Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 32

Thread: Trunk Strut Replacement

  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Omaha, NE
    Posts
    4,196
    My Cars
    1998 528i 5-spd 102K

    Trunk Strut Replacement

    The replacement for Trunk Struts in most cars is a straightforward business.
    I did not realize how bad my Trunk Struts were until I replaced them!

    BEFORE: Trunk would sometimes drop down while I unload grocery!
    AFTER: When you open the trunk, it shoots straight up like a rocket (sort of) LOL!

    PN for Trunk Strut is 51248222913, about $26-29 online for Stabilus brand:

    http://www.eactuning.com/parts/produ...ls/51248222913

    1. Remove the C-clip, the trick is push the side of the C-Clip with a screwdriver while using a finger to counter the opposite side of the C-clip (to prevent it from rotating).
    Do NOT lose the C-Clip!

    2. Undo the UPPER attachment then swing the Trunk Strut inward to unseat it from the LOWER attachment.

    3. The new Stabilus Struts already come with a bit of grease, so no need to apply more grease.

    4. Installation is the reverse of the above, push the LOWER end in first. Then the UPPER end, then the C-clip.

    This is easy like 1-2-3. A very gratifying 5 min fix.
    Recommended for cars more than 10 years old.

    Exact same procedure for many cars out there with Stabilus Struts (My 2007 Honda Odyssey uses Stabilus Struts as well).









  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    atlanta, ga
    Posts
    730
    My Cars
    05/2003 530i Sport
    Thanks Cnn! Will keep this in handy

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Orlando, FL
    Posts
    138
    My Cars
    2003 530i Sport
    So does the trunk now completely open when you push the button on the key? If so this may be something on my list I will have to tackle soon as that is a very useful feature to have when I am carrying stuff to put in the trunk

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Omaha, NE
    Posts
    4,196
    My Cars
    1998 528i 5-spd 102K
    Quote Originally Posted by e39beast View Post
    so does the trunk now completely open when you push the button on the key?
    Yes!

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Queens
    Posts
    201
    My Cars
    BMW
    Quote Originally Posted by e39beast View Post
    So does the trunk now completely open when you push the button on the key? If so this may be something on my list I will have to tackle soon as that is a very useful feature to have when I am carrying stuff to put in the trunk
    Quote Originally Posted by cnn View Post
    Yes!
    Wait. So are you saying when you push the keyfob trunk button, the trunk lid goes from fully closed to fully open automatically?

    or just that your trunk now stays open AFTER you lift it open?

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Los Angeles, CA
    Posts
    374
    My Cars
    01 525i
    Quote Originally Posted by hapollo View Post
    Wait. So are you saying when you push the keyfob trunk button, the trunk lid goes from fully closed to fully open automatically?

    or just that your trunk now stays open AFTER you lift it open?
    I would also like to know this. cause right now if I press the button it unlocks, but I must open it.. if I open it, it will stay open though... If I can press teh button and it opens all teh way just from pressing the button.. I'm doing this right nao :P
    Apparently my sig was too sexy for bf.c
    Click for teh sexiness...

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Omaha, NE
    Posts
    4,196
    My Cars
    1998 528i 5-spd 102K
    YES, it pops right up.

    Change the Struts and you will be very happy. It is a 5 min job.
    Trust me.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Queens
    Posts
    201
    My Cars
    BMW
    Quote Originally Posted by arandall850 View Post
    If I can press teh button and it opens all teh way just from pressing the button.. I'm doing this right nao :P

    Ok, go straight to your dealer, do not stop for any red lights and do this RIGHT NAO,

    Then report back if this is true.


  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Chicago, IL
    Posts
    1,037
    My Cars
    2000 BMW 540i 6 Speed
    what about the trunk struts they sell in autozone? dont they match our cars as well?

    LOL I've made 528 posts, and I drive 528i... szweet
    Last edited by filon102; 03-03-2011 at 06:01 PM.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Atlanta, Georgia USA
    Posts
    431
    My Cars
    2003 530i sport
    My car from new has never done this. It only unlocks and opens up a little bit. Never pops all the way open and up.
    Last edited by sidneyj; 04-17-2011 at 10:25 PM.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Springfield, VA
    Posts
    444
    My Cars
    1998 BMW 540i/6
    oh man when i did this i installed the strut backwards, and broke it..
    >.<

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    West Michigan
    Posts
    14,422
    My Cars
    98 540iA (Prd 11/97)
    Nice DIY, Cam.
    My wife and I were talking about the need to do this on the 540. What a coincidence that you post this now. The price changed my wife's mind on doing this. I'll be using your DIY to do this soon.
    Thank you, Cam!
    *towed to E39 DIY*

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    NYC
    Posts
    500
    My Cars
    02 E39 530i
    I was thinking about this yesterday. I was getting annoyed how I have to unlock the trunk and put the stuff I was carrying down to open the trunk...there must be a cheaper alternative at Autozone or something!

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Portland Oregon
    Posts
    706
    My Cars
    '17 330i M sport Touring
    I ordered mine from AutohauszAZ and expect them to be in on Wednesday. My struts look rusted on the shaft so I'm looking forward to them looking better but the trunk opening with greater ease will be very nice too.

    Thanks for the write-up.

    '17 BMW 330i XDrive MSport Touring
    '20 BMW R 1250RS Imperial Blue Metallic-Exclusive
    '02 BMW Z3 2.5i Titanium


  15. #15
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Campbell, CA, United States
    Posts
    1,686
    My Cars
    2002 BMW M5

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    NYC
    Posts
    500
    My Cars
    02 E39 530i
    I ordered mine through ebay. Not oem but such a piece doesn't matter to me as a much:

    http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-T...mZ380146100816

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Portland Oregon
    Posts
    706
    My Cars
    '17 330i M sport Touring
    Replaced my trunk struts. It's great not having the trunk lid sit in my face as it actually opens wider now. As for pushing the button in the interior and it fully opening on its own...not on mine. Np...

    '17 BMW 330i XDrive MSport Touring
    '20 BMW R 1250RS Imperial Blue Metallic-Exclusive
    '02 BMW Z3 2.5i Titanium


  18. #18
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    NYC
    Posts
    500
    My Cars
    02 E39 530i
    Quote Originally Posted by daveycrocket View Post
    Replaced my trunk struts. It's great not having the trunk lid sit in my face as it actually opens wider now. As for pushing the button in the interior and it fully opening on its own...not on mine. Np...
    Same, pushing the button still doesn't fully open. I have to push it up about 3/4 of the way.

    Shutting close now though its easier. Not that gratifying

    edit:

    I locked myself out of the car while testing the trunk struts! I left the keys in the trunk and shut it close to test it out and DOH!
    Last edited by o2sys; 04-05-2011 at 10:15 AM.

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    NYC
    Posts
    500
    My Cars
    02 E39 530i
    So anyone else do this??? How to get the trunk to open, if not fully then atleast 3/4 of the way?

    Now its really heavy to push up and when I close it, it slams shut! WTH~!!!???

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Seattle, WA
    Posts
    1,816
    My Cars
    M550iX, 540M-Sport, Scud
    Quote Originally Posted by sidneyj View Post
    My car from new has never done this. It only unlocks and opens up a little bit. Never pops all the way open and up.

    My experience with replacement Stabilus struts on several cars, yes, the lid may open magically after releasing the latch, but don't expect it to do that for more than 6 months to a year max. It will lose some of that pressure and then settle in.
    2001 540 M-Sport (cdn), ST X (KW) coilovers, H&R 15mm spacers, Eibach anti roll bars (28mm/18mm), Beastpower rear antiroll bar brackets, M5 rear chassis reinforcements (traction rods), Strong Strut front upper strut bar, Dinan Stage 1 software, factory M-Audio subs, Bavsound speaker upgrade, Bluebus bluetooth integration, Stop Tech SS brake lines, ATE coated brake rotors, ATE ceramic brake pads.

  21. #21
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Seattle, WA
    Posts
    1,816
    My Cars
    M550iX, 540M-Sport, Scud
    Quote Originally Posted by o2sys View Post
    So anyone else do this??? How to get the trunk to open, if not fully then atleast 3/4 of the way?

    Now its really heavy to push up and when I close it, it slams shut! WTH~!!!???
    Sounds like the replacement struts you bought are too weak, and not appropriate for the application. Return them and buy the oem Stabilus ones. BTW, the oem Stabilus struts should have the actual newton/meter rating printed on the strut. If you buy aftermarket, at least ensure the cross reference matches the same rating. But I would recommend sticking with Stabilus...they are oem for most car manufacturers for a reason.
    2001 540 M-Sport (cdn), ST X (KW) coilovers, H&R 15mm spacers, Eibach anti roll bars (28mm/18mm), Beastpower rear antiroll bar brackets, M5 rear chassis reinforcements (traction rods), Strong Strut front upper strut bar, Dinan Stage 1 software, factory M-Audio subs, Bavsound speaker upgrade, Bluebus bluetooth integration, Stop Tech SS brake lines, ATE coated brake rotors, ATE ceramic brake pads.

  22. #22
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Columbia MO USA
    Posts
    10
    My Cars
    '97 528i
    Gotta do this next weekend, my lid won't stay open for more than 10 seconds. Cheap and easy fix, thanks for all the great info!

  23. #23
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    West Michigan
    Posts
    14,422
    My Cars
    98 540iA (Prd 11/97)
    Thanks again for doing this DIY, cnn!

    I was a little confused by the EAC site.
    Do the struts come in pairs or is the price reflective of only one strut?

  24. #24
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    West Michigan
    Posts
    14,422
    My Cars
    98 540iA (Prd 11/97)
    Quote Originally Posted by jamesdc4 View Post
    Thanks again for doing this DIY, cnn!

    I was a little confused by the EAC site.
    Do the struts come in pairs or is the price reflective of only one strut?
    In answer to my own question, they do NOT come in pairs. Make sure to order two.

    Here's my version of the DIY:

    Quote Originally Posted by jamesdc4 View Post
    I replaced my trunk struts today and the results are fantastic.
    Special thanks to cnn for the DIY procedure.

    Trunk Strut Replacement

    New Stabilus struts from EAC EuroParts.




    The "C" clip.


    As cnn mentions, you may have to use your finger to hold the other side of the clip or it may just spin.


    Save the clip.






    This step can take a bit of force. Better to jiggle it a bit rather than just using brute force, though.






    Driver side installed.


    Make sure you orient the new strut properly.


    Passenger side installed.

    Vid of the results. With the old struts, the trunk had to be lifted all the way and would fall on you if parked on an incline.
    Last edited by jamesdc4; 10-05-2013 at 06:42 PM.

  25. #25
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Staten Island, NY
    Posts
    1,066
    My Cars
    1998 BMW 528i
    Thanks cnn and jamesdc4 for your DIYs!
    Very easy to do. Nice videos, jamesdc4!

    My struts came facing same side, so I had to turn one accordingly.

    Thanks again,
    siny528i

    PS. And nope, my trunk does not open all the way up by only pressing the button Is there a problem? I installed new OEM Stabilus struts.
    Last edited by siny528i; 01-08-2012 at 05:16 PM.
    BMW CCA 434493

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •