Unexpected Finding During Strut Replacement

[onefastredsc]

I am currently in the process of performing a strut/shock replacement on my 128 using Koni Str.t struts and shocks. The front is complete, and the rear I plan to start on this evening. The car came from the factor with the sport package. What prompted the replacement was the frequent impacting of the bump stop on the drivers side strut, to which i assumed was the result of a worn strut not providing enough damping to prevent contact. And when i say frequent, i mean even relatively mild bumps would cause impact. Since this is my first BMW, I assumed that this was just par for the course, particularly with the slightly more aggressive sport package.

Pictured below is what i believe was the actual culprit of the frequent bump stop impact. Shown in exploded form, the bottom is what was removed from the drivers side strut, and the top from the passenger side. Note that the bump stop orientation on the driver side is reversed, and there were two plastic collars assembled beneath the bump stop. These plastic collars appears to effectively increase the height of the bump stop, thereby significantly reducing the struts stroke length during compression. Both collars are hinged, such that they can be installed without disassembling the strut.

Has anyone seen something like this before? And what are those collars intended for exactly? They are not shown on the realoem diagrams and I can't figure out what exactly they are intended to fix. I can only imagine them making the suspension worse.

[spidertri]

Suspension shipping spacer, the dealer is supposed to remove them before the owner takes the car.

https://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-5...uine-bmw-part/

[MightyMouseTech]

Uh, those are the shipping blocks that get removed at PDI. WOW! Can't believe that has been in there since new!!!!

[MightyMouseTech]

I have dozens of them from doing PDIs. We hang onto them for lifting cars with missing jack pads.

[dtla1]

Originally Posted by spidertri

Suspension shipping spacer, the dealer is supposed to remove them before the owner takes the car.

https://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-5...uine-bmw-part/

The description from them is spot on! lol

[onefastredsc]

Thanks for the help guys. I had a good laugh after reading the replies. The car should feel like a cadillac after the strut/shock replacement, even with firmer variants being installed.

I wonder if part of the reason the previous owner sold the car was the rough ride........

[NorthernDancer]

I bet a Carfax would identify the guilty BMW dealer.

[jdt10768]

Are these easily visible or hidden in the shock boots? I just want to verify next time that they are not still on my car. And I assume you can just cut them off if they are there?

[MightyMouseTech]

Originally Posted by jdt10768

Are these easily visible or hidden in the shock boots? I just want to verify next time that they are not still on my car. And I assume you can just cut them off if they are there?

They will be inside the boots. No need to cut, they just unclip and open up.