"The gas pressure spring of the bonnet needs to be checked."

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Ell201275

Member
As per the title, I've had a notification from BMW that the gas pressure spring of the bonnet needs to be checked.

I've never heard of this check before.
The bonnet seems to open/close fine on the odd occasion that I've had to open it.

Is this a normal check & is it important to have this spring replaced if they recommend it (likely!) ?
What should it cost fitted?

The car is also due a brake fluid change, so is going in to the local main dealer soon anyway.
 
If the car is five years old I suspect they will want to replace the “exploding” bonnet struts which lift the bonnet in the event of a pedestrian collision. Certainly I had to have them replaced on my 240 at the five year point as it was a safety critical item. The car is under warranty though
 
My car is still under the approved used BMW warranty, so would it be covered or more likely wear/tear?

Any idea of the total fitted cost?
 
Gas pressure looks like the bonnet support struts not the pyro pedestrian protection..
 
Just spoke to BMW & they are to help keep the bonnet open & are usually replaced as a pair after 5 years.
Cost about £150 for the pair fitted.

Still not sure if I actually need to bother?
 
Ell201275 said:
Just spoke to BMW & they are to help keep the bonnet open & are usually replaced as a pair after 5 years.
Cost about £150 for the pair fitted.

Still not sure if I actually need to bother?
Click to expand...
Your call...looks like you never open it anyway?-:)
 
Ell201275 said:
Just spoke to BMW & they are to help keep the bonnet open & are usually replaced as a pair after 5 years.
Cost about £150 for the pair fitted.

Still not sure if I actually need to bother?
Click to expand...
So they want to change bonnet stays after 5 years?
That is totally unnecessary. They only need changing when, and if, they don't hold the bonnet up properly. I reckon about 20 years on an average car with average use.

I just changed the bootlid ones on my Z3 after 24 years. Those will get much more use than the bonnet ones. They held the lid up fine but were over-extending.
 
That sounds like another way for the stealer to lighten your wallet. All the time they work I'd leave them.

They're still working fine on my Z4 after 19 years!
 
Gas Bonnet struts fail gradually to the point that the bonnet fails to stay open, at that point replace, then it's an easy DIY fix possibly aftermarket replacements, or pay the dealer to do it.
It's sort of an easy diagnosis either the bonnet stays up or it doesn't.
 
Pondy said:
So they want to change bonnet stays after 5 years?
Click to expand...
Yes guys,
these struts are components of the active pedestrian collision system and have a restricted lifetime of 5 years. Most of them have an EOL date printed on it.

Will be checked by TÜV in Germany and is a KO criteria if over it's EOL.
 
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They said the same thing about my G30.

Apparently, BMW now like you to replace the bonnet gas struts every so many years as a service item.

All it is, is revenue generation, in the hope you say just do it.

It’s not essential. (It might be in Germany but no one in the UK checks apart from BMW and when I grilled them on it, they even said they don’t really need doing, but BMW recommends it"
 
Just for information, www.sgs-engineering.com will supply pretty much any gas strut (you can even specify the torque load of the charge) for a fraction of the price of OEM.
 
If you don’t get these done as part of the service, will you still get the annoying message reminding you you need a service? BMW tend not to update the idrive if the full service hasn’t been completed
 
RobbiZ4 said:
Yes guys,
these struts are components of the active pedestrian collision system and have a restricted lifetime of 5 years. Most of them have an EOL date printed on it.
Click to expand...
If those are the ones they are talking about it looks like they may not last a year. :(

sars

Thread 'Another Update, BMW Pedestrian Protection System'

So unless you have been unlucky enough to actually hit someone you are probably not aware of this system lurking in the back ground of modern BMW's. The system is designed such that when it detects you've hit someone, two pyrotechnic actuators deploy, one either side of the bonnet near the windscreen, to lift the back of the bonnet to give them something cushioned to land on, a truly marvellous concept, like an airbag for pedestrians.

That is unless you are tootling along at 07:10 in the morning through a village, enjoying the open top vista when suddenly there is a very loud bang, your...
 
Nanu said:
If you don’t get these done as part of the service, will you still get the annoying message reminding you you need a service? BMW tend not to update the idrive if the full service hasn’t been completed
Click to expand...
I started this thread a couple of months ago & have since had a full service, but didn't do the gas pressure springs (bonnet struts) at all, nor was it mentioned in the dealership when I asked if their system was mentioning any other items that needed a service/replacement.

Nothing comes up on the dashboard about this, so I wouldn't bother unless you feel they are about to fail.
I personally carefully opened the bonnet & tested the struts as much as I could, but the bonnet held in place at every place I stopped it as it was being closed & nothing felt loose etc...
 
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