[JohnBucurE92]

Hello everyone! Long time stalker of this forum but first time poster! Was installing new struts on my 2007 e92 335i when i ran into a problem
I was doing the rears, and the basic procedure for that is to remove the trunk liner to get to the top of the struts. Once that is accomplished, the strut nut is exposed. Like so.



There is a 16 mm bolt, and threaded through the middle exposed at the top is a 6mm pinch bolt. You hold that while turning the 16 mm bolt. I bought the necessary tools, and many videos on youtube made it look easy enough, and set these tools to the right direction, checking at least three times to make sure. I put my 6mm wrench at top and 16mm at the bottom. It was turning fine! and my bolt must have been seized up because this happened. Now i have a broken bolt head. Any ideas of how to remove this without going to BMW? Searched the internet and could not find much regarding this

[TheeGovernor]

Installing new rear shocks* . Have a helper grab the shaft of the shock in the wheel well with a set of pliers while you undo the top nut.

[JohnBucurE92]

Interesting, I also noticed the same 6mm pinch nut at the very bottom of the shock, if i hold that do you think I can wrench on the 16mm bolt at the top? I've tried with a helper to hold the shock but it seems like as the shaft was moving on the inside, and the 16mm bolt was turning but not getting loose

[matteblue3er]

You need to hold the piston shaft, not the shock body.

If you are replacing the shock, just use some vice grips on the shaft of the piston.