Z4 - Cracked top front suspension Strut Mount

portculisz4 · Post by **portculisz4** » Mon Mar 22, 2021 12:35 pm

I have just seen some frightening YouTube videos (USA Based) on the Z4 top mount for the front suspension struts, the illustrations showed a crack about 75% of the way around the centre where the top damper piston is secured. Can't imagine the result if this failed completely. Has anyone seen this problem and had to deal with it ??

Old-Duckman · Post by **Old-Duckman** » Mon Mar 22, 2021 2:42 pm

Can you post a link to the video? I did a search on YouTube and did not find it.

GuidoK · Post by **GuidoK** » Mon Mar 22, 2021 2:50 pm

you mean this video?
https://youtu.be/DZLgRNgdznU
the part begins at 6:50

Darkangelv2 · Post by **Darkangelv2** » Mon Mar 22, 2021 2:53 pm

This has been on the forum a few times - just needs the top mounts replacing

TheDan · Post by **TheDan** » Mon Mar 22, 2021 3:02 pm

Yep, had this problem on my passenger side (UK) where it was cracked roughly 2/3 the way around. Fortunately it never gave up. Changed out the entire assembly including top mounts, struts, springs etc for new on both sides. Issue solved.

portculisz4 · Post by **portculisz4** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 12:14 pm

YouTube Link for front suspension

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZLgRNgdznU&t=423s

tomscott · Post by **tomscott** » Tue Mar 23, 2021 12:29 pm

Is this what you mean? the struts themselves?

Or strut tower cracks

Lots of BMW suffer with this hitting a pot hole hard can cause this. Can be solved with a strut brace if they are little. Otherwise Welding up, grinding and repainting is a solution if they aren't too bad. The strut towers can also be replaced.

BMW did make a reinforced top mount for the M3 CSL that can be added to the Ms.

In the 10 years of being on here ive not seen it recorded that much as im sure a lot of people don't want to document this as most move through the forum for sale but I have seen a handful of cars with this issue.

Loads of E36 3 series have issues with this but pretty much all sports cars suffer with it with stiffer suspension

Guide here
/Volumes/Marketing/Marketing (TH)/Marketing/SOCIAL MEDIA/GLOBUS GROUP HEALTHCARE/Made in UK/Made in UK finals

Most recent big news items with this is the Porsche Cayman 981 GT4s having massive failures and Porsche basically not supporting the issue.

E86 · Post by **E86** » Wed Mar 24, 2021 1:28 pm

The video above is about the top mount itself failing, rather than the mounting point on the strut tower for the brace.

Here's a frame from the video

: screenshot.png (779.41 KiB) Viewed 1649 times

Would any cracks in the top mount be visible without removing the strut?

Argyll Andy · Post by **Argyll Andy** » Wed Mar 24, 2021 1:36 pm

tomscott wrote: ↑Tue Mar 23, 2021 12:29 pm

Is this what you mean? the struts themselves?

Or strut tower cracks

Lots of BMW suffer with this hitting a pot hole hard can cause this. Can be solved with a strut brace if they are little. Otherwise Welding up, grinding and repainting is a solution if they aren't too bad. The strut towers can also be replaced.

BMW did make a reinforced top mount for the M3 CSL that can be added to the Ms.

In the 10 years of being on here ive not seen it recorded that much as im sure a lot of people don't want to document this as most move through the forum for sale but I have seen a handful of cars with this issue.

Loads of E36 3 series have issues with this but pretty much all sports cars suffer with it with stiffer suspension

Guide here
/Volumes/Marketing/Marketing (TH)/Marketing/SOCIAL MEDIA/GLOBUS GROUP HEALTHCARE/Made in UK/Made in UK finals

Most recent big news items with this is the Porsche Cayman 981 GT4s having massive failures and Porsche basically not supporting the issue.

That’s a brown trousers moment if moving at all, sheer panic if tramping on

Thrustyjust · Post by **Thrustyjust** » Wed Mar 24, 2021 2:36 pm

Audi R8's have similar issues of shearing the top like the Porsche. Sam Crac's one was a mess, IIRC.

Jamturbo · Post by **Jamturbo** » Wed Mar 24, 2021 10:57 pm

Replaced all my shocks and springs over the last 2 days. Front left strut was 75% cracked. 0

Bmwz4ruby · Post by **Bmwz4ruby** » Sun Sep 12, 2021 8:01 am

Question for anyone with the cracks running around the top mounts:
Other than to look at, were you getting any symptoms when driving?

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