Bent Struts

Post Mon Jan 20, 2014 12:58 pm

One of my E30 M3 front struts is ever so slightly bent. Using adjustable top mounts you can dial out this tweak so the car tracks up fine and drives straight & true.

Anyway I don’t like it and want to sort it and the options I have in my mind are:

a) Keep looking on eBay for that elusive straight 2nd hand e30 M3 strut sold on its own ”“ doubtful this will ever happen. If you have an M3 strut you want to sell please let me know!

b) Keep looking on eBay for entire E30 M3 2nd hand running gear ”“ probably gonna cost in the region of £1k

c) Buy new E30 M3 strut = c£600.00

d) Gaz Coilovers = £900 (I could offset some of this by selling my good condition B12 kit)

Question 1 = What actually bends on these struts? Is it the actual hollow tube which the damper inserts into or something else? Is this common issue?

Question 2 = With coilovers am I right in thinking that this will replace the strut? If so why do they want the strut to make the coil overs?

Question 3 = Anyone have any experience from switching from bilstein setup to coilovers? Anyone using coil overs on a road car, is it any more forgiving on our roads or too harsh? The present B12 kit is perfect firmness for me

Question 4 = Would you just buy a new strut from BMW or go coilover?

Post Mon Jan 20, 2014 1:35 pm

Not sure of the answers to most of your questions but I think you can add £200 to the price of a new m3 strut IIRC.

Post Mon Jan 20, 2014 1:56 pm

Maybe I've not verified the price yet, they come on the link below at £629.00 there is usually some wiggle room.

They're about £100 more expensive than a normal strut

http://www.cooper-bmw-parts.co.uk/index ... virtuemart

Post Mon Jan 20, 2014 1:58 pm

If it bent one way, then it can be bent back the other!
Don't know about BMW struts specifically, but in general, they bend where they join the hub.

Post Mon Jan 20, 2014 2:11 pm

I know it depends on cash flow etc etc but if I could afford to own a M3 it would keep its genuine BMW parts form BMW or second hand.

Post Mon Jan 20, 2014 4:04 pm

It's not an M3, just uses E30 m3 struts & brake setup

Post Mon Jan 20, 2014 4:52 pm

SteSE wrote:
Question 2 = With coilovers am I right in thinking that this will replace the strut? If so why do they want the strut to make the coil overs?

They'll want the whole leg so they can chop off the damper tube and weld a new threaded one onto the stub axel, as they don't manufacture the bottom part themselves ( nor does anyone else offering e30 coil overs, they're all based on secondhand struts )

I assume like Brian they're most likely to bend at the bottom where the tube is welded to the stub, if it was bent any higher up you'd struggle to get the damper out unless it was banana shaped too.

Personally I'd try and get it straightened, seems a shame to butcher up a set of m3 struts for some gazs

Post Mon Jan 20, 2014 5:13 pm

+1. Take it to a metal fabricators - they normally have pipe bending tools.

Post Mon Jan 20, 2014 6:38 pm

To much trial and error involved in bending it where it's meant to be. The bend is not visible and only becomes apparent when the camber is measured during wheel alignment.

Say you do bend it back, how much by? You could easily bend it not enough or too much and you would only find out either way by building it all back up and getting wheel alignment done again.

Too much f ucking about!

New strut end of. Forget cheap coiloverzz (gaz included) for a road car. You will hate it Steve with the miles you do in it!

Post Mon Jan 20, 2014 8:10 pm

Will have to confirm price for one. It's getting pricey

Post Mon Jan 20, 2014 8:38 pm

How much is it out by? If you cant see it, are you sure its the strut and not the car?

Post Mon Jan 20, 2014 9:12 pm

Easy way to check is to measure the gap between the tyre and the strut body and compare both sides. As stated above, they normally bend where the strut enters the cast hub and upon close inspection a wrinkle / lump is the usual giveaway..

Buying second hand struts is a minefield . I have a complete M3 KW kit available but as Barry rightly said, you really do not want coiloverzz on a road car.

Post Mon Jan 20, 2014 9:18 pm

Yeah when I got them of beardy Matt he said one was bent a minute amount. I got some top mounts I think made by uweM3 off here from way back which either came with the m3 gear or I got with he suspension. Can't remember. Anyway, with the top mounts the car tracks up ok and drives true. But you can see the difference in the top mounts from the engine bay which is annoying. Is it £600 annoying tho

Post Mon Jan 20, 2014 9:19 pm

I'll try what you say Pete.

Post Mon Jan 20, 2014 10:52 pm

Obviously set the top mount to the central position then measure.

Post Mon Jan 20, 2014 11:06 pm

pacerpete wrote:Easy way to check is to measure the gap between the tyre and the strut body and compare both sides.

I'd measure from the wheel rim to strut body. It shouldn't make any difference, but the rim is a solid straight edge to measure from.

bss325i wrote:Obviously set the top mount to the central position then measure.

That won't make any difference to the gap between the wheel and strut.

Post Mon Jan 20, 2014 11:38 pm

jmc330i wrote:
pacerpete wrote:Easy way to check is to measure the gap between the tyre and the strut body and compare both sides.
I'd measure from the wheel rim to strut body. It shouldn't make any difference, but the rim is a solid straight edge to measure from.

bss325i wrote:Obviously set the top mount to the central position then measure.
That won't make any difference to the gap between the wheel and strut.

Of course it wont!

And agree with the rim measurement.