Bonnet Gas Struts

[enuff_zed]

I think on cars they design the charges so that their life equals /exceeds the anticpated life of the car..on aircraft, in part because they operate longer and its all super safety orientated they replace them typically around the 10-12 year mark..

Peter, Arnold said he had these as an advisory on his last MOT, carried out by BMW of course so could be a £££ making advisory

I think this is one of those rare occasions (for me) where I would just let this service requirement pass me by..

Fancy myself as devil's advocate this morning..........
Said pedestrian eventually leaves hospital and on the way out is met by an ambulance-chasing lawyer.
They suddenly discover hitherto un-noticed aches and pains and on further inspection discover that your struts are out of date.
Is there a likely claim?
What would your insurance company say?

EDIT: Just remembered the briefing we used to get before live-armed guard duty!
If the IRA (no prejudice - chosen state enemy of the day back then) come through the gate and you shoot them, make sure they're dead. If they're wounded the f**kers will sue you!
So if you're doubting the dates on your struts, better accelerate and do a thorough job.

[Argyll Andy]

Peter, Arnold said he had these as an advisory on his last MOT, carried out by BMW of course so could be a £££ making advisory

I think this is one of those rare occasions (for me) where I would just let this service requirement pass me by..

Fancy myself as devil's advocate this morning..........
Said pedestrian eventually leaves hospital and on the way out is met by an ambulance-chasing lawyer.
They suddenly discover hitherto un-noticed aches and pains and on further inspection discover that your struts are out of date.
Is there a likely claim?
What would your insurance company say?

EDIT: Just remembered the briefing we used to get before live-armed guard duty!
If the IRA (no prejudice - chosen state enemy of the day back then) come through the gate and you shoot them, make sure they're dead. If they're wounded the f**kers will sue you!
So if you're doubting the dates on your struts, better accelerate and do a thorough job.

Martin, I have slightly more info than I did yesterday abut the situation I mentioned but will wait until you get a response before I post so it’s not seen to lead any response

[ihadablackdog]

What's the spondoolies for replacing these?

[davidrew]

The BMW estimate was £133.41 for the parts and £45.76 to fit: Total £179.17.

[step_change]

The BMW estimate was £133.41 for the parts and £45.76 to fit: Total £179.17.

^^^^Same on my 5 series (Nov 2014) where they said mine had expired too.

[tiglon]

I had BMW tell me these were due last month, as per other thread. Actually got round to checking them yesterday and the expiry date on them is 2019. The car has been to BMW dealers multiple times since then, even being sold as Approved Used last year, so obviously it's something BMW dealers have recently decided to try to make some money on...

[Argyll Andy]

I had BMW tell me these were due last month, as per other thread. Actually got round to checking them yesterday and the expiry date on them is 2019. The car has been to BMW dealers multiple times since then, even being sold as Approved Used last year, so obviously it's something BMW dealers have recently decided to try to make some money on...

Wonder how you’d get on Will if you went to BMW and said this had now been told they should be done as they had expired but you have 100% proof that the car was sold by BMW as a fully approved AUC after the expiry date therefore they should have already have been done?

[tiglon]

I had BMW tell me these were due last month, as per other thread. Actually got round to checking them yesterday and the expiry date on them is 2019. The car has been to BMW dealers multiple times since then, even being sold as Approved Used last year, so obviously it's something BMW dealers have recently decided to try to make some money on...

Wonder how you’d get on Will if you went to BMW and said this had now been told they should be done as they had expired but you have 100% proof that the car was sold by BMW as a fully approved AUC after the expiry date therefore they should have already have been done?

I'll let you know after I call them on Monday

[step_change]

...so what did they say?

[goon]

My 240 went in for a brake fluid change and I was also told this but declined to have it done at this point. On further investigation they are little cylinders at the rear of the bonnet hinges and act on a pivoting system to force the rear of the bonnet upwards slightly, they are not the gas struts that hold the bonnet open. I do not believe they will be an MOT failure (at the moment). They quoted me a price of £165 for replacement which isnt too bad for an every 5 years item. I will probably get it done early next year.

[acm]

My gas struts failed today. I was expecting they would, since I noticed late last year that the bonnet had sagged a little after I'd left it open for an hour or so.

Anyway, Cotswold BMW just took my order for the two needed on my 2009 35i (pre-LCI set up). I was told that there was only one left in the UK and that I'd have to wait a week while they ship one from Germany... are they really running out of them in the UK, or was it just Cotswold

I did search for non OEM equivalents, but many sites were showing out of stock for various (popular) manufacturers; seems to be plenty of the cheaper brands with names that I've not come across before.

Cheers!
Andy