Talk to me about e36 front shock mounts

[Doomsdaya]

Cut long story short I bought new front shocks (Monroe's) & front shock mounts (OEM from BMW) & had it fitted on Wednesday at a panelbeater. Yesterday I got my car back & saw its now a 4x4 :uhoh:

This is how it use to look in front, hardly a finger space between tyre & fender

This is how it looks now more then a finger space between tyre & fender

When I asked the guys at the panelbeater what happen, they told me the new shock mounts are higher then the old ones & so I did some internet digging last night...

On closer inspection the shock mounts are completely different & different part numbers :thinking:

The new front shock mounts that I got from Bmw is 31 33 6779 613

The old front shock mounts that came off my car is 31 33 1090 678

Now the funny thing is on real oem, with my cars vin number it states 6779 613 as shock mounts for my car but when I enter 1090 678 to search for parts, nothing comes up :thinking:

When I google 31 33 1090 678, search results come from Europe...

I forgot to take pics before of the shock towers but here are pics of it after it was changed. Notice how deep the center is & the previous mounts use to sit flush on the tower...

So question is, where can I get 31 33 1090 678 shock mounts seeing Bmw doesn't keep these....

 

[moranor@axis]

fit the pre 1996 e36 M3 shock mounts with more caster... this will angle the shock and lower slightly... you can also get the post 96 mounts these will have added camber as well as caster...

or wait a bit and see if it settles...

 

[Doomsdaya]

Yeah I'm gona give it time to settle before jumping to conclusions but I think I see where the problem is :thinking: correct me if I'm wrong....

Looking at the image below, I noticed how deep the mount is sitting at the top & the bottom sticks out quite alot...

Now compare that top pic to my old shock mounts & you'll see how flat it is at the top, almost level with the surface & the bottom isn't sticking out much like the pic above, infact its gone in :mmm:

Sorry for the crapberry pics....

 

[calypso]

You should have done coilovers

 

[Doomsdaya]

You should have done coilovers

After this experience :hammerhead: next step can only be coilies imp:

 

[DROP IT - ZN]

Hope you get it sorted...

:roflol: lol sorry couldn't help it

 

[Doomsdaya]

Hope you get it sorted...

:roflol: lol sorry couldn't help it

LmFao Reagz :lmoa:

As discussed/chooned last night, to me it makes sense the old mountings "collapsed" or "caved" in, I suppose thats why the car was sitting so low :mmm: oh well... Coilies :drool:

 

[Thunder]

makes sense if you think about it.

Hope it settles in and make it look low and slow again. :thumbs:

 

[Doomsdaya]

FYI

Shock mount number 31 33 6779 613 supersedes the old mount 31 33 1090 678, confirmed by BMW...

:thumb:

 

[DROP IT - ZN]

Hope you get it sorted...

:roflol: lol sorry couldn't help it

LmFao Reagz :lmoa:

As discussed/chooned last night, to me it makes sense the old mountings "collapsed" or "caved" in, I suppose thats why the car was sitting so low :mmm: oh well... Coilies :drool:

The new shocks does raise it slightly as I showed you on mine but your mountings look suspect

 

[sclass]

Just a question; we only seem to focus on the shock mount but isn't there a whole bunch of stuff in the shock tower that maybe also ought to be replaced?

Kindly excuse the mini-jack

 

[calypso]

Well while your in there you should add shock tower reinforcement plates. But that will raise you up another 1-2mm

 

[moranor@axis]

Well while your in there you should add shock tower reinforcement plates. But that will raise you up another 1-2mm

1-2mm is nothing compared to having mushrooming or cracks to fix...

 

[Doomsdaya]

One reason why I took my car to the panelbeater was because they had to knock the shock domes straight, it was somewhat bent. Apparently a common problem with e36's....

To be honest, I'm not very happy with the current setup. Ride is abit harsh (damn Monroes), the front sits high & the right rear is sagging (I thought it was a failed shock) but seems like its either the battery is heavy or the spring collapsed....

 

[moranor@axis]

have you looked at your rear shock towers? they rip out quite easily on the e36...

 

[Doomsdaya]

have you looked at your rear shock towers? they rip out quite easily on the e36...

I checked it yesterday while fitting the rear shocks at Supa Quik, it looks fine but will get an experts opinion. While you are here I wanted to ask you....

Yesterday at Supa Quik they removed the rear shocks, it was Gabriels & still in working condition. The monroes I ordered got a shorter piston & the bottom half of the bumpstop, overlapped the shock, is that the correct way to fit it ???

 

[moranor@axis]

not sure what you mean with the bumpstop... the bump stop should not overlap the shock body but there is a dust cover that overlaps to body...

 

[Doomsdaya]

Part number 3, yes it's the dust cover but I've noticed that the dampers look worn out...

 

[moranor@axis]

I have powerflex bumpstops if you interested:

they R 535 for all 4 with dust covers...

 

[Doomsdaya]

Sounds very interesting.... I'll let you know by end of the month :thumbsup: thanks dude, you a star....