STUPID? all e30 front struts the same

[MR 325]

For the record, my 85 has the larger struts.

[richardkeith97]

wtf. but the struts are the same its just the nut?

[FredK]

No. The struts are not the same, but there exists a special application gland nut that will appropriately immobilize the 45mm damper in a 51mm strut housing.

[M-technik-3]

No. The struts are not the same, but there exists a special application gland nut that will appropriately immobilize the 45mm damper in a 51mm strut housing.

Ding ding ding as i mentioned earlier.

[Rigmaster]

No. The struts are not the same, but there exists a special application gland nut that will appropriately immobilize the 45mm damper in a 51mm strut housing.

Are you guys 100% sure about this?


I know bilsteins in general use a different gland nut than most other strut inserts, but I've never heard of a special nut like this.

Maybe Blunt knows, he handles alot of nuts........



To the OP, no sense in getting worried about something fitting or not fitting until you're sure of what you have- you need to check to see if the 85 eta has the larger or smaller struts, then you can make a reasonable decision on how to proceed.

[Hick]

ive come across early models with larger struts also.

you can drill out the ABS sensors if you are really careful.

[bataangpinoy]

only the super early etas had the 45mm housing.

just find a set of cailpers and measure the damn things.

[M-technik-3]

Are you guys 100% sure about this?


I know bilsteins in general use a different gland nut than most other strut inserts, but I've never heard of a special nut like this.

Maybe Blunt knows, he handles alot of nuts........

Brett, I have a set in the garage so I know they exist.

[Jean]

only the super early etas had the 45mm housing.

just find a set of cailpers and measure the damn things.

and early 318 cars

[richardkeith97]

so i just measured my strut housing on my 85eta. aleast 2inches thick. so thats 51mm. i'm just guessing that my 90is is also 51mm.

[M-technik-3]

Threads on the outside or inside? On the inside are typically 45mm outside are 51mm.

[Fidhle007]

Measure the strut housings on the 90 as well, I'm pretty sure the measurements everyone has been talking about are the diameters of the actual strut cartridge and not the housing.

[tjts1]

Are you guys 100% sure about this?


I know bilsteins in general use a different gland nut than most other strut inserts, but I've never heard of a special nut like this.

Maybe Blunt knows, he handles alot of nuts........



To the OP, no sense in getting worried about something fitting or not fitting until you're sure of what you have- you need to check to see if the 85 eta has the larger or smaller struts, then you can make a reasonable decision on how to proceed.

40mm bilstein with 51mm nut

[richardkeith97]

well the IS is in a garage till march but i checked realoem.com and it says spring strut 51mm for both my cars. pelicanparts.com says 45mm only came on the 318. that nut looks like the one on my eta. i need the stock threaded ring with external nut though if anyone has one. i must of thrown mine out when i did my suspenion and i'm gona need it to put my stock shocks back in.

[richardkeith97]

i need this one. two of them