Rear Hatch Lifts

[nowheretorun]

Anyone know about the shocks for the rear hatch? I am trying to get some replacement ones for my '95 318ti, and the dealer said he needed to know the production date, because different ones were used. I have the production date, but was wondering why different ones were used.

Thanks for the help in advance.

Steve

[RussLCV]

Can not help with that one, but mine I think also need changing, as often the hatch will fall shut?? Is that the same problem as you?? Mine is a '95 316i SE and I am in the UK.

[2ndBimmer]

Ive noticed too that my hatch will fall sometimes, but only when its REALLY cold out (below freezing).

[1996 328ti]

They all do that.

There are three different struts.

without rear wiper
with rear wiper
with rear spoiler

In the winter I used the aluminum pipe for my jack to prop up the hatch.

[Travis]

I ordered a pair from Bavarian Autosport just the other day. They don't have them in stock, so they won't arrive for two weeks. The price was about $70.

A bit of broom handle works O.K, by the way.

[J!m]

I use a broken hockey stick in the winter beater...

[fourbanger]

interesting that you guys should mention the cold...

My hatch shocks drop the stupid door on me ALL the time, and it never gets colder than 70 degrees here. I had been wondering for a while about that. Guess I might as well change them.

Oh, a trick I found is that if you push the hatch ALL the way up, and hold it there for a few seconds, it will generally hold (as long as there aren't winds or anything).

[Travis]

A friend and I were talking about using gas struts on the engine enclosure door for a new machine when I mentioned the pair costing $70 retail, so he called a supplier to ask about pricing for 6-8 thousand per year volumes and the price was 6.50 per piece to lift and hold 25lbs (depending on end configuration, the price could go up as much as a dollar). Now I understand how BMW has stayed independent all this time.

[JedzE36/5]

haha this is hilarious. i just bought some from a buddy of mine for cheap (PM me if you want his email, he can get any OE/OEM part CHEAP) because i was tired of doing the "hold it up for 5 seconds and it will stay up without any wind" method. this is yet another reason WHY we Ti'ers are special! CHEERS!

[ElementalFiend]

Stangly my hatch shocks went out after I got my car painter. I've been propping it open with a broken broom handle for about a year now. When I had my front end redone and resprayed the hood shocks went out too. Strange that paint ruins shocks.. even though there wasn't any paint on them.

[brucelee]

You guys need to spring for new supports. Think how silly it looks to have a stick holding up the hatch of your dream car.

[schussey]

it's normal for it to fall in cold weather

[Silver00spike]

haha this is hilarious. i just bought some from a buddy of mine for cheap (PM me if you want his email, he can get any OE/OEM part CHEAP) because i was tired of doing the "hold it up for 5 seconds and it will stay up without any wind" method. this is yet another reason WHY we Ti'ers are special! CHEERS!

Somewhy I can't send you a PM, could you tell me his email to Silver00Spike@yahoo.com?

thx