I've been very familiar what is advised in TIS but I've still always used a thin layer of brake cylinder paste (silicone based) on guide pins. The main thin is that petroleum based greases are not used because the guide rubbers may swell.

Regarding original shocks I've always thought they are made by Sachs or Delphi depending on manufacturing time.

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E39 530dA -02 M-Sport Messing metallic
E53 X5 3.0dA -06 Sport Stratus grey
E70 X5 40d -12 M-Sport Space grey