Stabilus 0728pb 800Nm (special tool required)

Christopher72

Christopher72

Active member
 Ohio, USA
RobbiZ4 said:
New:
E89: Collection of the 7 typical age-related defects in the roof environment
https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=2092037#p2092037
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Update 09/2024 Struts / gas springs on the roof as well as on the trunk lid
Roof E89 (BMW 54377212634) Stabilus 0728pb 800Nm (special tool required)
Trunk lid E89 (BMW 51247191255) Stabilus 499514 570Nm

Each pair should be replaced by new ones each decade.
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Robbi, These Stabilus struts are reasonable on Amazon -- so it makes sense to replace them while I'm in the mix. What is the special tool required and is it possible to fabricate it?

Edit: I've discovered the tool.. 83302472914 €178.48 at Baum.. -- a bit hefty for a single use tool. From your experience, are there other options to achieve removal and installation without this excess tool cost?
 
3nHeAWCi.png

Seems like there'd be a generic clamp-like tool out there that would fit this niche or a ratcheting strap -- anyone out there use a pipe or strap method on an 800Nm strut?
 
Well,
I've started with a reworked screw clamp:
20240929_080353.jpg

Removed the plastic caps, drilled a countersink on the outer side, welded a ball bearing on the grip side.

In a very rare case, I had success with a strap, but I wouldn't recommend it.

In between I've bought the official tool, that makes live much easier. But of course, it's "a bit" (too) expensive for a single use.

Interestingly, this tool is absolutely necessary on E93/F33 convertibles, as there is much less space in the trunk to replace their 1.300 Nm struts.

Btw, I'll get a much higher price incl. VAT displayed from Baum24. Shipping and customs not included.
20240929_080712.jpg
 
I did suffer the pain and purchased from Baum-24. It's currently in DHL customs/pre-shipment since Saturday before it jumps over the pond. It's probably stuck because it resembles a pipe based explosive device.

Once I'm done with it, I'll likely sell it to anyone else interested at a discount for my 4 strut wear and tear :lol: , without VAT or loan it for a small fee +shipping. Ebay or a local BMW indy may wish to pick one up.
 
Christopher72 said:
I did suffer the pain and purchased from Baum-24. It's currently in DHL customs/pre-shipment since Saturday before it jumps over the pond. It's probably stuck because it resembles a pipe based explosive device.

Once I'm done with it, I'll likely sell it to anyone else interested at a discount for my 4 strut wear and tear :lol: , without VAT or loan it for a small fee +shipping. Ebay or a local BMW indy may wish to pick one up.
Click to expand...

Wonder its its worth a whip round to get it UK based?
 
I'm still waiting for it to arrive! I must have chosen Heißluftballon as the delivery option. :cry:

It serves me right for just looking at the price and not translating the text!
 
Christopher72 said:
I must have chosen "Heißluftballon" as the delivery option. :cry:
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There is another option available named "Brieftaube". :wink:
 
Funny we order stuff from China, post free and gets to UK within a week, no vat, no duty, some fiddle going on.
Order from European friends, takes week to cross the channel, we get taxed and slightly pricey postage.
Order from US, good luck if it arrives, expensive postage, 2 days to get here, week in customs shed, on arrival vat and duty to pay.

No wonder we buy so much junk from our friends in China.
 
They must have put it on a raft to swim it across the pond. Which is quite irritating since the shipping rate for a 2lb package was certainly in the range for shipping through air. You're right! Ordering from Shenzhen is at least cheap when it's using cargo ships.
 
Christopher72 said:
They must have put it on a raft to swim it across the pond. Which is quite irritating since the shipping rate for a 2lb package was certainly in the range for shipping through air. You're right! Ordering from Shenzhen is at least cheap when it's using cargo ships.
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Lot of China stuff i order came air mail to UK.
 
After you remove the clips from the existing gas struts, you just capture the ends of the strut and tighten a turn or two to get the pressure off of the studs and it then is removed simply and safely.
20241026-165411.jpg

I put a paint pen mark to indicate how much the new strut will have to be compressed to fit on the studs.
20241026-170224.jpg

Then crank on the tool to get the new stud compressed. (no power wrenching). I replaced that stubby ratchet with a longer handled one after about 20 seconds.
20241026-165840.jpg

Once compressed to the mark, give it another full turn or two. Pop it on the studs, the new clips automatically secure the strut.
release the pressure from the tool (unscrew) and then remove the tool. Each side took 5-10 minutes because I took pictures. This is something that could be done on both sides in less time than that. I'm curious what a dealer charges for this!

I switched out the trunk lid struts as well -- they don't require the compressor. Talk about night and day difference. The trunk no longer slams.

I ended up paying €192 + €39 shipping for the tool ($207 + $42). The price changed on me for delaying... :cry:
The pair of Stabilus 5B-0728PB were $45 USD inc. shipping from Amazon.

I'd be willing to part with the tool for $150 + shipping ... and whoever gets it can resell. Reasonable offers considered before I put it on Ebay or try to shop it to a local indy. This is such an easy task with this tool that I let my 12 yr old do the second one.
 
Congratulations on successfully completing this long journey.

And I fully agree with your detailled description and it's a very high quality tool!

Btw. on 3-/4-series E93/F33 this tool is absolutely required to replace their roof struts, where it can't be replaced with a screw clamp due to missing free space on the main pillars.

Suggestion:
I'd keep the tool and lend it to forum members.
 
RobbiZ4 said:
Suggestion:
I'd keep the tool and lend it to forum members.
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That would work very well in the UK, but not sure how much benefit it would be in the US?
Probably due to the distances involved.
Must admit I was tempted, but tbh I'm still 99% doing E85s.
 
enuff_zed said:
RobbiZ4 said:
Suggestion:
I'd keep the tool and lend it to forum members.
Click to expand...
That would work very well in the UK, but not sure how much benefit it would be in the US?
Click to expand...
Ok, that 's a fair argument for selling it around.

But hey, why isn't there a Z community available in the states like in Europe? AFAIK, about of a third of the Z models were sold in the states.

enuff_zed said:
...but tbh I'm still 99% doing E85s.
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Pretty sure that will change in the near future. :rofl:
 
Either way -- if someone wants to do the strut work, I'm happy to either help them locally or work something out with them. Pay it forward, right?
 
Just a follow up -- I felt like I needed to replace the hood/bonnet struts to renew them all after hitting the folding top and trunk struts. Again, I chose Stabilus (3B-611845) instead of the BMW parts. Glad that I decided to do so. When I snipped the zip tie holding the plastic washer tube bracket onto the strut, the hood dropped about a foot slowly. Apparently, it was creating some rigidity that the old struts were too worn to do without.

They were quick and easy to replace using a pick to pull the clips free. And now my hood wants to be up. After opening it a little less than 2 feet, it wants to lift it to the maximum on its own. So, it needed to be done, and I didn't have to get a headache to prove it. Total cost on Amazon was $44 USD for the set w/free shipping -- very acceptable.
 
How do you know that these struts needs replacing ? What is the sign that they are weak? My bootlid struts are definitely weak and I will replace those shortly.

I’ve just spent over £2k with a well known convertible maintenance business to have the motor (hydraulic temperature sensor error A6A3) replaced along with two rusting microswitches for the rear locks and a couple of hall sensors.

Worried that the struts could have contributed…. My boot didn’t leak although when it failed I could not check with the whole roof being locked into the open situation but without the boot lid being fully closed…..
 
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