Am looking to replace shock (struts) as soon as money can assit me!
Reason is two fold...a bone jarring ride (think skateboard) and the km travelled (170k)

I am sure my magna has been lowered ALOT (will measure distances from ground to wheel arch centre when i get home) as the 16' rims and 50 series tyres barely clear the front guards...rear is at the same level. (ie vehicle is level at a lowered point)
So my question is...do i have to buy a specific strut for a lowered vehicle, or will good old supa-bleep struts work just as well?

It seems unanimous that the way to go are the Boge/Sachs shocks.

Keeping in mind though it seems your car is excessively lowered and will always ride poorly.
Also the stock tire profile is 215/60/16 so you might have ridiculously small tires on top of your other problems

Badly lowered springs (think heat torch) Are frankly Dangerous and won't be helped much by better Shocks/Dampers as the springs built in progression of compression is ruined - if you are after a good ride vs lowered look - get a set of springs from the wreckers as well as new shocks, if you want the lowered look make sure to get a set of proper of lowered springs - they are calibrated to still give a decent ride but importantly a SAFE ride.

I think you are both right...
Prob 1..the 225/50s require a lot of pressure (36-38 psi) to stop them feeling like wet sponges
Prob 2..springs so short they (metallic thunk) dont like being extended or compressed
Prob 3...shocks probably screwed as a result of 1+2 above, plus 170,000km

Solution...wreckers...new (for me) springs, new struts, probably change the front rotors whilst im in there......look for higher profile tyres when these (quality "diamond" brand non round things) expire.

Unfortunately, its how i bought the car ! But like Colonel Steve Austin, "We can make him better!"
Thank you both