In 1957, just three years after the engineers at Bilstein had developed the first gas pressure shock absorber based on the de-carbon principle, they achieved a breakthrough: Mercedes-Benz decided to use the innovative products from Ennepetal in series production. Even back then, the Bilstein gas pressure shock absorbers impressed with their consistent damping performance, high quality and long service life. For 60 years now, the Swabian car manufacturers have therefore relied on the proven products from Bilstein.
Beginnings at Mercedes-Benz
At that time, the monthly production volume was just 3000 dampers. Mercedes-Benz initially installed these exclusively in the Mercedes 300 d. Unlike the previously used oil shock absorbers, the Bilstein gas pressure shock absorbers had a consistent damping performance, as the use of nitrogen prevented the shock absorber oil from foaming up. The resulting consistency and stable characteristics made it possible for the first time to adapt the suspension to different road conditions. As a result, the dampers also became interesting for motorsport, as the peculiarities of race tracks could now be dealt with appropriately, which sometimes provided the decisive advantage for victory.
First successes in motorsport
Since the early 1960s, Bilstein can also look back on a success story in motorsport. Bilstein dampers recorded their first victories outside of series production in rallying in 1960. At that time, Walter Schock and his co-driver Rolf Moll won the 29th Monte Carlo Rally in a Mercedes 220 SE equipped with Bilstein gas pressure shock absorbers. Second and third place also went to Mercedes, also on Bilstein. The technical superiority of the shock absorber from Ennepetal was already evident at that time and the company was able to make a name for itself in various motorsport classes at an early stage. For example, Bilstein dampers were first installed in Formula 1 racing cars in 1961, albeit for Porsche at the time, and today it is impossible to imagine racing without them.
Bilstein and Mercedes-Benz
The special thing about the long-standing partnership between Bilstein and Mercedes-Benz is the close cooperation in development. Bilstein has also designed innovative and perfectly matched suspension solutions for today's models. Since 1999, for example, vehicles of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, type W220, have been rolling off the production line with an air suspension system from Bilstein. From 2002, the air suspension module for the Mercedes-Benz E-Class was also produced.
As in the past 60 years, Bilstein will continue to supply Mercedes with advanced and sophisticated products for series production and for the race track.
The products from Ennepetal have always impressed with their top quality and high performance. And although Bilstein's annual production output is now around 10 million shock absorbers, all products are tailored precisely to customer requirements. This is another reason why Bilstein has been able to establish itself as a series supplier to Mercedes-Benz.
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