Calling Robbi Z4
- Thread starter B21
- Start date
Scottish Borders
Telephone counselling service: how can I help?
Well, I've reworked my recommendations and extended topic 7 - gas springs.
It's required for those in the main pillars as you have to compress a 800N/80 Kg strut.
That's so bright and easy to see everything with the yellow. Dark blue needed some extra lumens.
While you're in there, I have a tool to replace those struts!
I just cleaned Dorothy up with some new Meguiar's Total Interior Clean and a Rubbit Bunny Buffer waterless wash and finished off with their graphene shield. All decent products, it was too cold for me to do anything longer than that unless I heat the garage.
While you're in there, I have a tool to replace those struts!
I just cleaned Dorothy up with some new Meguiar's Total Interior Clean and a Rubbit Bunny Buffer waterless wash and finished off with their graphene shield. All decent products, it was too cold for me to do anything longer than that unless I heat the garage.
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No..I got some real cheap fakes for only £1.53...each!Hopefully the OEM from Stabilus.
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Just joshing..Please share your experiences with these valuable alternatives.
Stabilus Gas Spring 0728PB Lift-O-MAT Hydraulic Damper with 800 Newton and Others for BMW 3 Series E46 2000-2007 : Amazon.co.uk: Automotive
Buy Stabilus Gas Spring 0728PB Lift-O-MAT Hydraulic Damper with 800 Newton and Others for BMW 3 Series E46 2000-2007 at Amazon UK. Free delivery on eligible orders.
www.amazon.co.uk
At the summit of the picturesque fens
Probably too late now, but www.sgs-engineerng.com will make you any gas strut for very reasonable money (if they don't keep them as a stock item). I bought a replacement pair for my Z3 bootlid; they were really cheap and fitted perfectly.
Ohio
Or more directly put. It's dangerous as all hell to not effectively capture the ends of that strut when removing it.
...And nearly impossible to safely compress a 800N strut with anything hanging around in your DIY toolkit. More than 200lbs of axial force required to hold it in a compressed position, probably more than that to deal with the friction of the seals when compressing. I looked for alternatives, including ratchet straps.. and still resulted in buying the correct tool for the job.
And at the least.. it's a very pretty tool and has it's own template for hanging it in your garage as a work of art. It may be the last time you use it, so get some ambiance out of it
My first attempts were made with a modified screw clamp, but even its hold hindered careful work in the limited space.
Furthermore, the roof struts of the E93 3 Series and the F33 4 Series offer a resistance of 1,300N (~300lbs). Replacing them is even more difficult & dangerous in their significantly more confined space than on our E89.
As discussed in another thread,
a lending or rental system in your countries or even local areas would be an idea, as all retractable hardtops will need new gas springs in the near future.
I'm talking about >>10k cars per country.
Furthermore, the roof struts of the E93 3 Series and the F33 4 Series offer a resistance of 1,300N (~300lbs). Replacing them is even more difficult & dangerous in their significantly more confined space than on our E89.
As discussed in another thread,
a lending or rental system in your countries or even local areas would be an idea, as all retractable hardtops will need new gas springs in the near future.
I'm talking about >>10k cars per country.
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