Boot gas struts - StrutsDepot £14 / Stabilus £40 / BMW £100 ? ( E91 )

jpaul

jpaul

jpaul

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Has anyone purchased 'cheap' gas struts ? what is the catch

I need some for an estate boot lid (bm e91) which has now whacked me on the head a couple of times in the cold weather.

There seems to be a choice -
1. Strutsdepot probably far east manufacture - but nonetheless 3 year guarantee £14/pair
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-x-New-...-Tailgate-Boot-Gas-Struts-E1724-/281859973034

2. Stabilus - known German OEM manufacturer £40/pair
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-Stabil...Gas-Strut-BMW-3-3-SERIES-E90-E91/162861410038

3. BMW £100/pair


Do the cheap ones have plastic parts, or even different operating principle, so are a false economy.
 
Been through this and had three pairs of boot struts only to end up getting OEM ones imported from Europe. Worked out £36 for Stabilus ones which are what BMW use, but they seem to want triple figures to sell you the same ones directly :rolleyes:

The problem with the cheap ones is that, even though they are all metal, the gas pistons aren't of refined quality, so they are either too weak or too strong and the boot lid just doesn't go up and reach a smooth rest. For the sake of £36 for OEM ones, it's a no brainer really. I also found teh cheap ones ball joint has slightly more play than the OEM ones.

Here's a comparison:

Cheap ones:
JIWatNQ.gif



OEM ones:
m66J8q7.gif
 
I used cheap oem ones on a crosa rather than Vauxhall’s about a 1/3 of the price and worked like a charm
 
mrk said:
Been through this and had three pairs of boot struts only to end up getting OEM ones imported from Europe. Worked out £36 for Stabilus ones which are what BMW use, but they seem to want triple figures to sell you the same ones directly :rolleyes:

The problem with the cheap ones is that, even though they are all metal, the gas pistons aren't of refined quality, so they are either too weak or too strong and the boot lid just doesn't go up and reach a smooth rest. For the sake of £36 for OEM ones, it's a no brainer really. I also found teh cheap ones ball joint has slightly more play than the OEM ones.

Here's a comparison:

Cheap ones:
JIWatNQ.gif



OEM ones:
m66J8q7.gif
Click to expand...

Wow, the difference is....night and day.... Sorry, I'll get my coat :p
 
Thanks, so went for Stabilus from Germany some £10 cheaper than sgs,

I had considered sgs (they pop up disconcertingly at top of google list), they do refills too, but would have been ~£12+PP

Did wonder if cheap ones could pop off through the rear tailgate glass, but if they smack you in the eye on te way up, like MrK's pic that is bad.

Description Unit price Qty Amount
STABILUS Gasfeder, Koffer-/Laderaum HG
Item Number 112420xxxxx €8.62 EUR 2 €17.24 EUR
Postage and packaging €14.95 EUR
Insurance - not offered ----
Total €32.19 EUR
Payment €32.19 EUR
Click to expand...
 
mrk said:
Been through this and had three pairs of boot struts only to end up getting OEM ones imported from Europe. Worked out £36 for Stabilus ones which are what BMW use, but they seem to want triple figures to sell you the same ones directly :rolleyes:

The problem with the cheap ones is that, even though they are all metal, the gas pistons aren't of refined quality, so they are either too weak or too strong and the boot lid just doesn't go up and reach a smooth rest. For the sake of £36 for OEM ones, it's a no brainer really. I also found teh cheap ones ball joint has slightly more play than the OEM ones.

Here's a comparison:

Cheap ones:
JIWatNQ.gif



OEM ones:
m66J8q7.gif
Click to expand...

Can I ask why you made those videos of you opening the boot as a comparison of the gas struts in the first place? Just in case someone from OCUK asked a question about BMW boot struts? :p
 
Freakbro said:
Can I ask why you made those videos of you opening the boot as a comparison of the gas struts in the first place? Just in case someone from OCUK asked a question about BMW boot struts? :p
Click to expand...

You must be new to the internet/OcUK :D

Where there's a comparison to be made, I usualy always create a gif/video/jpeg!
 
Freakbro said:
Can I ask why you made those videos of you opening the boot as a comparison of the gas struts in the first place? Just in case someone from OCUK asked a question about BMW boot struts?
Click to expand...

it is probably more important than the way/smoothness/clunk with which the car door opens and closes - no ?
( had to laugh at the new LandRover deployable door handle advert eg how much do those cost to repair)
 
Epilogue -
the new stabilus arrived (reliably from de via dhl) and installed in 10 minutes and the resulting pneumatic sound is better than the Star Trek doors, nearly as good as Sigourney Weaver's exo-suit loader.
estate boot lid opened fine, and higher than ever.
(should have anticipated some emerey paper for surface rust on ball joints - but never mind)

the next day - the boot would not open, sounded as though electric actuator fired, but would not open
That evening it opened, so when open, I removed interior bodywork to expose lock, so I could get access (otherwise have to drill/cut)
lubricated lock, catch plate, and actuator arms and seemed OK
Next day same problem, manually released it, and so far problem has not recurred.

I do not understand why it would not open, and if it will fail again, after checking bm forums, considering
- ageing wiring loom had been stressd by boot opening higher than before - lol
- actuator (right) unreliable

used teflon bike lube on the mechanism, always reluctant to use WD40, but the teflon may not penetrate as far

25487290177_249b4cd792_o_d.jpg
 
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