bilstein sports on an 86 325

[eurotrash]

so i ordered 2 front bilstein sports for my 86 325 and was under the impression that only the 318s were 45mm. ive got the inner thread glandnut which i think is 45mm? the strut appears to fit in the housing but the glandnut is the outside thread type. can i use a 51mm strut in this housing?
Also ive got a vented rotor. i thought the 45mm setups used a non vented rotor?

[MR 325]

The 86 325 most definitely came with the 51mm housings from the factory.

[reelizmpro]

Actually some base 86-87 325 had 45mm housings or so I've read. There is even a disclaimer in the Bentley. Op I have no idea what u mean by outside gland nut?

[MR 325]

Actually some base 86-87 325 had 45mm housings or so I've read. There is even a disclaimer in the Bentley. Op I have no idea what u mean by outside gland nut?

People say that but I've yet to see one. Even my 85 325e had the larger housings.

[reelizmpro]

Right. It was only some 86-87 325 base models only. No e or I. I never paid attention.

[e30trooper]

Wonder if my early has the smaller ones. Production date is late 85 but sold as a 86e.

[jlevie]

The way to know what the car has is to measure the diameter of the strut housing.

[jeffnhiscars]

Im trying to decipher what you have (with some difficulty I admit) but I can tell you this...the 45mm strut is threaded on the outside so the gland nuts will be threaded internally (see attached pic just taken of MY 45mm strut & BS Sport). Since you seem to say you have a 51mm strut & that it "appears to fit" then you obviously cannot have a 45mm housing (hence my confusion over all the 45mm references on the OP).

On the other hand if you do have a 45mm strut (which of course would "fit" in the larger 51 mm housing), you can still use it but would require a special gland nut from Bilstein "Part number B4-B30-U232A1 $24.15 per gland nut".

If you bought them new then they should come with the proper bits & pieces and you shouldnt have to deal with any of this.

[frankie591]

my 12/86 325is has the larger housings.

[eurotrash]

I may have it backwards then i was thinking the 45mm has the inside of the strut housing threaded (gland nut goes inside the housing). But ur saying the glandnut goes outside on a 45mm and inside on a 51mm? Mine the housing is threaded on the inside.

[jeffnhiscars]

I may have it backwards then i was thinking the 45mm has the inside of the strut housing threaded (gland nut goes inside the housing). But ur saying the glandnut goes outside on a 45mm and inside on a 51mm? Mine the housing is threaded on the inside.

Im not saying anything about a 51mm strut or housing since Im not looking at either. I am SHOWING you what a 45mm Strut and BS Sport looks like with the gland nut.

I have 3 e30's sitting in my driveway including the one I showed you the pic of (45mm) and I have personally NEVER seen a 51mm strut that was not configured the exact same way as the pic I posted but that doesnt mean it cant exist.

You have the parts in front of you. Why dont you MEASURE the OD of your strut housing and TELL US the part # of your BS Sport. Even better, post a pic of the parts that dont make sense to you and you will probably have this resolved asap.

[jlevie]

51mm strut housings definitely have the threads on the inside of the strut tube. Since I don't have anything that takes 45mm struts I don't know about those.

[jeffnhiscars]

51mm strut housings definitely have the threads on the inside of the strut tube. Since I don't have anything that takes 45mm struts I don't know about those.

That settles that then doesnt it.

[eurotrash]

measured the housing and its 51mm but the actual insert is 45mm. i went to the shop and we measured everything and compared them to his 91 325i (def 51mm from the factory). everything is exactly the same on the stock stuff. the bilsteins are 1/2" longer then the stock struts but his bilsteins that are currently installed appear to be about a half inch above the top of the strut tube so that just could be how there supposed to installed.

talked to bilstein and they told me the part # for my car is 34-003343 which comes with 2 gland nuts (male and female thread and listed as 30mm) and the part # of mine are 34-003350 and according to the bilstein website is for an 86 325es (listed as 36mm also the same part # world pac uses for all e30s) Im gonna call bilstein again mon when there open and try to figure out exactly what gland nut the 003350 should of come with.

if anyone has bought 51mm sports new, did they come with 2 gland nuts? we think the set i have might have been returned to worldpac without the male gland nuts. they had a seperate order sheet taped to the box other then my buddies shop.

[jeffnhiscars]

measured the housing and its 51mm but the actual insert is 45mm. i went to the shop and we measured everything and compared them to his 91 325i (def 51mm from the factory). everything is exactly the same on the stock stuff. the bilsteins are 1/2" longer then the stock struts but his bilsteins that are currently installed appear to be about a half inch above the top of the strut tube so that just could be how there supposed to installed.

talked to bilstein and they told me the part # for my car is 34-003343 which comes with 2 gland nuts (male and female thread and listed as 30mm) and the part # of mine are 34-003350 and according to the bilstein website is for an 86 325es (listed as 36mm also the same part # world pac uses for all e30s) Im gonna call bilstein again mon when there open and try to figure out exactly what gland nut the 003350 should of come with.

if anyone has bought 51mm sports new, did they come with 2 gland nuts? we think the set i have might have been returned to worldpac without the male gland nuts. they had a seperate order sheet taped to the box other then my buddies shop.

The part # you have is for the 51mm strut housing and should actually be 36-00335 (not 34 since its a 36mm cartridge). P30-00334 is the 30mm cartridge for the 45mm housing which is what I have in my 318i. Regardless of what Bilstein lists for your car you have confirmed that you have 51mm housing and need 36-0335 and the nut that goes with it.

Its possible that someone swapped out what may have been stock 45mm housings in your car for 51's. Thats not really that important right now. What is important is that you have the wrong strut for your housings. As I said in my earlier post you CAN install a cartridge intended for a 45mm housing in a 51mm housing IF you use the replacement gland nut part in my previous post. Personally, I dont see why you should have to buy them if you bought NIB struts from a reputable dealer.

The difference in valving between the 2 cartridges in nominal and should not effect your handling, but since you bought them new, again as I stated before, you should not have to deal with this. You have 2 options at this point...either call who you bought them from and tell them its the wrong part and to swap you out..or..buy the gland nut I referred to and install the 30mm diameter cartridge in your 51mm housing.