323 front legs

[bealo]

Does anyone know if it’s possible to tell the difference between the 323 and 316 legs/shocks without stripping it down and measuring the insert?

When I bought the car there was confusion if the previous owner had put the 323 legs on it or not so I want be sure before ordering new shocks


Are the brake discs different sizes? Or is there anything else that will give it away?

Cheers Iain

[mr edd]

323 legs take larger diameter shockers than 316 legs ..i think its 45mm for 316/320 and 51mm for 323i (might be wrong!)also 323 legs have larger wheel bearings than 316...imagine 323 legs would be 55/56mm diameter to contain a 51 mm insert and 316/320 leg would have 50mm (ish)diameter to contain a 45mm insert...i will double check size of 316/320 leg this afternoon and update later..edd
p.s. 323 discs and calipers will fit on 316/320 legs..

[bealo]

Ok cheers mate let me know

Iain

[mr edd]

measured a 316/320 leg and the diameter is roughly 46/47mm outside. 323i legs/inserts are thicker so would imagine if the diameter of you leg is more plus 50mm it will be from a 323 .

[bealo]

Finally got round to taking a look at the struts, couldn’t get an accurate measurement due to the amount of paint some idiot had put them!! So both sides stripped and awaiting new shocks, top mounts,lower arms and disc/pads

Should drive a bit smother!!!

Cheers for the help

[Jeroen]

Good plan to replace the top bearings right away, more often than not they're shot anyway. Keep a close eye on all the rings for the shock and bearing install and don't mix em up order-wise. After fitting things leave the spring compressed and first check if the top bearing spins freely on its bearing and without freeplay, otherwise the top bearing won't last long.

[bealo]

Will do, thanks for the advise

[Atle_323i]

measured a 316/320 leg and the diameter is roughly 46/47mm outside. 323i legs/inserts are thicker so would imagine if the diameter of you leg is more plus 50mm it will be from a 323 .

I'm about to replace my springs & damper on my front of 323i. I measured the leg to be about 51mm I think, and so I thought that a damper for 51mm leg would fit, but when I got my damper and dismantled the old damper and spring, and tried to stick my new damper into the leg, then I couldn't get it fit at all, it stopped halfway into the leg, and there was no way I could get it in.

I measured the old damper that was in the leg to be about 43.5mm in diameter, and the new damper to be about 46mm. That is 2.5mm bigger than my old one.
So I thought that I must have ordered wrong damper, and ordered a 45 damper instead. And when I measured the diameter on the 45 damper, it's about 40mm in diameter.

So my question is which part is the correct one?

The part number for 51mm damper from Bilstein is 34-002230 (B6 damper), and the part number for the 45mm damper from Bilstein is 34-001219 (B6 damper).

It don't get it. Anyone got any idea what I might be doing wrong or which part to use?

It came to my mind that when I took out the old damper from the leg, I noticed there was alot of oil dripping for the damper, could there be alot of oil in the leg, which is stopping me from putting the 51mm damper into the leg? But It came to a posision in the leg where it got jammed, so I thought that this has to be the wrong damper.

So any help might be good help

[Jeroen]

Yup, would be my guess that there's lots of oil in there because of the previous thinner damper. The fatter one is a snug fit, let the oil out.

[Atle_323i]

Yup, would be my guess that there's lots of oil in there because of the previous thinner damper. The fatter one is a snug fit, let the oil out.

So the Bilstein damper for the 51mm should fit even when it's 2.5mm bigger? I'll try to empty the leg for oil and see how it goes.
I really do hope that it's just the oil in the leg that stops me from completing the job. I want to drive the car, not repair it during the summer season

[uwbuurman]

Isn't there also the difference in the capnut, that holds the shock? Innerthreat on the 323i and outer on the 316?

[Atle_323i]

Isn't there also the difference in the capnut, that holds the shock? Innerthreat on the 323i and outer on the 316?

When I got the Bilstein B6 damper for 45mm leg I noticed there is a nut for inner and a nut for outer with the damper.

[Wilmo]

Isn't there also the difference in the capnut, that holds the shock? Innerthreat on the 323i and outer on the 316?

Yep.



On top the 323i nut and at the bottom the four cylinder nut.


I did not put any oil in the strut, according to the documentation I got with the dampers it was not needed.

[bealo]

I have got the exact same problem with bilstein b8 and 323 leg

The insert is stuck halfway

I’ve tried drilling a small hole in the leg to relieve any pressure but it’s stuck was going to try it in a press

Any ideas???

[Wilmo]

Do you have oil in there?