///M strut brace - bolts and caps

[Attilio]

Hello everyone,

I came across a genuine M strut brace at a fantastic price... the catch is that there are no dedicated bolts and caps. From RealOEM, I understand the parts are:

• 6 x 51717896829

• 6 x 51717895241

would any of you have such parts? They are soo expensive from a dealer!

I can provide a UK address for shipping if that makes it easier.

Kind regards,
Attilio

 

[TomK]

Hello everyone,

I came across a genuine M strut brace at a fantastic price... the catch is that there are no dedicated bolts and caps. From RealOEM, I understand the parts are:

• 6 x 51717896829

• 6 x 51717895241

would any of you have such parts? They are soo expensive from a dealer!

I can provide a UK address for shipping if that makes it easier.

Kind regards,
Attilio

51717895241 Those shank nuts are from recollection recommended one time use, so I would go with new ones myself..

 

[Attilio]

Hello everyone,

I came across a genuine M strut brace at a fantastic price... the catch is that there are no dedicated bolts and caps. From RealOEM, I understand the parts are:

• 6 x 51717896829

• 6 x 51717895241

would any of you have such parts? They are soo expensive from a dealer!

I can provide a UK address for shipping if that makes it easier.

Kind regards,
Attilio

51717895241 Those shank nuts are from recollection recommended one time use, so I would go with new ones myself..

Didn't know that TomK... guess that means that I would have to purchase again when changing the front shock absorbers/springs
Thanks for the heads up!

 

[dhobbs]

I bought new nuts from BMW when I replaced my suspension. They weren't too expensive
The part numbers were different as it's not an M but they were only 29p each.

 

[TomK]

Didn't know that TomK... guess that means that I would have to purchase again when changing the front shock absorbers/springs
Thanks for the heads up!

If you're doing it right then yes really they should, but people do reuse them I think. With buying 2nd hand ones you have no idea how many times they have been re-torqued, so I would avoid those.
Careful torquing them, 41nm I seem to remember but worth checking as they can snap quite easily.

 

[Attilio]

Didn't know that TomK... guess that means that I would have to purchase again when changing the front shock absorbers/springs
Thanks for the heads up!

If you're doing it right then yes really they should, but people do reuse them I think. With buying 2nd hand ones you have no idea how many times they have been re-torqued, so I would avoid those.
Careful torquing them, 41nm I seem to remember but worth checking as they can snap quite easily.

yes, very good points. I am "safe" as there are no bolts included... the quote is £80 including shipping (to the UK)

 

[srhutch]

I bought new nuts from BMW when I replaced my suspension. They weren't too expensive
The part numbers were different as it's not an M but they were only 29p each.

Nothing to do with being an ///M, they are special because they are required to locate and hold the brace correctly.

 

[dhobbs]

Forgive my ignorance but how do they locate the strut brace?
They are just a pinch style nut aren't they?
Do you have a picture?

Although £80 does seem like an M tax to me.

 

[Ewazix]

The same part number is used on several BMW's and Mini's, they are a one-time use item and quite fragile. I'm on Mini forums having had them for 15 years, and a LOT of Mini's in particular have reports of them fracturing when re-used. Re-use can lead to incorrect torque readings, over-tightening and mushrooming/fracturing of the mounts as well.

An expensive 'engineered' nut that can cause real problems if abused, personally I'd only use genuine ones.

 

[srhutch]

51717895241

Part 3 on here, nut with collar. 6 required.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=AN15-EUR-06_2000_E46_BMW_320i&diagId=03_0135#51717895241

 

[Attilio]

51717895241

Part 3 on here, nut with collar. 6 required.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=AN15-EUR-06_2000_E46_BMW_320i&diagId=03_0135#51717895241

yes, that's the nut in question... it doesn't look I can get it cheaper than what Ocean Plymouth quoted. I may have to bite the bullet and go for them

Any suggestions on where I could get them at lower price? I tried eBay without luck

 

[dhobbs]

51717895241

Part 3 on here, nut with collar. 6 required.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=AN15-EUR-06_2000_E46_BMW_320i&diagId=03_0135#51717895241

Blimey!
That is overpriced for a nut, but have to be on the safe side.
Although it says only two required per side, plus one cheap nut.

Can you not use a small collar and the normal nuts? Seems the strut brace holes are larger than the bolts, so I assume that extra collar is to centralise it.

 

[srhutch]

51717895241

Part 3 on here, nut with collar. 6 required.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=AN15-EUR-06_2000_E46_BMW_320i&diagId=03_0135#51717895241

Blimey!
That is overpriced for a nut, but have to be on the safe side.
Although it says only two required per side, plus one cheap nut.

Can you not use a small collar and the normal nuts? Seems the strut brace holes are larger than the bolts, so I assume that extra collar is to centralise it.

They are threaded all the way down. Without that there isn’t sufficient thread from memory as the nuts are slightly proud on the threads

 

[dhobbs]

That explains it more. I suppose an alternative would a new top mount with longer bolts.

 

[Bing]

Bit of a thread resurrection but… I had to take my brace off today and two of the nuts disintegrated. Probably as they came with it second hand and I over tightened them - and they should be single use.

Anyway, nuts are still available, new part number 51712268565, approx £50 for 6 from Cotswold BMW.

 

[GT Spec]

Bit of a thread resurrection but… I had to take my brace off today and two of the nuts disintegrated. Probably as they came with it second hand and I over tightened them - and they should be single use.

Anyway, nuts are still available, new part number 51712268565, approx £50 for 6 from Cotswold BMW.

£50 for 6 nuts dear God!

 

[MikeyH]

That IS nuts

 

[Bing]

£50 for 6 nuts dear God!

I sucked it up, but yeah, madness.