swapping my front shock absorbers for gas ones
Moderator: martauto
-
Rorym2010
- E30 Zone Regular

- Posts: 488
- Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2012 11:00 pm
- Location: leamington spa
hi peeps im upgrading my front shock absorbers to gas and just wanted to know if i have to use any strut cooling fluid or oil of any kind as i was reading the wiki and it mentioned it if so where would i buy it and where would i put it cheers
-
threelander
- E30 Zone Camper

- Posts: 1166
- Joined: Fri Jan 14, 2011 11:00 pm
hi first of all what car you driving as there are two sizes of inserts.secondly i put new gas inserts in my e30 tourer and no cooling fluid needed just a straight swap for me and they was sound
-
Rorym2010
- E30 Zone Regular

- Posts: 488
- Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2012 11:00 pm
- Location: leamington spa
cheers pal mines a touring too wat was the ride quality like after is there much difference?
-
threelander
- E30 Zone Camper

- Posts: 1166
- Joined: Fri Jan 14, 2011 11:00 pm
not much difference at all but it was one of the first jobs i did so never rode the oil filled ones lol.you have the bigger inserts yeh
-
Rorym2010
- E30 Zone Regular

- Posts: 488
- Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2012 11:00 pm
- Location: leamington spa
yeh i hope so they were advertised for a 325i sport an touring etc so should be
-
clipper
- E30 Zone Squatter

- Posts: 1980
- Joined: Mon Aug 22, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: Madrid
I asked the same question a while back and was told that the oil down the strut would do no harm and protects against moisture getting in and rusting the strut out.
Sounded like sound advice to me so I put a bit in and so far, so good !
Sounded like sound advice to me so I put a bit in and so far, so good !
These are sensations as hard to forget as they are to ignore.....
-
Rorym2010
- E30 Zone Regular

- Posts: 488
- Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2012 11:00 pm
- Location: leamington spa
what oil did you use and how much?
-
Quaser
- E30 Zone Addict

- Posts: 2622
- Joined: Sun Jan 09, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: West London
you just need to coat the strut with engine oil (well, that's what I did) and not too much down the strut or you wont get the strut in!
BMW E30 2.0 Convertible (M52B28)
BMW E30 2.0 2 Door (M20B28 Turbo project to start)
BMW E36 328i Sport (M52B28 Turbo Project)
http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... ic&t=68663
BMW E30 2.0 2 Door (M20B28 Turbo project to start)
BMW E36 328i Sport (M52B28 Turbo Project)
http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... ic&t=68663
-
clipper
- E30 Zone Squatter

- Posts: 1980
- Joined: Mon Aug 22, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: Madrid
I used Silkolene fully synthetic 10W40 that I had left over from when I used to run my bike on fully synth.... but I understand that any engine oil would do. 
These are sensations as hard to forget as they are to ignore.....
-
Rorym2010
- E30 Zone Regular

- Posts: 488
- Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2012 11:00 pm
- Location: leamington spa
Cheers guys
-
Andyboy
- Alpina Colada
- Posts: 12577
- Joined: Mon Sep 11, 2006 11:00 pm
- Location: Notts
Just about all E30's used gas dampers as standard. Contrary to popular belief, gas dampers still contain oil.
-
Demlotcrew
- E30 Zone Team Member

- Posts: 13329
- Joined: Mon Dec 20, 2004 11:00 pm
- Location: East Anglia
Andyboy wrote:gas dampers still contain oil.
-
Andyboy
- Alpina Colada
- Posts: 12577
- Joined: Mon Sep 11, 2006 11:00 pm
- Location: Notts
Problem?Demlotcrew wrote:Andyboy wrote:gas dampers still contain oil.
-
Rorym2010
- E30 Zone Regular

- Posts: 488
- Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2012 11:00 pm
- Location: leamington spa
i also wondered the same maybe he knows different? i feel a debate coming on 
-
Andyboy
- Alpina Colada
- Posts: 12577
- Joined: Mon Sep 11, 2006 11:00 pm
- Location: Notts
-
Rorym2010
- E30 Zone Regular

- Posts: 488
- Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2012 11:00 pm
- Location: leamington spa
debate solved then 
-
Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member

- Posts: 49360
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
In my experience, 20+ year old, 150,000+ mile E30 dampers contain neither much oil nor much gas.
-
Rorym2010
- E30 Zone Regular

- Posts: 488
- Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2012 11:00 pm
- Location: leamington spa
Thought as much hence why i am treating mine to new front and back gas shocks arb bushes front and back droplinks and a new steering joint guibo as i have had it nearly a year now and its done me proud then again my kids also make me proud yet i have never spent this much on them for their birthday 
-
Rorym2010
- E30 Zone Regular

- Posts: 488
- Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2012 11:00 pm
- Location: leamington spa
Brian while your here which wire do i attach my brown wire from my central locking module to on my car to make all the indicators flash ?
-
Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member

- Posts: 49360
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Usual connection point for E30 indicators is at the socket where the dash loom plugs in, next to the accessories socket behind the glove box. Wires are blue/red and blue/black, and if your remote locking module only has one output wire to flash them, you'll need to connect a couples of diodes in a 'Y' arrangement.

