Fitting Coilovers Please Help

[LadyLeigh]

I am trying to fit coilovers on my BMW cab,

Rears were no problem. The fronts are a different matter.

How do I remove the front strut from the "holder" that strut sits in at the bottom.

I've heard several things. No matter how hard we try it won't budge.

Does it need to be cut & welded?

Please help.

[Rav335uk]

What coilovers have you bought???
With the E30, it's normally a cut and reweld for the fronts

[LadyLeigh]

Don't know what they are tbh.

Can I not buy the holder thingy for the strut?

[LadyLeigh]

Amy idea what part needs to be cut?

[Ziggy]

A photo of what you've got would be a good start

[LadyLeigh]

Mmmm I'm using my iPad and can't upload pictures?

[DanThe]

What coilovers have you bought???
With cheap crap it's normally a bodge-fest

EFA

[LadyLeigh]

Yeah, cheap and nasty wanky bit of shit. I bought old because they're easier to work on. Big mistake.
So how do I cut the strut?

[Rav335uk]

~PICS FIRST!!

Or you might get the wrong answers

[harry_p]

There are too many different types of coilovers for an e30 for people to give an accurate answer!

Cheap types have a seat which sits on top of the original strut spring seat, and use a cone shaped spring.

Some kits are a threaded sleeve which needs to be welded to the strut after the spring seat is cut down / removed.

If you buy a coilover set from somewhere like gaz or kw you usually need to send your old struts in for them to be cut and welded and sent back to you. Some places do (or used to ) a refundable surcharge which you get back after sending your old struts back.

Te problem with e30s is the strut and stub axel are all one piece, unlike most cars where you can swap the strut on its own.

[ross2009]

you can't take the 'holder' from the hub there one piece
when you take the spring off there is a little disc that sits on top with 2 little holes in this screws in the strut tube to hold the absorber in you need to unscrew it to take it out

I take it there not like mine then ?