Any difference between 45mm or 51mm front struts?

[JdmFanBoy]

I know obviously the diameter is different but I'm ordering some BC coilovers for my 316 chromie which I assume is 45mm?

Any advantage to swapping over to 51mm at all?

Any help appreciated

[SGP]

The 51mm unit is stronger.

[jmc330i]

If you're sticking with the 4pot lump, the 45s will do fine. If you think you might fit a 6 pot (or larger ) in the future, you may as well change to 51mm struts while you're at it.

[Jozi]

If your getting BC's there's no point wasting a pair of good 51mm struts if you already have 45mm ones.

The only difference between BC's 45 and 51mm is that the bottom piece thats welded to the bottom of the strut is thicker to make up the difference between 51mm and 45mm, other than that the whole setup is the same

---edit---



The wall thickness of the silver part of the bottom piece of the coilovers is thicker for 45mm struts than 51mm, no difference other than that.


Make sure not to cut it to long or you will have less room for lowering because the BC shock is hitting the strut stub.

[threelander]

am i wrong in thinking all you need is the inserts

[JdmFanBoy]

Awesome thanks for the help, it's going M52 but as above I'm only keeping the very bottom of the strut anyways. Was kind of a silly question but when your forking out 700 quid for coilovers its nice to be sure

[Jozi]

Ah your only right to have asked if in doubt.

[rich318i]

Awesome thanks for the help, it's going M52 but as above I'm only keeping the very bottom of the strut anyways. Was kind of a silly question but when your forking out 700 quid for coilovers its nice to be sure

did you give andy a call mate? @AMW?

[JdmFanBoy]

Not just yet mate, might be getting a friend of mine to do it. If not I'll give him a call

[redcar]

Jozi, are those bcs for your e30? My bc rear coilover doesn't look like that one!

[Jozi]

No, they were a picture I googled. My rears are nothing like that either. Their on the car at the painter so couldnt get a pic of them.

[redcar]

Ok cool. With the bc rears it looks like its possible to use them as a true rear coilover as opposed to having an inboard spring.

Btw, my bc are welded on to the smaller struts

[Jozi]

With the E30 bc's? I've not really looked at it but would be cool. How do you find them

[redcar]

With the E30 bc's? I've not really looked at it but would be cool. How do you find them

yep!

I find that they're very good on the road. Have yet to test them on track though.

[MrBenn]

The 45mm struts don't have the hole in the strut housing for the ABS sensor.

[Jozi]

With the E30 bc's? I've not really looked at it but would be cool. How do you find them

yep!

I find that they're very good on the road. Have yet to test them on track though.

I don't think I've found anyone who has anything bad to say about them I can't wait to drive the touring with them fitted.