I just remembered- the new shocks came with 1 nut- is that the 'nylock' type one? The original struts had 2 nuts, and I re-used those as i could only get the one that came with the bilsteins threaded down a certain amount- is this how the nut is supposed to work? I though there was something wrong with it so i used the originals, but maybe the new nut works in the way you're suggesting so it doesn't compress the rubber too much?

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1993 320TE M104
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past:

1983 230E W123 M102
1994 E300D S124 OM606 (x2)
1967 250SE W108 M129
1972 280se 3.5 W108 M116
1980 280SE W116 M110
1980 350SE W116 M116
1992 300E W124 M103
1994 E280 W124 M104
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"music and women I cannot but give way to, whatever my business" -Pepys