Hello, James,
I just did this job this morning, and will pass on what I learned. I replaced Bilstein with Bilstein, which doesn't mean the old ones were on correctly, but the following instructions are based on how the parts on the old shocks were arranged:
1. There are three washers supplied with the new shock. The largest one goes on the top and the other two on the bottom.
2. There are two rubber doughnuts supplied. The smaller one looks like an angel food cake, and it goes right on top of the flanged washer that is already on the shock. The round side of the cake goes up.
3. To remove the old shocks, remove the nuts on the top before jacking up the car. The pressure makes it easier to take off the nuts without the shock shaft turning.
4. After these nuts are off, jack up the car until the wheel is almost off the ground. Then remove the 17mm bolt holding the bottom of the shock on.
5. Prise the bottom off. I used the all-purpose handle on my socket rachet.
6. After putting the smaller rubber doughnut on the top of the shaft, put the top of the shaft through the upper hole. Mine (230sl) exits in the trunk, but yours may be different.
7. Now slip the bottom on the bolt holder. Mine didn't need any lubricant, but it may help.
8. Put on the middle-size washer. It should fit just over the bolt holder.
9. Put on the smallest washer. The cupped side will go over the end of the bolt holder.
10. Put on the bolt holding the bottom of the shaft and tighten up. I didn't use a new lockwasher here, but you may want to.
11. Let the jack down. This will put pressure on the shock.
12. Put the larger doughnut on the top. Follow it with the flanged washer, cupped up. I don't know why the big deal on which way the washer should be cupped, but that is how my old one came off. When I say cupped up, I mean like it would hold water.
13. Now put on the nut and tighten it. I had to use a 6mm wrench to hold the shock shaft since the new nut is a locknut. The nut will bottom out.
14. You're done. You'll probably be hungry now, after dealing with doughnuts and cakes!
The whole job took me about 35 minutes. Easy, and almost no chance of bloodshed. Joe Alexander furnished enough instructions to help me, but I thought some additional details might be useful.
Joe2