Touring Rear Hatch Hinges Sticking?

[vinceinIL]

I tried Googling this, and nothing useful came up. The rear hatch (not the window) on my 2001 525iT feels like it is sticking or binding on the passenger side in the hinge/shock assembly. Before I go digging into it, has anybody else run into a similar condition and have some advice?

Thanks!

Vince

[jclausen]

Did you lube it yet

[vinceinIL]

I did not lube it yet as it didn't feel like a typical stuck something, rather more like a spring slipped out of place and is sort of jammed. Google didn't turn up anything. Now that I'm at home, I'll look at it on realoem and see what it looks like.

Vince

[jclausen]

There is no spring ther are two gas lifts per side on supports the hatch the other supports the glass remove the plastic covers and you will see them but I would try the lube because how easy is that. Does the hatch stay up?

[danb1979]

As above

Give it a good rinse out with a penetrating fluid (wd40) or similar, let that dry off and then respray with the likes of lithium grease etc

This is what I’d do personally

[wagons ho]

There is no spring ther are two gas lifts per side on supports the hatch the other supports the glass remove the plastic covers and you will see them but I would try the lube because how easy is that. Does the hatch stay up?

Strut with spring.
Might be best to replace, as they are probably bad anyway.
Plastic shield would prevent lube from getting where it needs to go.29364.jpg

[CPHES]

I've had a Sticky hinge turn into a hinge failure. Just posted to another thread, and saw this. The hinges are well hidden, and in hte rust belt, they take a beating. I have a 99 ( came from Boston in 2012 with 197K ), now at 212k. The hinges were on the verge of failing from day one. It felt 'weird'. When it breaks, the hydraulic strut takes over, and pushes the door out. I got 2 southern hinges. the pin rusts out, not the casting. hope this helps.