Bilstein Date Code

[Floyd B.]

I can see two numbers stamped into the front shocks on my LT4. One looks to be the part number: 22140270 the second is 5242055W00. I assume the date code is present in this second number. Would someone please explain how to identify the date of these shocks?

Thanx

[George W.]

Re: Bilstein Date Code

Floyd,
Bilstein shocks are Julian dated on the bottom and can be read with a mirror; find the numbers that end with the word "wood"; when you
read "wood" look to the left to read the julian date code...in your example the numbers; 5242055 would read "52"=52nd week of '4'=94;
therefore this Blistein shock was made the 52nd week of '94. It is common for Blistein shocks to be made a year before the build date of the car
as they were made in and shipped from Germany.

[Floyd B.]

Re: Bilstein Date Code

Thanx George. That all makes sense since my car is a late Dec, 1995 build. On mine the stamping has no "D". Just the "W00" are clearly stamped.

[Walter F.]

Re: Bilstein Date Code

I am confused. I thought if a part was OEM and replaced no points are deducted in judging.

[Floyd B.]

Re: Bilstein Date Code

Thanx Dave. My initial guess was that the date code is in Y DDD format so I guessed that the shocks were built on the 242nd day (Aug 29th) of 1995 - which seems a little better than early May. My car is a very late December build. - given the car's history there is little chance that anyone would have attempted to obtain replacement with original date codes. Almost all the date coded service parts (belts, hoses, etc.) have correct dates. The car was in pretty ratty condition (98k miles) when I bought it, which is why I choose it as a resto project. I'm 99% sure the shocks are original but I can't be 100% sure since I bought the car off a wholesale lot in 2008 but the idea that someone in this car's history would have actually tried match the date code and other details borders on the absurd.

[Floyd B.]

Re: Bilstein Date Code

Walter,
As far as I know, this rule applies to very few parts and only those that would create a safety concern. The only example I can remember off the top of my head is brake hoses. Even tires aren't judged this way. In general, parts received no extra credit for being "OEM." We apply CDCIF solely based on the appearance of the part/component. In the case of my shocks, If I had replaced them with the correct part number Bilsteins and all of the correct markings and labels were in place but the date code was 12 months prior to the build date of my car I would receive a 20% originality deduction for the date. There are a few exceptions covered by standard deduction tables (e.g. tires, glass and battery) or specifically called out in the TIM&JG (e.g. air filter element and oil filter). But even these receive deductions not full originality points.

[Floyd B.]

Re: Bilstein Date Code

Good work! and thanx for taking the time to share the details.

[Floyd B.]

Re: Bilstein Date Code

Here's a bit more information for those interested. The first pic is of one of my rear shocks. The dates appear to be even earlier than the front's (18th week of 1995). I suppose the label is a broadcast code - "VX" on the rears.

IMG_4552.jpg IMG_4563.jpg

[Floyd B.]

Re: Bilstein Date Code

One more observation. Both the front shocks have the body job number written on them. The rear shocks do not.

IMG_2139.jpg IMG_4551.jpg

[Pat M.]

Re: Bilstein Date Code

My 96 has original FX3 shocks. They are black, not yellow, and do not have any Delco labels. One still has an attached broadcast code of "TJ," as well as the job number. The driver shock has numbers reading "22140203" and "1419611R". Passenger reads "22140204" and "1449612R".

Not sure what all of this means, but it's at odds with the manual and I've yet to run across anyone else who has similar shocks.

[Ken R.]

Re: Bilstein Date Code

Here is photo of my 95 shock taken in 1994, Dec build. Sticker is 7C. Didn't thank back then to look for date on it.