M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS

DISCUSSION => Suspension => Topic started by: johnwoo on September 09, 2008, 02:05:56 AM

Title: strut housing size
Post by: johnwoo on September 09, 2008, 02:05:56 AM

ok this might sound stupid but i really have no idea.  is the size the 51mm or 45mm, i have 1991 e30 m42.  looking at replacing my struts, thanks

Title: strut housing size
Post by: Cristian G in Oz on September 09, 2008, 05:06:09 AM

They should be 51mm struts but the only sure fire way is to measure them.

You can do it on the ground with a set of verniers.
Just turn the the steering wheel full lock one way and then you can get in from the back of a wheel to measure the strut.

Regards

Cristian

Title: strut housing size
Post by: Jimmy Lewis on September 09, 2008, 10:14:13 AM

Late model struts are 51mm while the older m10 powered 318i's had the 45mm struts. I'm not quite sure if the two are interchangable, but I almost remember Sam in his MM powered 318is using the 45mm struts. Not too sure, but yeah, stock size for our cars is 51mm.

Title: strut housing size
Post by: johnwoo on September 09, 2008, 12:52:32 PM

crap, thanks guys.

Title: strut housing size
Post by: ten2doyle102 on December 30, 2008, 01:49:18 PM

Quote from: Jimmy Lewis;56375

Late model struts are 51mm while the older m10 powered 318i's had the 45mm struts. I'm not quite sure if the two are interchangable, but I almost remember Sam in his MM powered 318is using the 45mm struts. Not too sure, but yeah, stock size for our cars is 51mm.

You can use the 45 mm ones.  I had that on my 89 325i.  They came with some special strut nuts for them though to fit the 51 mm.  Kinda weird...but I just used what I had at the time since I had to get rid of it...

Title: strut housing size
Post by: max123 on January 07, 2009, 07:05:24 PM

I did this about a year ago - the 318is (m42) has the larger 51mm strut.  Do not use the 45mm strut - its the wrong one.  Why waste money on the wrong shocks and then fix it with a spacer (I don't see how that would even work)

Title: strut housing size
Post by: ten2doyle102 on January 23, 2009, 03:16:38 PM

Quote from: max123;64294

I did this about a year ago - the 318is (m42) has the larger 51mm strut.  Do not use the 45mm strut - its the wrong one.  Why waste money on the wrong shocks and then fix it with a spacer (I don't see how that would even work)

Not saying I'd suggest it....just that its possible.  I actually got them from a guy that said that he had them on his car for a short time and we had the same cars so when I bought them, I assumed that they were the 51mm.   Also, if you read... I was in a pinch to get the car back together for a guy who bought the whole thing. :)

Get the right ones