"Strut Towers are Pushed Up" my 98 528

Hello All,

I brought my car into the dealer for an alignment job. The tech
called me later saying that under the current conditions of the
suspension, that alignment would be wasted money. He cited a few
items that sound pretty expensive, so I had him pull the plug until I
could afford replacement.

Later I received the invoice (no charge), with specifics of their
findings, and one thing really concerns me. They are saying that the
"Strut Towers are Pushed Up". My question is, is this as bad as it
sounds? These things look like part of the body, or undercarriage.

Any thoughts?

Thank you,

Erick

Larry wrote:
> Hello All,
>
> I brought my car into the dealer for an alignment job. The tech
> called me later saying that under the current conditions of the
> suspension, that alignment would be wasted money. He cited a few
> items that sound pretty expensive, so I had him pull the plug until I
> could afford replacement.
>
> Later I received the invoice (no charge), with specifics of their
> findings, and one thing really concerns me. They are saying that the
> "Strut Towers are Pushed Up". My question is, is this as bad as it
> sounds? These things look like part of the body, or undercarriage.
>
> Any thoughts?
>
> Thank you,
>
> Erick
>

I would bring it to another shop for a second opinion. Don't mention
the first dealers opinion, just ask them to thoroughly inspect the
suspension and do an alignment if it doesn't need any parts. Ask them
to give you a call should it need any parts or anything more than just
an alignment.

--
-Fred W

"Larry" > wrote in message
news
> Hello All,
>
> I brought my car into the dealer for an alignment job. The tech
> called me later saying that under the current conditions of the
> suspension, that alignment would be wasted money. He cited a few
> items that sound pretty expensive, so I had him pull the plug until I
> could afford replacement.
>
> Later I received the invoice (no charge), with specifics of their
> findings, and one thing really concerns me. They are saying that the
> "Strut Towers are Pushed Up". My question is, is this as bad as it
> sounds? These things look like part of the body, or undercarriage.
>
> Any thoughts?
>



It sounds like you landed on the nose gear too hard. You're supposed to pull
the stick back and flare just a bit so the nose doesn't hit first ...

On Wed, 13 Jun 2007 18:42:07 -0700, Larry > wrote:

>Hello All,
>
>I brought my car into the dealer for an alignment job. The tech
>called me later saying that under the current conditions of the
>suspension, that alignment would be wasted money. He cited a few
>items that sound pretty expensive, so I had him pull the plug until I
>could afford replacement.
>
>Later I received the invoice (no charge), with specifics of their
>findings, and one thing really concerns me. They are saying that the
>"Strut Towers are Pushed Up". My question is, is this as bad as it
>sounds? These things look like part of the body, or undercarriage.
>
>Any thoughts?
>
>Thank you,
>
>Erick

Have you ever thought of going to a BMW Stealer to get it checked or even a
decent body shop and have it put on an alignment jig - might cost but they could
do it at a weekend for a small fee to the operator.

At least you'll know if it's scrap or just bent slightly.

Some of these jigs use laser alignment and hydraulic rams to push/pull the
chassis back into line. There are large ones operated by "Truck-Align" that
repair the chassis of trucks (obviously) when twisted or damaged without
stripping the rails or mechanicals off.

Just a thought

In article >,
Larry > wrote:
> Later I received the invoice (no charge), with specifics of their
> findings, and one thing really concerns me. They are saying that the
> "Strut Towers are Pushed Up". My question is, is this as bad as it
> sounds? These things look like part of the body, or undercarriage.

Not sure if this is the same thing, but there was a recall on early E39
for the front struts - the platform that the spring bears on breaks. But
when it happened to me it was a major fault - it cut through the tyre.
Since it's an aluminium casting I don't think it can just bend slightly -
it shears off. But then anything is possible.

--
*If you try to fail and succeed, which have you done? *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Larry wrote:

>Later I received the invoice (no charge), with specifics of their
>findings, and one thing really concerns me. They are saying that the
>"Strut Towers are Pushed Up". My question is, is this as bad as it
>sounds? These things look like part of the body, or undercarriage.
>
>Any thoughts?

No more Dukes Of Hazzard - style bridge-jumping for you, young man.

"dizzy" > wrote in message
...
> Larry wrote:
>
> >Later I received the invoice (no charge), with specifics of their
> >findings, and one thing really concerns me. They are saying that the
> >"Strut Towers are Pushed Up". My question is, is this as bad as it
> >sounds? These things look like part of the body, or undercarriage.
> >
> >Any thoughts?
>
> No more Dukes Of Hazzard - style bridge-jumping for you, young man.
>
-----

How did they determine the towers were pushed up? Doesn't that take a laser
measurement system to determine? Or had they just never seen an e39 before?
That body is built pretty tough and I believe there would be more visible
damage had this happened. I'm probably wrong though.

Bill in Omaha
'86 535i