Looking at the shocks on my 82 911 sc. They are green. It is my understanding that these are Bilstein shocks. Would these have come new on the vehicle or would they be replacements?

Regards

 

The green Bilsteins on your 82SC are factory
O.E.M. Unless they are leaking, they will last for a very long time, I have 211,000 miles on my front Bilsteins on my 83SC.I put Bilstein Sport shocks on my rear last year and probably will go with the Sport shocks on the front later this year.

 

I just did my rears, one of my green Bilsteins was "frozen" no movement. It was an easy job, droped the engine about 3-4 inches (remove the two rear mnt bolts).
Then used an air rachet inside the engine compartment.

To my freaking surprise the topside nuts came right off...... 1980 vintage....just passing on some happy news

 

Just a Bilstein aside....While factory installed Bilsteins are green, Bilstein yellow's are typically the sport shocks. I just had warranty replacement on two Bilstein sport struts, and they came painted green, with a green upper strut cover. I called Bilstein, and they said they do the sport shocks in both colors, and at that time the Eastern Bilstein distributor had 15 pairs of sports on the shelf, and they were all green. And just to confuse the general color scheme, Boge makes a yellow gas shock for Porsche's too (I had them on mine prior to the Bilsteins).

 

Morning Buffalo,
Your green Bilsteins are most likely OE. As BG mentions you can buy green Bilsteins from Porsche and from Bilstein, as well as a identical shock in yellow from Bilstein (or agent). If your SC was a 'Sport' package from the factory it came with green sport shocks, however most 'Sport' upgrades came in yellow. Bilstein do often paint the shocks, and the advantage is that they can be serviced or re-valved, as long as they are matched in pairs. Often rebuild shocks are painted, and some paint them green to keep the OE look. You can often find a Porsche part no on the dust cover (sticker) or on the body itself (engraved).

The single action high pressure Bilstein shock should be tested by the agent, as it behaves differently to an "ordinary" shock. Unless it leaks, is noisy or behaves weird, it most likely is OK. After two centuries an original shock might need service, and a new shock will dramatically change your car.

I love shocks and change them often, but remember that spring rates, alignment and ride settings must be suited to a new shock.

Boge is black or yellow, Leda is blue, Koni is orange and H&R (and other race shocks from above) normally 'alu' in colour.

Just my bla bla.. Regards Tom.