[satz]

hi all

am making a trip to the big smoke (Sydney), tomorrow and was wondering if there was any shop that might have the gas struts for a 2009 E90 bootlid in stock?

And, any issues using non-genuine struts instead of factory ones? Dealer quoted $190 for each strut!

cheers

[vtl]

Stabilus is the OEM for the gas struts go for them.

Non oem ones suck balls, I bought some Magnetti Marelli gas struts and they were garbage.

[satz]

thanks vtl. Do you know if it's cheaper to source the Stabilus brand from an independent shop, or get them from BMW dealers?

cheers

[vtl]

Just buy these, they will be cheaper than anything you can get locally

Boot struts
2x https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...92-51247250308

Bonnet:
2x https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...2-e93-sg402058

May as well do them all, the shocks might be able to keep the bonnet from falling down but youll be suprised how awesome new shocks are. You open the bonnet 1/4 of the way and it opens by itself the rest of the way.

[satz]

Thanks again vtl!

Do you or anyone else know if the E90 bootlid should raise itself from about quarter or halfway open position?

On mine I have to lift it all the way, till it goes past 90 deg vertical and then 'locks' open.

cheers

[vtl]

Originally Posted by satz

Thanks again vtl!

Do you or anyone else know if the E90 bootlid should raise itself from about quarter or halfway open position?

On mine I have to lift it all the way, till it goes past 90 deg vertical and then 'locks' open.

cheers

Definitely worn out, replace it

[juld0zer]

Some of the cheaper non genuine ones are also too strong, pushing the lid up with too much gusto.
Magnetti Marelli is an OEM supplier, not for boot struts for BMW though. Surprised they were crap!

[Digitalism]

These seem like a decent price and I believe are local.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/262392580302
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/252648592824
Stabilus as well.

[satz]

Tried to order from the ebay link above, as the price was better than from US, and I wanted to support a local supplier. They never responded to several emails, and then it showed this was out of stock.

Order the Stabilus ones from FCP. Fitted them yesterday. Very easy one-person job on the E90

Thinking of doing the 'coil spring' modification to make the boot pop up when you unlock, rather than having to lift it. Getting lazy in my old age

[Digitalism]

After posting the above link I realise they were for a single strut which makes them quite pricey.

I will be ordering from FCP as well.

[satz]

For two struts the Ebay one came out a few dollars less than from FCP (as the ebay included freight in its price).

Mine came from FCP within 5 work days...and apparently have a life-time replacement warranty, as long as I post them back to FCP in the US...

But as someone else posted, these new struts do cause the bootlid to 'bang' against the stops when opened. I think it's because the Stabilus ones are rated at 320N force, while the originals are 300N.

Not sure what the banging force will do to the mounting bracket in long-term...but I don't use the boot much anyway.

Originally Posted by Digitalism

After posting the above link I realise they were for a single strut which makes them quite pricey.

I will be ordering from FCP as well.

[markv123]

Originally Posted by satz

Thinking of doing the 'coil spring' modification to make the boot pop up when you unlock, rather than having to lift it. Getting lazy in my old age

If you ever do this please share photos. I feel there are times when this could come in handy.

[Socket]

Challenge accepted

[BSG335]

Any details on this coil spring mod?