Bilstein or Boge how can I tell?

[armandodiaz]

I'm assuming they are Boge. The PO painted them green to simulate green Bilsteins. But I want to make sure before I buy insterts. How can I tell?

[RickM]

What year is the car?

From a search info indicates factory Boge = Black and Bilstein = Green.

Paul Franssen:

"...if you can just emery-paper (or kitchen scrub) the main tube, you should somewhere see a little engraved rectangle with BOGE engraved inside of it. "

However, the PO may have put a Bilstein insert into the Boge strut and then painted it green.

So I guess your question is how to tell if that was done.

[armandodiaz]

Right, I'm looking for the strut body make.

[thomas j]

Armando,
One way to id. your struts w/o paint as a clue:
Bils. struts have a small roll pin to retain the insert. Its at the bottom of the strut body,just above the ball joint pin. Its about 3mm in dia. and will be seen as a hole w/ a roll pin in it.
Boge struts dont have this pin,The inserts are retained by a large threaded collar at the top of the strut body.
good luck,
Thomas

[jpnovak]

Tha brand name and model number will be stamped in teh strut housing tube just above the rectangular tab for the brake flex/hard line mounting. you may have to wipe off some grime to read it. I doubt that some green paint will be too thick to read it. You will likely have to pull a front wheel to read it though.

[armandodiaz]

Originally posted by thomas j
Armando,
One way to id. your struts w/o paint as a clue:
Bils. struts have a small roll pin to retain the insert. Its at the bottom of the strut body,just above the ball joint pin. Its about 3mm in dia. and will be seen as a hole w/ a roll pin in it.
Boge struts dont have this pin,The inserts are retained by a large threaded collar at the top of the strut body.
good luck,
Thomas

Well if what you say is true the I guess I do have Bilsteins. Here's a pic I haven't pulled the wheel yet to check the part #:



Thanks All

[jpnovak]

Yes, Bilsteins.

[armandodiaz]

Holy cr@p, I'm shocked (sorry I couldn't resist ). Since I've owned this car, 2yrs now, this is the first upgrade I've see on this car. Since the PO was so cheap (green paint and he dyed the tan seats black for example ) I had always assumed the shocks were Boge. I'm ecstatic.

[thomas j]

Yahtzee!!!
Bilsteins.
Best,
Thomas