Seriously?

[LokeyVW]

I have been looking all over and I can not for the life of me find Bilstein, Koni, or Tokico front struts for my early 318i. Every company I call who lists them on their sites is currently out of stock with no estimated date to get them in. I am getting a bit annoyed haha why did they have to go from a 46mm to 51mm strut housing?

I guess this all leads me to a few questions, since I am still a newb to the BMW croud please be patient. Is the front strut hosing a removable bearing that can be swapped out in favor of the later 51mm version? Or is the 46mm strut housing refering to the actual opening on the inner fender that the strut mounts into? If that is the case is it possible to simply enlarge the hole to accept the 51mm struts? If so then it would really be removing about 2.5mm of material which should not be an issue.

I am just getting tired of only finding stock replacements since I already spent over 2k on other suspension upgrades to be stopped in my tracks since I happen to have a 5mm difference in strut housings stop me.

Thanks for any advice!

[dude8383]

The 51mm measurement is actually the diameter of the strut itself. The early e30's had a 46mm housing as you reference above. You can get yourself some later model strut housings and then you wouldn't have a problem!

Check this out:

http://bmwfans.info/parts/catalog/E30/2-doors/USA/318i-M10/LHD/M/1983/july/browse/front_axle/front_spring_strut_shock_absorber/

That's what you have. The 51 is listed in there as well.

[LokeyVW]

The 51mm measurement is actually the diameter of the strut itself. The early e30's had a 46mm housing as you reference above. You can get yourself some later model strut housings and then you wouldn't have a problem!

Check this out:

http://bmwfans.info/parts/catalog/E30/2-doors/USA/318i-M10/LHD/M/1983/july/browse/front_axle/front_spring_strut_shock_absorber/

That's what you have. The 51 is listed in there as well.

Cool cool I will actually be at the JY in the morning and look for them. Just to verify you are talking about the part in that diagram labeled as #1

[LokeyVW]

Found them at the yard! Now time to order struts!

[ak-]

Good going. Swapping to later model housing is actually a popular thing to do.
Now swap out your rear drums :up:

[LokeyVW]

Good going. Swapping to later model housing is actually a popular thing to do.
Now swap out your rear drums :up:

I plan too! The jy I went to doesn't allow air tools or floor jacks or jack stands so dropping a rear subframe was out of the question, and I eant the lsd also so I want to grab it all at the same time.