1996 740 IL - Truck lift support needed

[Chrisannagenna]

While closing the trunk last week, one of the struts (driver's side) snapped off at the top where the threaded part of the strut connects to the trunk lid. I ordered a replacement from NAPA, however it didn't come with that end piece, just the open threads at the top of the strut. I tried to drill out the snapped off threads from the small piece that connects to the trunk lid from the old unit, but that turned into a disaster, and I wound up ruining that piece, as well as the threads on the new replacement strut ($35 bucks out the window). I am going to take it back to NAPA to see if that piece was supposed to come with it, but I'm not holding my breath, so does anyone have a good used trunk strut they are willing to part with?

Regards, Chris.


Edit - Sorry, thread title should be trunk, not truck.

[Aitch]

Proper replacements should come with a ball-joint style receptacle at the bottom (to mount to the body) and a short angled arm with a hole in it at the top (to mount to the trunk). The trunk has a post which goes through that hole and then you attach a c-clip to keep it in place. If your replacement didn't come with that angled arm on the top, you got the wrong piece.

[Chrisannagenna]

Proper replacements should come with a ball-joint style receptacle at the bottom (to mount to the body) and a short angled arm with a hole in it at the top (to mount to the trunk). The trunk has a post which goes through that hole and then you attach a c-clip to keep it in place. If your replacement didn't come with that angled arm on the top, you got the wrong piece.

OK, thanks. I will stop by the NAPA store on the way home and show them what I have. Hopefully they can help and verify if this was the correct part.

[Qsilver7]

To make sure that you're ordering the correct part...did you look up the 11 digit BMW part nbr in one of the online part databases first? If not, I highly recommend ALWAYS doing this first before shopping for parts.

BMW uses the same model number across multiple generations...so if shopping for a trunk strut for a BMW 740iL...you could be finding parts for a e32, e38, or f01 7 series. Autopart stores like NAPA will also cross reference the BMW 11 digit part nbr with what they have in stock...which will help separate the part you need from a possible mismatch of an e32 or f01 7 series.

Example: make sure you're ordering the part nbr for an e38 740i/iL...which is item #6 in the diagram and direct link to the part nbr database below

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...17#51248171480




{this is an e32 740i/iL trunk strut}


{this is an e38 740i/iL trunk strut}

[Chrisannagenna]

To make sure that you're ordering the correct part...did you look up the 11 digit BMW part nbr in one of the online part databases first? If not, I highly recommend ALWAYS doing this first before shopping for parts.

BMW uses the same model number across multiple generations...so if shopping for a trunk strut for a BMW 740iL...you could be finding parts for a e32, e38, or f01 7 series. Autopart stores like NAPA will also cross reference the BMW 11 digit part nbr with what they have in stock...which will help separate the part you need from a possible mismatch of an e32 or f01 7 series.

Example: make sure you're ordering the part nbr for an e38 740i/iL...which is item #6 in the diagram and direct link to the part nbr database below

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...17#51248171480




{this is an e32 740i/iL trunk strut}


{this is an e38 740i/iL trunk strut}

Q7: Thanks, I will take that part number with me to NAPA today. And I did bookmark those links for future reference, but appreciate you taking time to respond to these newbie type questions.

[carnut1947]

I don't understand the problem? Just compare the one you bought with the good one already on the car BEFORE installation.

[Chrisannagenna]

Results - Thanks for all the replies. I wound up returning the one I got from NAPA ($35 bucks), and got a decent one on E-bay for $12 bucks including shipping. I have always had good luck dealing with NAPA, so I was surprised when he showed me the screen shot they had for the listing for my car. It clearly showed the incorrect part. To everyone's point, it was pretty easy to find one that looks exactly the same. Again, didn't expect a jobber the size of NAPA to have the incorrect part listed, and then not being able to figure out the correct part #. Surprising to say the least, but this minor drama is now over. Again, thanks for the assists.

Regards, Chris

[clarkitect]

Chris for future reference you can look up part numbers on realoem.com, then search for the part number you find on one of the online part stores (FCPEuro, Pelican, OEMBimmerparts, etc) or eBay. Realoem is on edge of the best tools you have available for working on BMWs.

[Chrisannagenna]

Chris for future reference you can look up part numbers on realoem.com, then search for the part number you find on one of the online part stores (FCPEuro, Pelican, OEMBimmerparts, etc) or eBay. Realoem is on edge of the best tools you have available for working on BMWs.

Will do, thanks