Gas springs for trunk and hood - Stupid question before I break the thing.

[NielsGalan]

Just bought a set of gas springs for my trunk and hood. I've tried pushing them in by hand, but they won't budge a millimeter.

This got me thinking - do I need to do something to "release" them before installing, or am I just a sissy girl?

I was expecting to be able to work the spring by hand to see the difference between the old one and the new one. I'm just afraid to put too much pressure on them and breaking/bending them?

Do I need to do something to release them or are the springs just stronger than I am?

[shogun]

The shocks (not springs) are just stronger than you are, just push them together, they will not bend.
Keep the clips from the old ones, just in case you lose them.

BTW: the ones for the trunk have 490 Nm!, each. (that refers to E32, but should be similar to E34)
And the ones on the hood even have more Nm.

[BigKriss]

are you sure Erich, my e34 hood ones are 350nm, unsure of the rear ones, I have yet to remove them.



BTW: the ones for the trunk have 490 Nm!, each. (that refers to E32, but should be similar to E34)
And the ones on the hood even have more Nm.

[shogun]

checked now for the E34 on the Meyle catalog,:
Hood 380 N Length 240 mm
340 161 0065 = OEM # 51 23 1 944 119
--------------------
trunk
Trunk lid 410 N Length 365 mm
Meyle # 340 161 0310

BMW # 51 24 1 934 270 51 24 8 110 327

http://www.wulfgaertner.de/Home/application.asp?lan=de&images=on&ma=16&de=0&mo=14201774127&ba=14201769649&

BTW, Kris
http://www.car-parts24.eu/
owners are 2 guys from the E34.de in Berlin.
Have contacted them, they say their online shop only shows some things they have, you can ask them anything. Tell them I recommended their address.

Their names are Gauss and Stephan535iA
Meyle, Lemförder, Sachs/Boge, Powerflex, EBC, Brembo, ATE and so on is no problem.
Maybe you ask them for an offer.
Go on the E34 Berlin page to "Die Schrauber", then you see their faces in front of their cars
http://www.e34-berlin.de/frames.htm

[BigKriss]

Thanks Erich, I will look them up.

[mikeythekidd]

If you think about it those little guys are holding up a LOT of weight especially when you consider the leverage. I had the same concerns you do. Just put em in! The weight and leverage of the hood/trunk will take care of the rest. Then you get to enjoy your hood smartly snapping to attention every time you pull the release lever and no more getting whacked in the head every time the temp dips below 20.

[Pinchak]

If you think about it those little guys are holding up a LOT of weight especially when you consider the leverage. I had the same concerns you do. Just put em in! The weight and leverage of the hood/trunk will take care of the rest. Then you get to enjoy your hood smartly snapping to attention every time you pull the release lever and no more getting whacked in the head every time the temp dips below 20.

I just bought some gas struts (Tuff Support) for my 94' E34 530i, but I find the "instructions" minimal at best. Bought them from Bavarian Auto. Hard to see how to take off the clips to remove the old struts. Any suggestions?

[shogun]

that helps
Hood and Trunk Shocks (http://bmwe32.masscom.net/johan/bh_shocks/bh_shocks.html)