pre 6/92 suspension question

[mjrgoodvibes]

I want to put some new struts in my 92 325is with a build date of 2/92, I want to make sure mine have not been upgraded(converted to 6/92 and newer) already as while I was doing my control arms I was under the impression that the early 92's sway bar link attaches to the strut, mine was attached to the control arm like a normal e36. What else can I look for that will tell me what suspension I have (pre 6/92 vs post 6/92).

[Yager D]

Exactly my question I was asking here with no prevail...

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1612823

I am looking to buy some suspension asap and would like to know also. Hope someone can chime in.

[granlund]

I had the same problem as you with my 2/92 325is. There is also a 10/91 cutoff where the swaybar mount switched from the strut (M3-style) to the control arm.

The 6/92 cutoff is when the hats changed. If you can get the top center nut off the shaft (with the suspension still mounted to the car), you can measure the shaft diameter. 5/92 is 16mm. 6/92 is 14mm.

There might be another way of describing the view from the top; the nut should sit deeper in a 6/92 hat because of shorter springs, but I have no comparison pic.

[Yager D]

I had the same problem as you with my 2/92 325is. There is also a 10/91 cutoff where the swaybar mount switched from the strut (M3-style) to the control arm.

The 6/92 cutoff is when the hats changed. If you can get the top center nut off the shaft (with the suspension still mounted to the car), you can measure the shaft diameter. 5/92 is 16mm. 6/92 is 14mm.

There might be another way of describing the view from the top; the nut should sit deeper in a 6/92 hat because of shorter springs, but I have no comparison pic.

So if your swaybar is connected to your control arm, you could just purchase the +6/92 caps and be fine correct?

[granlund]

So if your swaybar is connected to your control arm, you could just purchase the +6/92 caps and be fine correct?
Wrong! That was exactly the mistake I did with my 2/92.

You need to match the struts, springs and hats on both pre-6/92 and post-6/92 cars. The springs are different length and the strut rods are different diameter.

Someone told me that the pre-6/92 struts are very similar (if not identical) to E30 struts, which would make sense out of a development cost saving perspective.

[Yager D]

Wrong! That was exactly the mistake I did with my 2/92.

You need to match the struts, springs and hats on both pre-6/92 and post-6/92 cars. The springs are different length and the strut rods are different diameter.

Someone told me that the pre-6/92 struts are very similar (if not identical) to E30 struts, which would make sense out of a development cost saving perspective.

I am buying aftermarket strut/spring (rokkor) so the struts and springs are already matched and the only odd man out is the hat, which I am replacing with a +6/92 unit.