As the rear shocks are relatively easy to replace, I decided to change the rears first just to see how they were doing.
The car is a 2010 D5 with 116k on it and it feels typically wallowy - riding on the springs with little compression and rebound...I was right.
Sorry about the cr*p iPhone camera work but I think it illustrates the point. The first video is the original shock, me pressing down one handed as hard as I can; the 2nd shock is a new Bilstein B4; the 2nd video shows the rebound - the new shock has already extended before I can pick up the camera!
https://youtu.be/SWabKmw-dY8
https://youtu.be/gn-db8ccFKw
I was a bit worried at first as the Bilstein looks to be about 15mm shorter! I have checked the part number on their website and it is deffo the right one.
I couldn't have done it without my Clarke impact wrench and a fair bit of Plus Gas so don't expect to just stick a socket on the main bolt and it be a breeze!
Getting the top nut off to release the mount was OK on one, impossible on the other...so eventually I took an angle grinder to the old shock and cut away until I could get the damper rod exposed and in a vice: messy but effective.
It seemed rude not to also paint the calipers and hubs whilst it was all apart so not a bad afternoons work.
Fronts are next.