 » Site Navigation | | | | » Recent Threads | 1999 M3 Swap 09-07-2023 10:10 PM 05-02-2024 08:18 PM 6 Replies, 387,598 Views | |  |  |  | |  02-09-2009, 07:18 AM | #91 | | Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 63 |  You only need one Blazer support!
When my supports wore out I replaced one of them with a Blazer support. It worked fine. It's been close to two years and it's still working fine. I think it's a good solution to the Blazer supports being too stiff... and it's cheaper! |  |  | | 02-09-2009, 07:28 AM | #92 | | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Austin Posts: 3,059 |
Can it support double the weight of a windshield wiper motor? My spoiler weighs about twice the weight of that. The hatch isn't able to support it self. So I need something strong. __________________ Come get a ti-shirt
Quote: | From the e30 M3, evolved the e36.
They were "Keepin it Real" when they introduced the 318ti ClubSport in '95 and the 318ti Sports from '96 to '99.
After that... well nothing else really matters. ~Jess | | | | | | 02-09-2009, 08:06 PM | #93 | | Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 228 |
Quote: Originally Posted by Maverix  Can it support double the weight of a windshield wiper motor? My spoiler weighs about twice the weight of that. The hatch isn't able to support it self. So I need something strong. | Yes, I can speak from experience that the Mighty Lift C95769 (blazer supports) should definitely support that weight. I have a rear wiper but not a spoiler. The hatch is difficult to close now! | | | | | 02-09-2009, 08:24 PM | #94 | | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Austin Posts: 3,059 |
Good! That's what I'm looking for!! The spoiler actually probably weighs 3 times the weight of the motor. I'm pretty sure the weight of the spoiler will help in closing it. __________________ Come get a ti-shirt
Quote: | From the e30 M3, evolved the e36.
They were "Keepin it Real" when they introduced the 318ti ClubSport in '95 and the 318ti Sports from '96 to '99.
After that... well nothing else really matters. ~Jess | | | | | | 02-09-2009, 08:35 PM | #95 | | Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 228 |
Look no further and go for it. | | | | | 04-12-2009, 02:16 AM | #96 | | Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: US Posts: 8 |
Quote: Originally Posted by CirrusSR22 I found a possible, good alternative to the factory hatch supports. As some of you know they can be quite pricey (>$60 a pair). I knew there had to be a cheaper alternative. I measured my lift supports at 23.5" extended (596mm, matches realoem.com) and 16.5" compressed. A 7" travel. I set out searching for other vehicles with similarly sized supports. What I found was a 23" extended (582mm, matches shorter realoem.com option), and 16" compressed strut. 7" of travel again. Realoem.com data: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...60&hg=41&fg=60 They are from a 97-01 Chevy Blazer / GMC Jimmy / Oldsmobile Bravada. 4 Door, w/ Lift gate. It looks like the 2 door version uses a different strut, and the 4 door version also has smaller struts for the hatch lift window. • Mighty Lift C95769 • Stabilus (Sachs) SG230031 • Strong Arm 4287 (same as Mighty-Lift?) I bought the Mighty Lift pair for $15.99/ea at AutoZone. $34.06 total w/tax. The Sachs ones are available at www.rockauto.com for $14.10 each, but with shipping the total was $34.88. I installed them and they work just fine! The pivot ball end-links must be one industry standard size, because they fit just fine.  OK, there is one concern, the pressure. While the Blazer hatch isn't huge, im sure it weighs more than the 318ti hatch, thus requiring a stronger support. Pulling the hatch down does require some effort with one hand, but it's nothing outrageous. Also, the hatch sticks up rather firmly, but again I don't think it's excessive. I'm gonna definitely keep an eye on it though. Another note; one new Blazer support will definitely NOT support the full weight of the hatch, so I don't think they're massively strong. ***Keep in mind my shocks have been almost completely dead for 3 years, so I have no idea how strong they're supposed to feel.*** Well just my observation, and I won't guarantee they won't wreck anything  | Boy the prices sure have changed since this was first posted. After checking the prices at autozone, advance and oreilly auto parts for • Mighty Lift C95769 • Stabilus (Sachs) SG230031 • Strong Arm 4287 25 bucks a piece. or like someone else said a "nail or cheap pair of vice grips..lol Waiting on my stimulus package.. __________________  | | | | | 04-12-2009, 04:13 AM | #97 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: asdfasdf Posts: 10,002 |
Quote: Originally Posted by Suitcase Sky Waiting on my stimulus package.. | tell Obama it will prevent head injuries  | | | | | 04-12-2009, 04:30 AM | #98 | | Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: US Posts: 8 |
Quote: Originally Posted by tiFreak tell Obama it will prevent head injuries | That's a good idea maybe Uncle Sam will give a loan for research.  __________________ | | | | | 04-27-2009, 03:46 AM | #99 | | Junior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Adirondack Mountains New York State USA Posts: 5 | tonite 12 hour sale Sears tail gate struts for $15.99
Strong Arm 4287
Item# 02888334000 Model# 4287 $19.99 regular
$15.99 each after deducting applicable Additional Savings
for just 12 hours
Additional Savings:
10% off Automotive Accessories. Discount seen in cart. Offer vaild 4/26 6pm - 4/27 6am Offer ends 26-Apr-2009.
btw I also found earlier and had ordered two Mighty Lift C95769 from autozone
they are listing on the autozone web site as $15.99
clerk told me they would be 18.99
i will tell him to price match the print out of what I put in my cart to be picked up in store.
else i will tell him mom he's not realy a video game developer __________________
Time Flys . . . Can You blame It ? | | | | | 10-25-2009, 03:29 AM | #100 | | Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: San Francisco Posts: 29 |  New struts seem to work
Thanks to CirrusSR22 and all the other commentators on this thread. My formerly sagging hatch is now firmly lifted by the Sachs/Blazer struts mentioned above, ordered from rockauto.com. It does come up forcefully and needs some extra effort to get down, but no real problems so far.... | | | | | 10-25-2009, 03:10 PM | #101 | | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 1,587 |
Almost 3 years in and my original Blazer struts still work perfectly. I use my trunk/hatch a lot too. | | | | | 10-28-2009, 03:34 AM | #102 | | Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 3 | another success here...
i followed the advice from this forum and i have a similar successful result. i bought the strong arm blazer struts from advance auto parts for $13 and some change each. Quote: Originally Posted by PapayaSF Thanks to CirrusSR22 and all the other commentators on this thread. My formerly sagging hatch is now firmly lifted by the Sachs/Blazer struts mentioned above, ordered from rockauto.com. It does come up forcefully and needs some extra effort to get down, but no real problems so far.... | | | | | | 10-28-2009, 03:37 AM | #103 | | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Portland Or Posts: 2,666 |
Same results happy no more hatch wacking me on the head.
Dave. __________________
Dave - PDX
1995 318ti - Active Black and Tan.
2005 330xi - Mtech 1 - 6spd - Orient Blue/Black | | | | | 11-25-2009, 11:36 PM | #104 | | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: NYC Posts: 134 |
| | | | | 12-06-2009, 03:09 AM | #105 | | Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1 |
Thanks to duke.sf in post #86 for a good clue. Turns out that the 1982-94 Chevy Cavalier wagon has liftgate struts that are almost exactly the same as the 318ti hatch. Part numbers are StrongArm 4708, MightyLift 95020. The stats of this strut are: Length uncompressed 23.5 inches, length compressed 15.24 inches, travel 8.26 inches, body diameter 19 mm, shaft diameter 8 mm, nylon ball sockets on both ends. The force in pounds or N is not given. Compared to the 318ti, the uncompressed length of the Cavalier unit is the same, the compressed length is less, the travel is greater, the body diameter is the same, the shaft diameter is less (8 mm vs 10 mm). I bought one to try it out - it installs as if it is a perfect match. I have the rear wiper but no wing. The open height of the hatch is unchanged from stock. The leading edge of the hatch does not get closer to the roof when in the open position, as reported by those that used the Aerostar strut. With just one new one in place, and one old one, the hatch stays open in the cold just fine. The force to pull it back down is similar to what I remember when the car was new - it is just a comfortable tug, nothing ridiculous. I know you're supposed to replace them in pairs, but I am tempted to leave it as it is and save the bucks! Price in Canada was $30 (Canadian Tire part number 22-3631-8). I think this is the typical cost in C$ for any similar strut. I was quoted $76 at CarQuest for a Stabilus that supposedly fits the 318ti - to heck with that nonsense! Thanks to all who posted to help me solve a problem that has been bugging me for a couple of years now. | | | | | |
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