Hood gas struts replaced.

General E30 related discussions -
Please put technical questions in E30 Tech Help forum below

Moderator: martauto

Post Reply
minesapint
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 510
Joined: Sat Sep 08, 2012 11:00 pm
Location: Lancashire/Yorkshire border.

Wed Oct 01, 2025 10:40 pm

Replaced the gas struts for the hood last week, a very tricky job to do, due to the circlip which holds the strut end onto a sphere deep in the hood mechanism.
The cost of one strut from local dealers I was quoted £64.43, Got a pair from AUTODOC who had a fantastic sale on for £48.77 including delivery, & tax, they’re Stabilus as the originals.
IMG_4151.jpeg
Strut position on hood mechanism.
IMG_4132.jpeg
Hood still looking pretty good after 39 yrs, tbh I’ve rarely had it up.
IMG_4145.jpeg
IMG_4148.jpeg
Was there someone on here who was asking for the instructions, which are held behind the sun visor, on operating the manual hood? Well here’s a photo of mine if anyone was.
IMG_4174.jpeg
Happy motoring. Cheers
User avatar
Tzantushka
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 464
Joined: Sat Nov 24, 2018 4:18 am
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Thu Oct 02, 2025 11:59 am

Very nice.

I followed this blog post in case anyone needs more detail

https://e30journey.blogspot.com/2017/06 ... ement.html
minesapint
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 510
Joined: Sat Sep 08, 2012 11:00 pm
Location: Lancashire/Yorkshire border.

Thu Oct 02, 2025 9:39 pm

That’s brilliant. I wish I’d had access to that blog before attempting mine, I spent several hours replacing them with much swearing!
The post is correct in that the hood is soooo much easier to erect with new struts installed.
I replaced the pair on the horseshoe last year….a doddle compared to the hood struts.
Of course when the cars were being manufactured/assembled, the hood & hood frame assembly, including the struts would have been completed off the car & the whole job lot lifted onto the retaining bolts in the hood well.
Thanks for showing us that.
Post Reply