Cheap Hatch Strut/Support Alternative!?

[dguzzardo22]

well now we got a good list of what to use on the trunk lid . how about the hood now its kinda been left out .

i need some info on the hood b/c my hood shocks are gone !!

[tiFreak]

they sell them on eBay fairly cheap I believe, just search E36 hood shocks

[J!m]

I just ordered the Sachs units from Rock Auto.

My second set of OEM struts are just about dead.

I will report the findings here, once I get them installed...

[tiFreak]

Originally Posted by J!m

I just ordered the Sachs units from Rock Auto.

My second set of OEM struts are just about dead.

I will report the findings here, once I get them installed...

this thread is about the shocks that hold the hatch up

[PittsburghSteelers318ti]

It took me most of this past summer checking the salvage yard until the 3rd 318ti came in with working struts. 2 for $20.

[CirrusSR22]

Originally Posted by tiFreak

this thread is about the shocks that hold the hatch up

I think he's talking about the Blazer struts that are made by Sachs. Not Sachs suspension struts.

[tiFreak]

oh, Sachs makes the hatch struts too? I didn't know that

[Severian]

Thanks for this thread, swinging out to pick up my Might Lift C95769 (blazer struts) tonight!!

[Severian]

Originally Posted by Severian

Thanks for this thread, swinging out to pick up my Might Lift C95769 (blazer struts) tonight!!

I installed these over the weekend and I'm very pleased. I look forward to enjoying these and not hitting my head in cold weather any longer.

[roberto]

i just went out and bought the c95769 supports. its amazing. a trunk that says open as it should. wow.

the best $40 i spent on the car, my head really appreciates it.

[duke.sf]

I went thru all the posts and I think I have closer replacement for the same price, plus some shipping charges at liftsupportsdepot.com (http://www.autopartsbylou.com/). They run 10% off at the moment with coupon SAVE10.

For '95 318ti they specify- p/n 38039 (http://autopartsbylou.com/lift-suppo...=mmy&x=21&y=11), ext. lenght 23.46", comp. lenght 16.1", force 85 lbs., Nitrogem force 380N for $32.50.

I ordered p/n 20217(http://autopartsbylou.com/lift-suppo...0217&type=part), ext. lenght 23.50", comp. lenght 15.24", force 107 lbs., Nitrogen force 480N for $16.50 plus $7ish shipping to CA.

Both struts have the same 10mm Ball sockets. Basically this is the same ext. lenght. The comp. lenght is less than the nominal, but I do not think that is an issue. The struts are not going to be all the way compressed when the trunk is closed. The force is 20 something % more than stock or 10ish % more than the HD stock. I think this is no biggie as well.

For the record- I have wiper, no wing, 2x 3way speakers on the trunk cover.

If I encounter any issues will update my posting.

[greenie]

Originally Posted by duke.sf

I went thru all the posts and I think I have closer replacement for the same price, plus some shipping charges at liftsupportsdepot.com (http://www.autopartsbylou.com/). They run 10% off at the moment with coupon SAVE10.

I ordered p/n 20217(http://autopartsbylou.com/lift-suppo...0217&type=part), ext. length 23.50", comp. length 15.24", force 107 lbs., Nitrogen force 480N for $16.50 plus $7ish shipping to CA.

For the record- I have wiper, no wing, 2x 3way speakers on the trunk cover.

If I encounter any issues will update my posting.

I just put these on my car today, and they seem to be a good solution. They replaced a set of 430N struts that had been on the car a few years and were starting to have problems in below-freezing weather. They come set up for connecting ball-pins on the same side, where the ti has them on opposite sides. I attached the piston rod end to the hatch and then turned the cylinder end clockwise ~180 degrees with an adjustable wrench. If you turn it counterclockwise, the connector will unscrew. I didn't notice any manufacturer markings on them, and the packaging says "Made in Turkey". Closing effort is only a little more than stock, but the opening force is enough that if I let go of the hatch completely the car rocks forward a tiny bit when the hatch reaches full open. I'm going to try to remember to keep my hand on it when opening. My car has the rear wiper and BMW accessory spoiler, but nothing added to the rear shelf.

Milt in Seattle

[Bozola]

Support the hatch when replacing the struts......


________
Chrysler Voyager picture

[greenie]

One more thing on the Mr. Lou's / Lift Supports Depot struts.
You'll get a better fit if you reuse the spring clips from the stock
BMW struts instead of the ones that come on the new ones.

Milt in West Seattle
'96 318ti Sport
'04 Z4 3.0 Sport

[L84THSKY]

Who's car is that? I did the same thing to my car last year. Luckily Geico paid for the replacement.

Originally Posted by Bozola

Support the hatch when replacing the struts......