[giraffewt]

My car's production year is 2012. The strut mount has 3 holes and uses M8.
Based on realoem the mount part number is 31306855817/31306855818 and the bolt number is 31306862826. But unfortunately they are all discontinued and nowhere to buy.

Anybody knows if I can use the newer part 31306880438 with 3 M10 bolts instead? Thx!

The left is the M10 31306863134 bolt and the right is mine.

[danb1979]

Originally Posted by giraffewt

My car's production year is 2012. The strut mount has 3 holes and uses M8.
Based on realoem the mount part number is 31306855817/31306855818 and the bolt number is 31306862826. But unfortunately they are all discontinued and nowhere to buy.

Anybody knows if I can use the newer part 31306880438 with 3 M10 bolts instead? Thx!

The left is the M10 31306863134 bolt and the right is mine.

Found this on eBay.com FYI:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175590071...Bk9SR-jN06T6Yg

Replaces the one you've asked about

[Watsey]

Originally Posted by giraffewt

My car's production year is 2012. The strut mount has 3 holes and uses M8.
Based on realoem the mount part number is 31306855817/31306855818 and the bolt number is 31306862826. But unfortunately they are all discontinued and nowhere to buy.

Anybody knows if I can use the newer part 31306880438 with 3 M10 bolts instead? Thx!

The left is the M10 31306863134 bolt and the right is mine.

The obvious answer is "no" an M10 is not a straight swap for an M8. It's very unlikely that such simple components are not available for a model that's not long been out of production.

I found this : https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...mw-31306862826

Worth checking whether it's compatible.

[giraffewt]

Originally Posted by Watsey

The obvious answer is "no" an M10 is not a straight swap for an M8. It's very unlikely that such simple components are not available for a model that's not long been out of production.

I found this : https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...mw-31306862826

Worth checking whether it's compatible.

Thanks guys! Appears the bolt in the posts above fits my strut mount. (Though the picture in the fcpeuro's website has the thick washer which is wrong.)

I understand the M10 bolt will not fit my current strut mount which takes M8 bolts. My question is if I can use the M10 bolt with a new strut mount which takes M10 bolts. I want to replace the strut mount also and it's hard to buy a strut mount which takes M8 bolts now.

[wishbone]

Originally Posted by giraffewt

Thanks guys! Appears the bolt in the posts above fits my strut mount. (Though the picture in the fcpeuro's website has the thick washer which is wrong.)

I understand the M10 bolt will not fit my current strut mount which takes M8 bolts. My question is if I can use the M10 bolt with a new strut mount which takes M10 bolts. I want to replace the strut mount also and it's hard to buy a strut mount which takes M8 bolts now.

I also have an early-ish production f30 (4/2014) so I went with the following:

When I ordered the strut mounts from FCP Euro (PN#31306880438) they shipped me the hex bolts with washers (PN# 31306863134).

The kit offers the same bolts & washers: https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...le-31306880438

IIRC my stock hex bolts + washers are taller (see picture):





I would imagine the newer PN#31306880438 should fit into your strut tower however, the m8 bolt holes would presumably be smaller, right?

Cant' tell if the below is pure shipping dimension or not, i can measure my Meyle's for you (PN# ...38)

Additionally, per (https://www.schmiedmann.com/en/produ...=31306855817B1) your specs are: 28x10x17 cm

The same appears to be true on the PN# ...38 28x10x17 cm (https://www.schmiedmann.com/en/produ...=31306880438B1)

[alohasurftoad]

i believe the M10 bolts are for a 5xbolt strutmount which will not fit a 3xbolt strutmount, obviously.

[strutmonkey1]

There are 3 top mounts for our cars:
3 x M8 (pre-mid 2014)
3 x M10 (mid-2014-2015)
5 (and 6) x M8 (2016-)
BMW kept using the previous model until they were gone, so there is no set date to look up to determine which you have. You have to lift the hood and check it out.
The M10 have a thicker washer FWIW

[giraffewt]

Originally Posted by strutmonkey1

There are 3 top mounts for our cars:
3 x M8 (pre-mid 2014)
3 x M10 (mid-2014-2015)
5 (and 6) x M8 (2016-)
BMW kept using the previous model until they were gone, so there is no set date to look up to determine which you have. You have to lift the hood and check it out.
The M10 have a thicker washer FWIW

That sounds about right. Anyone knows if the 3 x M10 top mount can be used on pre-mid 2014 cars given they have 3 holes?

[strutmonkey1]

Originally Posted by giraffewt

That sounds about right. Anyone knows if the 3 x M10 top mount can be used on pre-mid 2014 cars given they have 3 holes?

The M10 will not fit in the strut towers holes. But you can get a dremel with a grinder cone attachment (or probably just a drill bit) and make the holes slightly bigger and it will fit. I personal would do this because the M10 are stouter than the M8 - which is why BMW upgraded the mount in the first place.
The holes themselves line up perfectly.

[wishbone]

Originally Posted by strutmonkey1

The M10 will not fit in the strut towers holes. But you can get a dremel with a grinder cone attachment (or probably just a drill bit) and make the holes slightly bigger and it will fit. I personal would do this because the M10 are stouter than the M8 - which is why BMW upgraded the mount in the first place.
The holes themselves line up perfectly.

Right, and remember not to go too large and to prep/ coat/ treat any exposed metal. Wouldn't want you to accidentally open yourself up to rust

[giraffewt]

Originally Posted by strutmonkey1

The M10 will not fit in the strut towers holes. But you can get a dremel with a grinder cone attachment (or probably just a drill bit) and make the holes slightly bigger and it will fit. I personal would do this because the M10 are stouter than the M8 - which is why BMW upgraded the mount in the first place.
The holes themselves line up perfectly.

How do you know the holes align perfectly?

I measured the size of the hole and it's just slightly smaller than 10mm ;(
Guess have to trim the hold a bit if I have to replace given there is no where to find the part. Sad to receive little love as early year owner.

[strutmonkey1]

Originally Posted by giraffewt

How do you know the holes align perfectly?

I measured the size of the hole and it's just slightly smaller than 10mm ;(
Guess have to trim the hold a bit if I have to replace given there is no where to find the part. Sad to receive little love as early year owner.

I know they align because I have every version mount in front of me :-)

[giraffewt]

Good news is I don’t need to enlarge the hole for the M10!