RE: Front Shocks '87 325

[ToMoyer@xxxxxxx]

Bob,
  First, the front suspension on your 325 is MacPherson struts and yes
you need a few special tools to do the job correctly and safely.
  Second, any good shop should be willing to install parts that the
customer provides as long as they are the correct ones.  If your
mechanic refuses to install any part(s) that you provide, I would
suggest looking for another mechanic.  Work that I do not have the tools
for (I used to be a ASC certified mechanic but since have gone into a
different line of work in the auto filed and have sold off a lot of my
tools) I have done at my local BMW dealership. I always supply all the
parts and lubricates and they use them, just charging me the labor for
the job (we even discuss the labor before the job is started, i.e. if it
is a 2 hour job, that's all I pay for, using the BMW flat rate book).  I
even had to tell the service advisor and mechanic how to correctly
change an E30 AC system from R 12 to R 134A refrigerant (I didn't have
the gauges or vacuum pump anymore), and they followed my every
instruction and used only my parts and they even learned a few things
during the job.  (It does help me that I was a tech and am still in the
automotive field even though I'm not a paid tech anymore).
  Now on the struts/shocks, the Boge units are the same as the original
equipment, Boge supplied BMW with both the front and the rear shocks and
strut units.  By using the Boge units, you will have the same ride and
handling of the car when it was new (within reason as tires, wear on the
tie rods and steering rack and the springs also come into play).  The
Koni, KYB and Bilsteins will give a firmer ride, especially if sport
springs are used.  You will feel the road more using these shocks.  Boge
front shocks/struts cost $58.00 a piece.  Bilstein's cost for heavy duty
is $104.95 each and for the sport/short spring units $105.95 each.  Koni
will be about the same price and KYB will be slightly cheaper.  If you
do not plan on racing the car such as autocross, club races, then in
most cases the Boge units are good enough, even for aggressive road
driving.  If you do plan on using the car for racing or advanced driving
schools, then you may want to consider the others.  In any case, since
you will be replacing the front units, I would strongly suggest that you
also replace the rear shocks and the upper mounts both front and rear at
the same time so that all 4 units are new and of the same type to keep
the balance of the car.  It will also save you some money because the
car should go in for 4 wheel alignment check/adjustment after having the
front units, rear units or all 4 corners replaced.  The front top strut
bearings are $50.00 each.  Boge rear shocks are $40.00 each and the rear
upper shock mounts are $11.48 each.  The prices I have quoted are from 2
sources;  Bimmer Parts Company (www.bimmerpartsco.com   1 800 274-2466
and Bavarian Auto Sport (www.bavauto.com   1 800 535-2002)  Another good
source is BMP Design, www.bmpd.com   1 800 648-7278.
  I hope this helps you out.

happy motoring and a happy new year,

tom
'84 318i
'85 318i
'91 318is




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