yaofeng is right about the hood shocks...piece of cake. The trunk is a little tougher because you have to remove some of the trunk liner and you have to be in the trunk on your back while changing them. As soon as one shock is disconnected, the lid WILL come down quickly.

I held the trunk lid up using one leg while changing each shock with questionable results. My foot slipped off the lid once and it came down hard on my other leg hanging out. I said a bad word. I said another one when I saw the bloody lump on my shin bone. I suppose it is possible to lock yourself in too.

20/20 hindsight says to secure the other shock with a clamp, vice grips, or other creative locking devices without damaging the shaft. One of my favorite "I hurt myself because I was stupid" stories.


1989 535i 5-speed 04/1989 Yorktown Virginia USA
17" Staggered Style 32's Racing Dynamics springs and sways
Bilstein Sports UUC short shift

• trunk hood strut....'92- 535i -E34 - franknastasi 2008-01-19 13:45:02 (135 views)
  • Re: trunk hood strut....'92- 535i -E34 - Shayne 2008-01-29 17:11:19 (82 views)
  • Re: trunk hood strut....'92- 535i -E34 - zmuff 2008-01-21 19:32:04 (93 views)
    • Yes, when you take the 1st one off the lid comes down HARD. - drbarras 2008-01-29 14:56:56 (73 views)
  • Re: trunk hood strut....'92- 535i -E34 - yaofeng 2008-01-19 13:55:18 (88 views)
    • Re: trunk hood strut....'92- 535i -E34 - Glen 2 2008-01-21 19:42:32 (65 views)
      • Re: trunk hood strut....'92- 535i -E34 - rick540 2008-01-30 07:13:18 (70 views)
        • Re: trunk hood strut....'92- 535i -E34 - drbarras 2008-02-12 16:17:41 (34 views)