I have jumped in to a xjs this week that needs lots of tlc. How are people feeling about the Boge shock kits from xk unlimited?

79 xj6L
92 xjs

 

Boge was the original manufacturer for the XJ-S and XJS shocks. I bought some new ones. They are cheap and easy to replace (at the front). Not tested yet, but should help the car feel planted again.

 

I've always been happy with Boge.

Years and years ago there was a lot of conversation about seeking out "Made in Germany" Boge shocks versus "Made in Turkey". Not sure how important is truly was then ....or now.

Cheers
DD

 

i bought a set of new rear shocks , SACHS, they are much softer than the Boge's i took off!

had one Boge leaking so decided to buy all 4, a lot of work but feels like it bottoms out some bumps, altho ride is great.

and the car sits higher by about 2", very odd!

 

I purchased an xjs, it wallowed like a Daimler hearse on standard shocks, I thought the s was sport, it is now I fitted spax, 20 years ago and there as good I want at any occasion

 

For the same reason as ronbros (one was leaking), I had my rears replaced with new Boges that were Made in Turkey. Not totally happy about that, but I can't say they actually feel worse than the original Made in West Germany ones. And I don't think they would be. The company's reputation is on the line, so they'd make sure the quality's decent, surely? Or am I being naive?

I do wonder, however, just how soft or not the ride should be. I keep reading about "waft," and "waft" is something I associate with massive Yank Tanks, land yachts that are so soft and pillowy you can't feel anything, and which need several dozen feet in which to even start turning. My car thumps on road cracks and smaller bumps, though on a smooth stretch it really is wafty.

 

Yeah, they'd want decent quality, sure. But 'decent' isn't a very high bar.

Speaking broadly......

With global manufacturing and constantly changing corporate parentage I'm pretty well convinced that even the premium brands are suffering. It doesn't have to a case where they're manufacturing outright sub-par merchandise. It's just that quality, and consistence of quality, has slipped...maybe not enough that most people would notice or care.

I recall, perhaps incorrectly, that the Turkish-made Boges seem to have a much higher incidence of leaking. Maybe (for example) the plant in Turkey was sourcing different seals? I dunno. If it *was* a problem then, however, it may well have been corrected by now. Or not.

Personally I just don't have confidence that the premium brands still offer consistently superior parts.

Cheers
DD

 

A quick check of the Interwebs doesn't reveal much about Turkish Boge quality--actually, it brings up two of your posts, Doug, from 2011 speculating on their quality. So long as it's not enough that most people would notice, I will be happy, being pretty obtuse about many things....

 

Anyone used this Koni setup?
30 1090

75-96 XJ-S 6 & 12 cyl. excl. self-leveling susp. - Special D (Red) Rear

4 *$192.34

$769.36

26 1089

75-96 XJ-S 6 & 12 cyl. excl. self-leveling susp. - Special D (Red) Front

2 *$106.20

$212.40

 

those shocks alone would cost more than paid for the whole car!

 

I have used Koni but not on the Jag. They were a very good shock with bump and rebound adjustment.

I replaced the Boge with Bilstein and I'm very happy with the ride quality and handling. The rears did alter ride height, lower by nearly 1", this was due to the different spring perch height on the Bilstein.