If it's not stock, it ain't ......

Keep it dead-ass stock. Put another way, don't override the factory
engineers.

Dan
91 GL
83 320i
----- Original Message -----
From: "The Bus Depot" <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, July 25, 2003 7:13 AM
Subject: Re: Bilstein Shocks Vs. Stock

> > How much an improvement over stock do the Bilstein
> > shocks make on the 2WD Vanagon?  Are they worth the money?
>
> > I had KYB's for 5 years and the ride was always rough. The
> > stock gave a softer ride. The Bilsteins ended the porpoising
> > effect I had and the comfort and stability has improved.
>
>
>
> Remember, you now have four options (at least from us):
> KYB, Boge, Bilstein, and Al-ko.
> A copy of my prior post on the Al-ko's is below. (It also touches on the
> KYB/Boge/Bilstein differences.)
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> This seems a goodf time to announce that I now have a new shock absorber
> offering from Europe, for all 2 wheel drive Vanagons, that may bridge
> the gap between the affordable yet slightly hard-riding KYB's, and the
> stock but slightly mushy Boges, without draining the wallet to the tune
> of Bilstein. A good middle ground, in other words.
>
> These TUV-approved shocks, from Al-ko Suspension A.G, are oil-filled, so
> they won't ride quite as hard as the KYB's.  They are also priced about
> the same as the stock Boge oil-filled shocks. But they are very
> noticably heavier duty, with significantly larger pistons than the other
> two.  I have not run them on my own Vanagon yet (as my shocks are still
> relatively new), but they have been through extensive field testing by
> Just Kampers in the U.K., who has been selling them for a couple of
> years now to excellent customer response. It was on the basis of their
> recommendation that I imported them. For not too much more than KYB (and
> half the price of Bilstein), you get a smoother ride than a KYB yet
> better handling than a typical oil-filled shock, and robust
> construction. And, for those who care about such things, they are still
> European made, whereas Boge has been moving more and more of their
> production to Mexico (and KYB is, of course, Japanese). Might be worth
> considering if you don't have the means for the Bilsteins but would like
> an upgrade to the more common KYB and Boge fare.
>
> 20 sets in stock now. No more for a couple of months when they're gone.
> Links:
> Front: http://www.busdepot.com/busdepot/details.jsp?partnumber=22321
> Rear: http://www.busdepot.com/busdepot/details.jsp?partnumber=22322
>
> Don't forget to enter your listmember discount code (list1e) on the
> "view cart" page just prior to checkout, for an additional 5% savings.
>
> - Ron Salmon
>   The Bus Depot, Inc.
>   www.busdepot.com
>   (215)  234-VWVW
>
> _____________________________________________
> Toll-Free for Orders by PART # :  1-866-BUS-DEPOT