635csi Bonnet Struts / Shocks

[Vlooi]

Hi everyone, I have been searching a lot on the net, reading forums about guys struggling with the bonnet shocks. Original replacement parts cost a fortune, and sometimes one needs to wait weeks for the stuff to arrive.

Well, I bought Gabriels that fits perfectly, but didn't hold the bonnet in the open position, simply too weak. I was at the point of eventually ordering originals, when somebody asked me "Did you pump the stuff?" Naturally I was very surprised, as no-one ever mentioned this, over and above the fact I never thought one could actually pump them!

Needless to say, I made a turn at PIA, who's got a machine, and it took literally 3 minutes to pump them, and... voila. Works perfect. And saved me a helluva lot of money too. So, just a piece of advice for those having a problem.

Lastly, the shocks can be pumped between 500 and 600 (nm?) according to the lad that did it for me.

 

[stiaan]

Hi buddy
Yes, I work for Midas, and we had the gaslifts pumped on a daily basis, different nm's, a example, a Jeep cherokee's original bonnet shocks about R600 each, we do it for R120.

Sent from my BlackBerry 9320 using Tapatalk

 

[Solo Man]

That is interesting! I put new bonnet struts on my E36 when i got the car two years ago and i find that they are already battling to hold the bonnet up. Is it possible to "pump" them even at this late stage? And how do one go about it?

 

[Vlooi]

Hi Solo Man, yes you will be able to have them pumped. I went to Midas (PIA), whos got the machine. Simply remove the shocks from the car and take them.

Hope this helps.

 

[Clownshoe]

:thumbs:
For that info. A previous owner fitted Gabriel bonnet shocks but they bearly hold the bonnet open...

Bonnet shocks moved from list of potentially expensive fix to the low hanging fruit list.

 

[Bugger]

I was lucky enough to have had mine replaced with OEM ones by the previous owner. I remember though having a torrid time with these on my 333i.