Is there a way to tell if one has "wet" front inserts?
 

What I mean is, the original BOGE front inserts that didn't have a shell to hold the oil. I read these (kinda) horror stories about pulling the inserts out, and having oil go everywhere.

Is there any way to tell if that's going to be the case BEFORE you make a mess? Did the "wet" ones (for lack of a better term) look different, were they marked different?

I don't know about identification, but when I refreshed my Carrera's suspension a few years ago, the amount of oil in the Boge struts was minimal and really no big deal. Without removing the stuts (and simply swinging them out under the fender lips), I pulled the original inserts out and used paper towels to soak up the oil from the bottom of the struts as it's not needed for Bilsteins replacements. A "mess" is when you crank her up with the oil filter barely screwed on, and also an indication that I'm an idiot at times :)

That's what I'm trying to learn. I got the impression that the oil should fill that cavity in the strut, but I guess it really just needs to fill a few inches at the bottom (what's the travel on those things? 4 inches?)

Mike,
It would help a great deal if you stated what it is that you're trying to do.
If you are replacing old Boge inserts with new Bilstein strut inserts, you will not need the existing oil contained in the Boge shell.
My Boge strut bodies contained more oil than what I would want to soak up with paper towels, so a turkey baster with some hose in the end will help to remove the oil. A paper towel can catch whats left in the bottom.
P.S. A search will render more info than you'll care to read.
HTH

:) Have a one year old pair of Bilstein inserts for Boge struts for anyone interested

I have original Boge struts, and *I assume* original Boge inserts. I will be replacing the inserts with Blisteins. I wondered if all original inserts were the "wet" versions, or if there were some that had encapsulated oil. I'll be doing the work in my apartment parkinglot, and having more than a spit of oil come out will annoy someone. I wanted to find out if I could tell before tearing into it what kind of mess to expect.

What you are saying about the volume of oil is what I'm concerned about. I wondered if it was more like a tablespoon or a pint, and how to tell if it's even going to be an issue. It seems that all original Boge inserts were "wet", but I wasn't sure.

HD or sport? I'd probably be interested...

No big mess either way you look at it, accumulating dirt on the strut means it is leaking, but don't be concerned about cleaning up oil from a failed strut unless, as amnt of us are, severley OCD and perhaps overly green. (no pun intended)

If memory serves correctly, less than 1/2 pint per side. Simply pull out the old insert slowly with an oil drain bucket close by. If you're carefull, you wont spill a drop, and if you do, a drop cloth should protect you from your landlord.
Have fun!