round trip on a winding superhighway through the Cascade Mountain Range. Although the limit is 65, I was able to ride significantly faster and at times reached much higher speeds. The new dampers made the car MUCH smoother and more stable at speed and greatly improved handling. And this is when only the front shock absorbers are replaced. I could handle wide corners, both up and down at 80s speeds, and the car felt completely planted. Although this car had never lost speed before, it was an order of magnitude better with the new Bilsteins. Now I want to swap the rear as well. I think it's a good investment in my car and I'm glad I did it. Also, given the ride comfort, I wouldn't try to save $25 a lap by buying a factory Bilstein replacement. At least I've learned that "performance" doesn't mean "riding hard", at least at Bilstein. So if you want the best performance at a reasonable price these shocks are for you. Overview along with installation instructions on slkworld dot com. If you have at least some experience, you should have no problem replacing them yourself. PS: The shocks are about 2 inches longer than stock. Don't worry about that. Google my slkworld review for details.