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We've a BMW 318 estate, 15 years old. The boot was heavy to open and close. They were pretty old so I happily accepted they were worn out.
So I replaced the struts with Stabilus ones, apparently correct for our model. The boot is still very difficult - you have to pull it open to part/mid-way and then push it up to fully open. And then to shut, you have to pull down to mid way and then push pretty firmly to get it closed.
I've checked the movement of the boot lid without struts and the hinges move very smoothly and cleanly.
My wife's at the point of wanting to blow the car up as it's a real pain for her ... any thoughts? Dodgy set of struts?
That'll be an E91? Mine's the same. I'm pretty sure the hinges are fubar - particularly the glass hatch bit as there's no weight to that and I still have to haul it open. I've sprayed various lubricants at all the moving parts, but to no great success. There's a big coil spring or 2 hidden in there which should help balance the mass. Whether they've popped loose/broken I'm not sure, as getting at them is a pig.
The struts will all be supplying less assistance at the moment as its pretty cold too. Wait until mid summer when its 30°C out, and no doubt you'll get punched in the face by the boot as you open it
The boot will be on a simple hinge wont it ? Could they be too strong ? Different vehicles, but wife's SUV is easy to open and shut and we just carefully let it go at the end. I've just got a van with a big rear tailgate. It's easy both ways despite the door's heft !
All the pivots are lubed ? Including the gas lifts ?
Assume you bought the new struts at the right pressure, not just the right length?
As mentioned above - does the glass open separately? ( I've never had a BMW). My Cayenne has two sets of seperate struts for the boot and glass - they are in a void in the roof behind the headlining.
The boot will be on a simple hinge wont it ?
Not on an E91. It has opening glass so has a funky hinge arrangement that makes it work.
Mine was the same, it was the glass hinge that was stiff on mine. Once the glass was open though the tailgate would lift easily. I think new hinges are the answer but I never got around to it.
Yep, there's a lot of stuff happening there. The glass hatch is relatively light, but I wouldn't be surprised to find the tailgate in its entirety is 40 or 50kg. There's a big torsion spring, driven by a little linkage, which supposedly balances most of the weight. The struts are only there to control the motion as the C-of-G changes throughout the movement.
And the opening and closing action eventually cuts/wears through the wiring to the rear lights too 🤣
I ve just replaced mine, amazingly kia wanted 200 euros a pair so I bought at a local indie for 35 euros. I wish someone had told me not to remove both sides at once with a broom holding up the tailgate, boot is really heavy....
Anyway, the above post re pressure as well as length is spot on. Parts supplier did the research for me.
I wish someone had told me not to remove both sides at once with a broom holding up the tailgate, boot is really heavy....
I got stuck underneath a T5 tailgate once doing the same, learnt a lesson that it was probably a 2 man job 😬
As you've already confirmed the hinges are free-moving, I'd be checking the quality of the new struts. Stabilus should be decent though, but it's strange that it's not doing the opening job correctly while also making closing difficult.
I had a saggy tailgate on my 7yr old Transit Custom after adding a tailgate-mounted bike rack - only an issue in cold weather. Replacement options ranged from 690N to 870N so I went all-in with Stabilus 870N replacements (from memory, the standards were either 690 or 770N). They do a perfect job now, no issues holding tailgate up and closing is easy enough although obviously requires more effort than before.
Ah the E91 boot. What a pile of shite. My old one had an issue with the battery... kept discharging. New battery, resistor, alternator.... turns out it's the boot wiring being shagged, popping the glass open every time it rained and then all the internal lights turning on. Most ridiculous design.
No idea with the struts though... sorry.