[larcrsb]

08 335xi strut problem...guy i bought it from, jumped a curve, bent control arm and strut...proper bilstein strut {22214287} ordered from two sources...both 2 inches short...he ran my vin number said its the proper part number and verified it through other sources...are we missing something here?

[feuer]

Which part is shorter? From clevis to strut mount? Or just the part that goes through the clevis? Also, post photos.

[larcrsb]

cartridge its self

[rothwem]

The Bilstein monotubes don't stick out as far from the bottom of the knuckle if I recall correctly. Set the new one and the old one next to each other lining up where the knuckle clamps and they might line up correctly.

[Brian86]

Pretty sure all the struts are the same length.

If I recall, as mentioned above, the bilstein struts don't seat down into the spindle very far. There is a step up in the diameter that seats on too of the spindle bore. Is it possible you opened up the split spindle bore too far and drove the struts in too deeply?

[Brian86]

Found Pics. Not very clear but the step is just visible in the cropped photo by the arrow. That step should be at the top of the spindle to prevent it from sliding further down.

[Brian86]

My post above is wrong. I was swapping the snow tires off this afternoon and noticed that I was wrong about the diameter step on the Bilstein shocks.

See the new photo attached for the fitment of the Bilstein's on the front of my e91 xdrive. Ride height is perfectly normal so I'm confident I installed them correctly.

There must be a step in the spindle bore which supports the bottom of the strut.

[larcrsb]

cartridge its self is just about 3 inches shorter than the original. have a picture but it wont load

[larcrsb]

i just seen a post on here that said awd front struts are shorter than rwd struts. thats confusing because the awd struts put the fender down to my tire and are almost 3 inches shorter. no one seams to list strut dimensions.

[rothwem]

Originally Posted by Brian86

Pretty sure all the struts are the same length.

AWD struts are shorter, the strut clamp on the knuckle is raised to clear the CV axle.

Originally Posted by larcrsb

i just seen a post on here that said awd front struts are shorter than rwd struts. thats confusing because the awd struts put the fender down to my tire and are almost 3 inches shorter. no one seams to list strut dimensions.

Maybe this is a dumb question, but you're SURE that your car is AWD? You see an axle plugged into the knuckle?