Shock compatibility: 318(45mm) vs. 325(51mm)

[Jarvis]

I know that the early ('84-85) 318i uses smaller 45mm strut housings and therefor requires specific shocks that are small enough to fit. My question is, can shocks meant for the early 318i strut housings (45mm) work in the bigger (51mm) strut housings from the 325's and later 318's, and without any problems?

My dilemna is that I recently sold a set of used Bilstein Sports to a local board member. I personally pulled the shocks off of my old '87 325is two years ago, but the buyer ran the part #s off of them and they're for the 45mm strut housings. I had no idea what I had weren't meant for 325's, as I don't remember the strut housings being any different from the other 325's I'd worked on.

Thanks for any help.

[Jarvis]

From what I gather, people use 45mm struts in 51mm strut tubes all the time, but a specific "spacer" or something is used at the bottom and/or the top of the strut to keep it centered in the larger housing. Problem is, these shocks were removed from the car two years ago and I no longer have the strut housings to even check what was in them before.

Bump... help me clarify.

[Jbpka06]

up for this...i bought those shocks