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Thread: Struts

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Cincinnati, Ohio
    Posts
    227
    My Cars
    1995 and 1994 325iC

    Struts

    Having a hard time finding reasonably priced front struts for 1994 325 convertible. Easy to find standard suspension part. Not so, sport suspension. Will either fit and work for a car with sport suspension? Forget about pre-loaded....
    Thanks,
    Bob

    '95 325I Convertible Auto
    '94 325I Convertible 5sp.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2017
    Location
    Owings, Md
    Posts
    1,105
    My Cars
    1998 328i
    My 328 vert came with Koni STR.T struts which work just fine. Passenger and cargo weight differences among all e36's is probably comparable to the weight differences between convertibles, coupes and sedans. In any case, almost of the additionally weight in a convertible is just in front of the rear axle.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    NY
    Posts
    9,066
    My Cars
    1997 328i
    I don't know how much your looking to spend. At the very least you should add re-enforcing plates for the rear shocks towers. Make sure your plastic tubes are still salvageable. Usually the foam bump stops are shot and will have dirt encrusted in them, the dirt can ruin the seals on the new shocks/struts. If your not tracking your car there are a lot of suspension kits on ebay but the quality is going to be an unknown, they range in price for a full kit 200-400 (price does not mean quality on this stuff). The nice thing is that they are adjustable, come with new mounts, bump stops and piston protectors. Some also come with camber plates. They are not high quality at all and maybe last 2-6yrs.

    If you just want new shocks/struts check out rockauto, they have Monroe, Bilstein, KYB. Just look for the ones that say w/sport suspension. Usually the sport suspension models have a shorter piston for the front struts (something I look for when buying), but I just read "anti-rollover spring (may cause extended length to appear shorter" for a KYB model and that may be why some of the sport suspension models have a shorter piston (in appearance, because the internal spring is holding it back).

    Then there's something like this on ebay, but I don't think your saving much by buying a no-name brand over one of the named brands on rockauto. But it should work fine (but for how long).
    https://www.ebay.com/itm/MK1-Front-Rear-Gas-Shocks-Struts-BMW-E36-318-323i-325i-328i-328is/380900023445



    - - - Updated - - -

    Another option:
    https://www.ebay.com/itm/STAGG-4-SHO...8/142041685832

    - - - Updated - - -

    Sooo temping to try these:
    https://www.ebay.com/itm/For-BMW-E36...t/352522888508
    Attn. NEWBIES: Use the search feature, 98% has already been discussed.
    Click the search button, select "search single content type", select the "e36 sub forum" specifically, try the "search titles" then try the "search entire posts".

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Cincinnati, Ohio
    Posts
    227
    My Cars
    1995 and 1994 325iC
    But, if I don't care about the "sport suspension" ride, do I still need the sport ones?
    Thanks,
    Bob

    '95 325I Convertible Auto
    '94 325I Convertible 5sp.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2017
    Location
    Owings, Md
    Posts
    1,105
    My Cars
    1998 328i
    The springs and travel lengths are different between the sport and non-sport. If you buy struts that aren't pre-loaded with springs, you need to make sure you have springs that will work with them. I imagine you could find used non-sport springs for dirt cheap.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Wisconsin
    Posts
    11,751
    My Cars
    98 328IS 03 325xi
    If you want to go cheap this strut is for sport suspension but for a coupe, not a vert. http://www.partstrain.com/store/deta...nt_Driver_Side

    Gave away my BMWs, driving a VW and an Audi now.

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