Where the hell do I buy this strut hat thingy?????

rumatt · 01-23-2006, 11:51 AM

Where can I find one of these stupid pieces of metal!!!

To buy OEM it seems it is packaged with an OEM strut for $200.

I've been monitoring Fanatics and every person who does spring/shock swaps seems to keep this piece for the new install.

I want to buy new strut components when I fix my strut towers, so I'd like to get the whole thing so I can swap winter/summer components without the spring compressor. But I literally can't find this piece.

Junk yard maybe? Maybe I'll post this picture on Fanatics and beg.

bren · 01-23-2006, 12:27 PM

You need someone who has coilovers.

edit: so it doesn't have it's own part number?

rumatt · 01-23-2006, 12:37 PM

Nope. No separate part number. I just called a dealership to ask if they'd sell it separately, and he told me it wouldnt' come off because it's welded on. He was annoyed when I explained that I removed mine myself, and that he was a moron. (OK, I didn't exactly say that).

You'd think someone on fanatics would have installed coilovers and want to sell their full strut assembly... but no luck yet.

bren · 01-23-2006, 12:39 PM

I wonder if the OE M3 part is the same. There are plenty of guys on M3forum with coilovers.

Pinecone · 01-23-2006, 08:17 PM

Which car?

On the E36 and E46 that part came on the new shocks (our M3 and Roadster). On the E30 that we did, the shock was an insert, so you have to buy the whole thing, but any old used struts would work.

John V · 01-25-2006, 08:17 AM

That part was most certainly welded to my E36 M3 original struts. It's a seperate piece on the E46? Weird.

bren · 01-25-2006, 09:00 AM

Matt, you do realize the circled part isn't a "strut hat" right? That is a lower spring perch.

rumatt · 01-25-2006, 09:04 AM

Yeah, I never know what these things are called. That's a lower perch, huh? Thanks.

rumatt · 01-25-2006, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John V

That part was most certainly welded to my E36 M3 original struts. It's a seperate piece on the E46? Weird.

Huh. I though everyone who installs koni's for E46 stock class reuses this perch.

Ironically, it sorta crushes the threads at the top of the strut. If you convert to a coilover kit later, you may have to file out the threads.

John V · 01-25-2006, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rumatt

Huh. I though everyone who installs koni's for E46 stock class reuses this perch.

Ironically, it sorta crushes the threads at the top of the strut. If you convert to a coilover kit later, you may have to file out the threads.

The E36 guys have to cut the strut tube above the lower spring perch, pull the shaft and valving out and slide the Koni insert in. I have no idea how the E46 Koni stuff is installed up front.

Apologies for not having any useful information.

01-23-2006, 11:51 AM	#1
rumatt Mugwump Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: E46 330i, Chevy Colorado, Tesla Model 3 Location: NY Posts: 17,475	Where the hell do I buy this strut hat thingy????? Where can I find one of these stupid pieces of metal!!! To buy OEM it seems it is packaged with an OEM strut for $200. I've been monitoring Fanatics and every person who does spring/shock swaps seems to keep this piece for the new install. I want to buy new strut components when I fix my strut towers, so I'd like to get the whole thing so I can swap winter/summer components without the spring compressor. But I literally can't find this piece. Junk yard maybe? Maybe I'll post this picture on Fanatics and beg. Attached Thumbnails

01-23-2006, 08:17 PM	#5
Pinecone Carmudgeon Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 2,717	Which car? On the E36 and E46 that part came on the new shocks (our M3 and Roadster). On the E30 that we did, the shock was an insert, so you have to buy the whole thing, but any old used struts would work. __________________ Terry Carraway 2002 Topaz E46 M3 2000 Dakar M Roadster 1995 Alpine E36 M3 LTW 1990 Red/White Spec Racer

01-23-2006, 12:27 PM	#2
bren lawn boy Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: e46m3, f25x3,C5 Z06, C4 Vette, 06 CTD Ram, and a trailer Location: Maryland Posts: 14,029	You need someone who has coilovers. edit: so it doesn't have it's own part number?

01-23-2006, 12:37 PM	#3
rumatt Mugwump Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: E46 330i, Chevy Colorado, Tesla Model 3 Location: NY Posts: 17,475	Nope. No separate part number. I just called a dealership to ask if they'd sell it separately, and he told me it wouldnt' come off because it's welded on. He was annoyed when I explained that I removed mine myself, and that he was a moron. (OK, I didn't exactly say that). You'd think someone on fanatics would have installed coilovers and want to sell their full strut assembly... but no luck yet.

01-23-2006, 12:39 PM	#4
bren lawn boy Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: e46m3, f25x3,C5 Z06, C4 Vette, 06 CTD Ram, and a trailer Location: Maryland Posts: 14,029	I wonder if the OE M3 part is the same. There are plenty of guys on M3forum with coilovers.

01-25-2006, 08:17 AM	#6
John V No more BMWs Join Date: Apr 2005 Carmudgeonly Ride: Ram, MS3, CX-5, RX-8 Location: Glenwood, MD Posts: 14,753	That part was most certainly welded to my E36 M3 original struts. It's a seperate piece on the E46? Weird.

01-25-2006, 09:00 AM	#7
bren lawn boy Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: e46m3, f25x3,C5 Z06, C4 Vette, 06 CTD Ram, and a trailer Location: Maryland Posts: 14,029	Matt, you do realize the circled part isn't a "strut hat" right? That is a lower spring perch.

01-25-2006, 09:04 AM	#8
rumatt Mugwump Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: E46 330i, Chevy Colorado, Tesla Model 3 Location: NY Posts: 17,475	Yeah, I never know what these things are called. That's a lower perch, huh? Thanks.