[ToadHollow]

Today I had a chance to see the fitment of my new CF M3 hood etc ........ (fitment is PERFECT, btw ...... Carbon8) and it was suggested by the shop that I may want to consider changing the OEM hood struts to something less aggressive.

When closing the hood the stiffness of the OEM struts cause there to be significant force needed to close the hood therefore causing the hood to flex just a bit.

Question is have any of the CF hood owners changed the hood struts to something less stout or left the OEM hood struts in place?

Thanks for your comments

[lpphreakx06]

I hear people buying OEM m3 hood struts. That will lessen the stress you put on the cf hod.

[ToadHollow]

Originally Posted by lpphreakx06

I hear people buying OEM m3 hood struts. That will lessen the stress you put on the cf hod.

Do you happen to know what material the OEM M3 hoods are made of ..... aluminum/steel/fiberglass? Thought the struts would have been the same as the 335/328 ...........

I officially have no clue now ...... thanks for the comment!

[rubber_ducky]

Do you know what the weight of the CF hood is vs. the stock hood? Maybe you can get away with using a single strut? Then again, it's likely that the body shop would've suggested that as an option.

[jeho]

I just removed the OEM HOOD shocks to use with CF hood

[ToadHollow]

Originally Posted by rubber_ducky

Do you know what the weight of the CF hood is vs. the stock hood? Maybe you can get away with using a single strut? Then again, it's likely that the body shop would've suggested that as an option.

The weight of the hood is advertised @ 22lbs.
I would imagine a single strut would cause too much of a flex when closing the hood in other words the force wouldn't be evenly distributed.

Decent idea though .... thanks

[ToadHollow]

Originally Posted by J86

I just removed the OEM HOOD shocks to use with CF hood

What are you using in place of the removed struts? A brace of some sort?

[jeho]

I just didnt use the OEM shocks, just the stock brackets (2 bolts each side)...
the thing is now the hood doesnt stay up on its own but thats not a big problem

[ToadHollow]

Originally Posted by J86

I just didnt use the OEM shocks, just the stock brackets (2 bolts each side)...
the thing is now the hood doesnt stay up on its own but thats not a big problem

Ok, I'd like to retain the convenience of the hood opening and remaining open without the use of a brace etc. Thanks for the quick response!

[Rotary Rasp]

What does the stock hood weigh?

[ToadHollow]

Originally Posted by Rotary Rasp

What does the stock hood weigh?

Well ............ good question. From what I and the shop can tell it's steel and weighs in somewhere around the 40lb mark ........... just geuss-timating though .......

Then again, the CF hood feels like alot less than 22lbs. too ..........

[Gtrain]

If I remember correctly, the stock hood weighs 48lbs.

[ToadHollow]

Originally Posted by Gtrain

If I remember correctly, the stock hood weighs 48lbs.

That would seem about right ......... the OEM struts are too "heavy duty" for a lighter hood, IMO.

[rubber_ducky]

Originally Posted by ToadHollow

The weight of the hood is advertised @ 22lbs.
I would imagine a single strut would cause too much of a flex when closing the hood in other words the force wouldn't be evenly distributed.

Decent idea though .... thanks

The struts are just there to aid in lifting and the c/f hood is pretty darned stiff. I doubt that unevenly distributed force would be an issue. Plus you'll a replacement readily available.

[ToadHollow]

Originally Posted by rubber_ducky

The struts are just there to aid in lifting and the c/f hood is pretty darned stiff. I doubt that unevenly distributed force would be an issue. Plus you'll a replacement readily available.

LOL!
I soooo don't want to have to reorder another hood, paint etc .......

The struts definitely do their job .... and do it well. It's when I close the hood that I get a little nervous with the down force needed and the hood "bending" ......... kind of like the feeling you get just before the dentist start drilling ....... YIKES!

[rubber_ducky]

Originally Posted by ToadHollow

LOL!
I soooo don't want to have to reorder another hood, paint etc .......

The struts definitely do their job .... and do it well. It's when I close the hood that I get a little nervous with the down force needed and the hood "bending" ......... kind of like the feeling you get just before the dentist start drilling ....... YIKES!

Your more pessimistic than I. The replacement that I was referring to was the strut that you'd be removing. I have more faith in you not needing to replace the entire hood.

[ToadHollow]

Originally Posted by rubber_ducky

Your more pessimistic than I. The replacement that I was referring to was the strut that you'd be removing. I have more faith in you not needing to replace the entire hood.

I don't know ............ my faith is dwindling more and more the longer my car is in someone else's hands.

Now I get it though ........ and I always thought I was more of an optimist .... oh well.