BMW E87 Auto ......

Cosmic182 · 27 Jan 2011 at 12:07

Boot

Had a little play around and decided to do a little handy mod on the E87.....The keyfob has a boot unlocking key, now the little mod of 2 Die springs and a couple of rubber washer's now transforms that key into opening the boot automatically

It now opens even smoother with the help of a little grease.

Ps....trying to upload video...Do'h

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_profilepage&v=GM_ZkHzf9VI

If anyone could be kind enough to tell me how to embed the vid, that would be great

Big Chris · 27 Jan 2011 at 12:18

paradigm · 27 Jan 2011 at 12:20

Got any pics of what you actually did?

I see a plan coming on for my e46

Django x2 · 27 Jan 2011 at 12:28

That's great and all, but your mission is to now get it to close again automatically.

Big Chris · 27 Jan 2011 at 12:29

Come to think of it, my Focus has a boot unlock button on the keyfob too...

bledd · 27 Jan 2011 at 12:37

Lucero said:
That's great and all, but your mission is to now get it to close again automatically.

You need the strength of ten men to close it now..

Cosmic182 · 27 Jan 2011 at 12:37

paradigm said:
Got any pics of what you actually did?

I see a plan coming on for my e46

sure

1. using a flat screw driver pop the black metal clip off the top of the gas strut taking care not to hit you eye or lose clip.
2. again using flat screw driver repeat on bottom of strut. (Warning the boot will insatntly fall when one strut is removed)
3.using a rag and a set of mole grips, hold the bar while using an adjustable spanner to remove the ball & socket attachment (best description i can think of sorry) from the strut.
4. make a rubber disk with hole in the Middle or get some tap washers from B&Q which will grip to the bar and stop the spring from sliding downwards every time you open the boot.
5.slide spring into place
6.you will need something to sit above the spring to hold it in place once the boot is closed. I used a black washer.
7. reattach ball and socket attachment and then simply push back intio place in the boot and thats it your done.

took me about 10 mins once you have all the correct bits and pieces.

http://www.berger-tools.co.uk/series.asp?CategoryID=38&SeriesID=1 DH 20 LO 32 ones you select, you need 2 of them...you also need 2 fairly hard rubber washers to stop the springs from sliding down the gas spring. The springs are £1.08p each, and delivery is £6.90, but its royal mail special delivery.

basically this is what it looks like....

if you have any probs just say and ill upload more pics

paradigm · 27 Jan 2011 at 12:46

How much more pressure does it take to close now?

Cosmic182 · 27 Jan 2011 at 12:47

hardly anything at all, Its almost the same, you can notice very slightly, but you can close it with one hand with ease.

When the boots fully closed you have around an inch play for the springs to compress fully on the gas struts, so as long as the springs compress within that inch, the pressure is hardly noticable, really powerful springs

.

paradigm · 27 Jan 2011 at 12:49

I'll take a look at that this weekend then, I'm guessing I'll have to work out just how much pre-tension to load the spring with (ie the distance between the two spring stoppers) to adjust it for the different style bootlid.

Cosmic182 · 27 Jan 2011 at 12:50

Yeah...the E87 has around an inch and a little bit when fully closed, so if your e46 is roughly the same, the same springs will work perfect.

Cosmic182 · 27 Jan 2011 at 13:07

Lucero said:
That's great and all, but your mission is to now get it to close again automatically.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJND28tJfkI

mrk · 27 Jan 2011 at 13:36

Don't know if this particular mod will work on the E46 because the distance left on the strut arm is about 1.5cm and the force required to lift the bootlid from rest position is quite high! You need to lift it a good several inches at least before the gas arms begin to auto lift it.

How long is the spring when fully contracted? I guess you could cut the spring too but that would make it lose some force.

paradigm · 27 Jan 2011 at 13:39

Khaaan! said:
How long is the spring when fully contracted? I guess you could cut the spring too but that would make it lose some force.

The simple(er) solution is to get a stronger spring rate, although I'm sure you could actually seat the springs on the flat parts of the bootlid as opposed to the struts (or maybe both).

I'll be taking a proper look at the weekend, but I think it should be possible.

Cosmic182 · 27 Jan 2011 at 14:16

Khaaan! said:
Don't know if this particular mod will work on the E46 because the distance left on the strut arm is about 1.5cm and the force required to lift the bootlid from rest position is quite high! You need to lift it a good several inches at least before the gas arms begin to auto lift it.

How long is the spring when fully contracted? I guess you could cut the spring too but that would make it lose some force.

the springs I have are 32mm...you cant really cut the springs, as the die springs are manufactured so the ends are flat, just like a washer...so basically the springs sit flat. I tried the 25mm ones too but they wernt as good.