[spicytuna]

Hello,

My front passenger Koni shock(strut?) recently failed on my car. Is it a pretty involved job to replace? I'm only asking because I have minor arthritis in my hands so any help is appreciated.

Oh before I forget I drive a '12 E92 328ix.

Thanks for the space!

How are we supposed to know what you are/aren't capable of? Do you own/have access to the tools necessary for the job?

Just like anything else, after watching a few youtube vids, you should be able to independently gauge your own level of confidence.

[Boland01]

You'll need a spring compressor. Not a hard job at all but you need to be careful as the spring holds a lot of energy. If you're not comfortable you might just have an independent shop do it. You'll need an alignment afterwards too.

Look on You Tube to see how others have done it.

[E30_335i]

My hands are fubar also, and I do mine myself. Can be dangerous without the proper spring compressor, and a impact wrench to get the strut nut off is almost mandatory.

[zero2sixtyZ]

http://bfy.tw/98ah

[TheeGovernor]

I did this recently on my car (non xi) and it is impossible without a bench mounted spring compressor. Unless some is able to get the nut on the strut with spring compressors in a way I dont know about.

[litxus]

Not a bad job, although you will 2 jacks or 1 jack and jack stands. Forget about those Autozone spring compressors, don't even waste your time, I used one of those and just wasted lots of time and it couldn't compress the spring enough to unbolt. I would recommend taking struts to a shop and pay like $50 to get springs swapped.

[feuer]

Originally Posted by TheeGovernor

I did this recently on my car (non xi) and it is impossible without a bench mounted spring compressor. Unless some is able to get the nut on the strut with spring compressors in a way I dont know about.

I don't know why you struggled. I have done it on many different cars and multiple e9x's. Some guys use belts, zipties and such.

[TheeGovernor]

I have just found the strut shaft doesnt go high enough into the upper strut mount to get the shaft threaded. And the stock springs dont have many coils to grab/good places to grab them at.

[feuer]

Originally Posted by TheeGovernor

I have just found the strut shaft doesnt go high enough into the upper strut mount to get the shaft threaded. And the stock springs dont have many coils to grab/good places to grab them at.

I used this kit in the shop:
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-schwaben...FQGRaQodPJgIaA
but have done it with some not sophisticated methods as well.

[jwebb335xi]

Originally Posted by litxus

Not a bad job, although you will 2 jacks or 1 jack and jack stands. Forget about those Autozone spring compressors, don't even waste your time, I used one of those and just wasted lots of time and it couldn't compress the spring enough to unbolt. I would recommend taking struts to a shop and pay like $50 to get springs swapped.

I tackled the job on my 335xi this spring. Hands are still fine, but with a "loaned" spring compressor I wasn't able to compress springs enough to tighten the nut once on the new struts. Took them to my Indy and $60!later I was off to finish the job NO problems. Glad I did it "myself" as I learned a lot and probably saved $300 for all 4.

If you're replacing due to strut failure, consider whether the strut mount/bearing needs to be replaced too. One of mine was shot at 80k or so.

Originally Posted by jwebb335xi

If you're replacing due to strut failure, consider whether the strut mount/bearing needs to be replaced too. One of mine was shot at 80k or so.

Not to mention I'm hoping OP isn't only interested in replacing one strut. Should be done in pairs, at the least.

[jwebb335xi]

Originally Posted by FCobra94

Not to mention I'm hoping OP isn't only interested in replacing one strut. Should be done in pairs, at the least.

Agreed!!!!

Do it once; do it right.