I've a 99 base model V6, & I've ordered a set of Bilstein struts for it off the web. They were listed as being for the right year & model car, but a suspension specialist from Pedders has told me that if my car has electronically aided struts the Bilsteins won't fit. The guy who sold me the car told me that the S button also stiffened up the shocks, but I've read that this was only available on the S model. which mine isn't. So my questions are could my car have electric struts, even though it's not an S? ie Was it an option on the base model? & if my car has electric struts, is there any way that I can fit the Bilsteins & leave the electrics disconnected? Or will this mess with the computer? Any input appreciated.

 

There was a similar thread a couple of weeks ago. The Bilsteins will fit, and in fact I have just had them fitted on my CATS equipped 2000 model. to see if you have CATS, check for a wire connectors plugging into the top of the strut towers under the hood (you may have to remove the plastic covers). Also, there will be a little control module in your spare tire well, on the left towards the rear bumper. If you have CATS, you will have to leave those wires off the struts (maybe tape over the connectors), and disconnect the module (there are two connectors going into it, probably one for front and one for rear). As an extra measure, I also removed the two fuses for the controlled suspension (there is one in the passenger compartment fusebox, and one in the trunk/boot fusebox). Disconnecting all of this does not seem to have affected my sport shifting ("S" button) at all. If you do not disconnect the module, you will receive a "CATS Fault" message on your dash indicator. Its possible just removing the fuses may be enough to disable this, as well.

 

Can't see any wires coming from the strut towers, or a module in the spare wheel well. So i'm hopeful that I don't have CATS anyway. Now all i've got to worry about is getting the Bilsteins here. DHL's tracking has them in Jakarta Indonesia, heading for Denpasar Bali, which is a long way from me in Nth Qld Australia. I've emailed the shipper to enquire about why my struts are taking the scenic route here, & I hope they get here soon. Oh well, if any one asks me if I've been to Bali lately, i can say "No. But my struts have."