I'm replacing the deteriorated shock mounts on the front of my 2006 XK8 with Welsh Polyurethane shock mounts and I'm wondering if I need to replace the factory shocks as well. Since the stock shocks are Bilstein and the car has 60,000 miles on the clock I'm thinking they are still good. Opinions welcome.

New shocks are $100, so not terribly pricey, and it includes the lower joint. If you are having the work done, then you might want to change it all, including bump stop, plastic spring inserts and sleeve. This way you do not have to revisit for a long time if ever.

If you are doing the work yourself, the strut is not terribly hard to remove off the car if you take the well liner off (there is no need to mess with the upper control arm at all). The key would be the condition of the lower joint. If the seal is broken and the joint contaminated, there will be some play, and you need new joints, about $25 EA, and a hydraulic press. Boils down to how much you value your own time I suppose...

@ fmertz

Thanks for the info. You did mention a "bump stop". Is that the same as a "front spring assister"? Or is the "assiter" just for the coil springs?

Look here, parts 2, 8 and 9:

SNG Barratt Front Damper

The Bump stop is in the bellows. Its Closed Cell PU foam and it goes on the shaft. Its purpose is to soften "bottoming".

A bellows (also called a gaiter) and bumpstop is about $15/side.