Soft top gas strut.

Zedbedee · Post by **Zedbedee** » Mon 30 Jun, 2014 15:02

Top was stiff to open today. When I investigated I found that the gas strut which assists in raising and lowering the top had broken into two parts and the shaft was bent!!!
BMW want £50 for a new one which seems a bit steep. Anyone ever found a good alternate supply?
After removing the broken strut the top was no harder to raise but a bit quick to go down so I suppose the strut was acting as a damper if nothing else.

BladeRunner919 · Post by **BladeRunner919** » Mon 30 Jun, 2014 15:20

Mine's been broken all the time I've had the car and I've just left it. I do have a power hood conversion that I'll probably fit at some point, but I've always been curious as to how much difference the strut makes.

lightning · Post by **lightning** » Mon 30 Jun, 2014 17:04

Where is this part located? All l can see is the hydraulic ram for the power hood. Is it only fitted to manual hood cars?

BladeRunner919 · Post by **BladeRunner919** » Mon 30 Jun, 2014 17:06

lightning wrote:Where is this part located? All l can see is the hydraulic ram for the power hood. Is it only fitted to manual hood cars?

Yes, instead of the hydraulic ram.

Southernboy · Post by **Southernboy** » Mon 30 Jun, 2014 17:33

Try Spurs Fan in a Coupe.... he may have one for sale.

Brian4 · Post by **Brian4** » Mon 30 Jun, 2014 20:00

There are some places that supply gas struts but according to Realoem it is a spring assisted strut and nobody seems to do aftermarket ones. I needed one for the tailgate of our 5 series estate and could only get one from BMW £52.00.

Put 'gas struts' into google and comes up with quite a few suppliers so if you give one a call they may be able to help.

gookah · Post by **gookah** » Mon 30 Jun, 2014 21:42

I have one going spare, took it off my wife's Z3 when I replaced it with the electric version.......

Zedbedee · Post by **Zedbedee** » Tue 01 Jul, 2014 07:59

PM sent to Gookah I think!!

gookah · Post by **gookah** » Thu 03 Jul, 2014 15:40

PM replied to....

Zedbedee · Post by **Zedbedee** » Thu 03 Jul, 2014 22:14

Didn't get any message!

gookah · Post by **gookah** » Fri 04 Jul, 2014 12:03

Zedbedee wrote:Didn't get any message!

Its now in my sent items, which usually indicates read..
Will send again

Zedbedee · Post by **Zedbedee** » Fri 04 Jul, 2014 12:37

I think my reply didn't get through! I would like to buy your strut. Please pm me as to how you would like payment, Paypal, BACS, ???

Zedbedee · Post by **Zedbedee** » Sat 05 Jul, 2014 07:58

Payment completed by Paypal. Thanks.

Thesurveyor · Post by **Thesurveyor** » Sat 05 Jul, 2014 08:41

I'm doing a whole hood frame swap over soon so can someone tell me how to separate the top of the ram from the frame.
Does it just push on or is there some sort of clip, nut or other fixing?

Zedbedee · Post by **Zedbedee** » Sat 05 Jul, 2014 10:12

It's a spring loaded ball joint which you can lever off with a flat screwdriver.

gookah · Post by **gookah** » Sun 06 Jul, 2014 11:08

Hi Zedbedee,

All safely packed, and posted saturday morning.

Pete

Zedbedee · Post by **Zedbedee** » Mon 07 Jul, 2014 12:18

Thanks very much Pete. Strut arrived this morning, all fitted and working perfectly. Your help is much appreciated, what a great site this is!

gookah · Post by **gookah** » Sat 12 Jul, 2014 11:01

no problem, happy to help

just out of interest, does it assist raising, or just cushion the lowering, or both, compared to it not working at all?

Zedbedee · Post by **Zedbedee** » Sat 12 Jul, 2014 12:50

My old strut somehow got bent!! So I removed it completely and the roof could be raised and lowered without a problem. Lifting it up needed a bit more muscle power and lowering needed care to prevent it banging down too quickly. The strut you sent had plenty of grunt so I believe it is more or less 'as new' and with it fitted the roof comes up easily and smoothly and lowers gently so it's a good result. Not having the strut is no reason not use the soft top however.

zroadster.net

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