which Bilstein strut inserts?

[Ohmess]

Yeah, the gland nut was easy. It was the but at the top of the piston that holds it on the thrust bearing assembly. You need to (or are supposed to) keep the piston from spinning WITHOUT grabbing the piston with a big channel lock or vice grip. But the 27mm big nut is sunk so far down in the cup, you need a socket with hex base and also a hole large enough to slip the smaller socket down the hole to the piston. I didn't have that. But I did have a big impact wrench which spun the nut off (and also probably ruined any remaining life in the insert).

Oh, right. I too used an impact gun to get the nut off.

As to putting it back on, I cut a hole in the side of a 17mm deep socket that is large enough to allow a short allen head wrench to fit into the socket in the center of the piston rod. You can only turn the 17mm nut about 90 degrees before you need to remove the socket and reindex it, so it is slow going, but it works.

 

[HB Chris]

Or locking channel pliers on a deep socket, not good for the socket but it works as well. Best is the air gun.

 

[bavbob]

Another related question. Boge were original to the E9 and E3. I really never drove my cars with these, always shot when I bought them, replaced by HD's. How does the ride differ?

 

[Wobdog]

Reading this entire thread I am not 100% certain of the exact part number for the Bilstien front inserts. Just in case would also love the rear part number. Both to use with carl neslon springs

 

[autokunst]

I ended up ordering my front Bilstein inserts from Tire Rack. I have not assembled them yet, but here's exactly what my invoice reads:

PART NUMBER:
34-000243

DESCRIPTION:
BMW BILSTEIN PERF B6 CTG F EA.
REPLACES F4.P36.0024.H1
Front fitment. (Performance)

 

[Wobdog]

Perfect- Exactly what I needed- Have you put the Carl Nelson springs on? I will be doing this the next so any advice welcome. This is a bit over my head so I will be having my local mechanic do it. I am doing the back also but the shocks on the back I do not think are all that old

 

[autokunst]

Perfect- Exactly what I needed- Have you put the Carl Nelson springs on? I will be doing this the next so any advice welcome. This is a bit over my head so I will be having my local mechanic do it. I am doing the back also but the shocks on the back I do not think are all that old

Everything is still in boxes or on shelves - haven't had a chance to assemble the front suspension yet. Sorry. Good luck with yours! Post photos and stories.

 

[JFENG]

cut a hole in the side of a 17mm deep socket

Or … buy a 1/2” drive deep impact socket which fits the top nut

(1) mill the drive end of the socket to accept a large box wrench (machine shop or DIY with a cut-off wheel and hand file).
(2) weld on a cheap (long) combination wrench to the drive end of the socket
(3) trim the working end of the socket down to the length you need,

your hex wrench now fits thru the 1/2” drive hole to hold the spindle steady. And you have a cheap tool which you can pass around amongst your old BMW friends.