Boot gas struts

[Reamesy]

Just thought I would share my experience.

A couple of months back I bought a pair of cheap struts of a UK company on eBay. £20 all in. Received them next day and fitted them. They were rated at 250nm the same as OEM.

However when I opened the boot they thrust it up at a rate where I thought it had damaged the body. They had broken the ball socket on the struts.

I sent them back and just cleaned up my original units but they were clearly shot.

So yesterday I ordered Febi units from Amazon at £20 each delivered today. They are superb and offer dampening up and down. Very pleased.

Link here.

febi bilstein 27600 Gas Spring for tailgate, pack of one https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006DHXHWC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabc_TZ1BH28BCV7CFHGYB60F?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

 

[DMike]

Just in case some needs the information, oem is Stabilus 7016186-04

 

[Calps]

Does anyone know if these would be suitable for an e86? I note that the Amazon listing calls out both models, but given the difference in boot shape, which I presume means a difference in mass etc., I would have thought there were different spec struts for each. Happy to be educated otherwise though!

 

[Haro]

That's weird, I bought a pair of 600nm so the boot pops open with the key, I ended up only using 1 as it wasn't so bad opening but too stiff when closing, but even with 2 it would never have snapped a socket. Sure they were 300mm?

 

[R60BBA]

Does anyone know if these would be suitable for an e86? I note that the Amazon listing calls out both models, but given the difference in boot shape, which I presume means a difference in mass etc., I would have thought there were different spec struts for each. Happy to be educated otherwise though!

The Z4 Coupe’s boot struts have a different part number to that of the Z4 Roadster and they are about 30cm longer I believe iirc.

Coupe - 51243420572
Roadster - 51247016186

The OEM is Stabilus with part number 441460 (for the Coupe).

 

[Calps]

Does anyone know if these would be suitable for an e86? I note that the Amazon listing calls out both models, but given the difference in boot shape, which I presume means a difference in mass etc., I would have thought there were different spec struts for each. Happy to be educated otherwise though!

The Z4 Coupe’s boot struts have a different part number to that of the Z4 Roadster and they are about 30cm longer I believe iirc.

Coupe - 51243420572
Roadster - 51247016186

The OEM is Stabilus with part number 441460 (for the Coupe).

Much obliged! I had an inkling that there was a difference alright.

 

[Reamesy]

That's weird, I bought a pair of 600nm so the boot pops open with the key, I ended up only using 1 as it wasn't so bad opening but too stiff when closing, but even with 2 it would never have snapped a socket. Sure they were 300mm?

The OEM are 250n force as are the Febi I quoted. Works perfectly now. My old units were doing nothing

 

[M1k3yC]

There was a whole thread on coupe boot struts: https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=126247

The tl;dr version is that SGS do replacements and a regas service. Members have reported being happy with both options. See also:
https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=126754

I'm intending to pursue a regas for my E86 when lockdown eases.

 

[Haro]

That's weird, I bought a pair of 600nm so the boot pops open with the key, I ended up only using 1 as it wasn't so bad opening but too stiff when closing, but even with 2 it would never have snapped a socket. Sure they were 300mm?

The OEM are 250n force as are the Febi I quoted. Works perfectly now. My old units were doing nothing

300mm is the length, not the force.

 

[Reamesy]

That's weird, I bought a pair of 600nm so the boot pops open with the key, I ended up only using 1 as it wasn't so bad opening but too stiff when closing, but even with 2 it would never have snapped a socket. Sure they were 300mm?

The OEM are 250n force as are the Febi I quoted. Works perfectly now. My old units were doing nothing

300mm is the length, not the force.

I reference the OEM because you quoted 600nm in your reply. 600n is much more than double the original spec of 250n. My original post was about the cheap units off eBay being too aggressive with no dampening. The socket snapped due to the speed it had to stop after it flung open the boot lid. They were identical in size/length to the original. All good now with feb units