Hood doesn't stay up

[Taga_Pinagbuhatan_Pasig]

Hey guys I'm having problem on the hood of my 325i coupe. Everytime I open it to work on the engine i had to put a wooden stick against the hood and the firewall to stay open and worrying that the hood will hit my head. Is there anyway I can do to like tighten up some screws or bolts maybe? That's all Thanks.:o

[Court M3]

New hood shocks should solve that problem.

[JT_3k]

New gas struts are the order of the day and are cheap and plentiful on eBay. Get em ordered

[Tater49]

Without a doubt struts, these cars are around 20 years old

[Lames]

Ya you gotta be careful about it too, it will put dents in your hood if it slams down so watch out for that. Not to mention when it falls on the back of your head after a good little breeze comes through you will notice it. Ask me how I know lol.

One thing I did when my little gas shock was bad I used a set of locking pliers on the arm part that came out of the strut. When it comes out and is at full extension I would lock the pliers so it couldn't go back into the shock which would help keep the hood open and from giving me any more head injuries.

[Taga_Pinagbuhatan_Pasig]

Thanks guys! Appreciate it!:)

Is that the black cynlindrical thing on the driver side? (Sorry for asking a first time BMW owner)

One thing I did when my little gas shock was bad I used a set of locking pliers on the arm part that came out of the strut. When it comes out and is at full extension I would lock the pliers so it couldn't go back into the shock which would help keep the hood open and from giving me any more head injuries.

Thanks so much for the tip:)

[Lames]

np man, but yep that's the black shock looking thing on the driver side, that is if you have a right hand drive car.

But if you have an American model it should be on the other side.

it is a little black shock that is about 5 or so inches long when it is not extended. It is attached to the hood along the fender wall.

[toms73novass]

cynlindrical thing on the driver side?

Part #22 in this diagram
http://static.bmwfans.info/images/epc/NTI0Ml9w.png
Another way to temp solve the problem is to take a 3/8 copper tube sllit down the length so it will drop over the rod of the piston and cut it to the length that the rod is exposed when the hood is up.

Drop the tube over the rod and volla! no way the hood will drop down on you.

[Lames]

weird mine is on my passenger side, on both of my cars did they swap sides from early to late?

[William-Has-A-e30]

my hood today started to not stay up too

[Taga_Pinagbuhatan_Pasig]

Opps! my bad... typo hehe.. It's on the passenger side not the drivers side. Sorry:o

[Lames]

ah its all good. Good luck with it. Also when it comes time to change them out, watch that little clip. It can shoot out and end up missing very quick.

[Taga_Pinagbuhatan_Pasig]

thanks.