# There I fixed it: BMW SHOCK TOWER FAIL INSIDE **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Automotive\ **Created:** [March 3, 2010, 6:02pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/there-i-fixed-it-bmw-shock-tower-fail-inside/79933 "2010-03-03T18:02:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![somedude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@somedude](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/somedude)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 6:02pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/there-i-fixed-it-bmw-shock-tower-fail-inside/79933/41 "2010-03-04T18:02:58Z")
> [@newman](#): > > Didn’t that SHO start on fire a few times too? twice. One was a bad trans seal from a trans that was installed overnight before a roadcourse event. The second fire was caused by me running nearly 20psi because I disconnected the wastegate, and cracked a piston causing excessive crank case pressure pushed the rear cam seal out which promptly pumped all of the engine oil onto hot exhaust (up pipe) after doing a very long burnout. oops. it ran 12’s and I put over 40K on it since the turbo was put on. It was a good learning expierence. I learned that I hate front wheel drive and that I like boost and big turbo’s. ---
**Author:** ![Tunerfreak](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/tunerfreak/32/7427_2.png) [@Tunerfreak](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Tunerfreak)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 6:18pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/there-i-fixed-it-bmw-shock-tower-fail-inside/79933/42 "2010-03-04T18:18:07Z")
> [@somedude](#): > > oops. it ran 12’s and I put over 40K on it since the turbo was put on. and 6 transmissions…oops ---
**Author:** ![somedude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@somedude](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/somedude)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 6:38pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/there-i-fixed-it-bmw-shock-tower-fail-inside/79933/43 "2010-03-04T18:38:54Z")
> [@Tunerfreak](#): > > and 6 transmissions…oops in the 80K that I have owned the car yes. That is not nicks fault it is a horribly designed transmission though. If it counts for anything each failure was unique. The most recent failure had the most carnage so it gets my vote for favorite transmission failure. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/2X/b/b7170c8eddc0b95ece6b88172b2f416a08489a45.png) [@system](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 6:45pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/there-i-fixed-it-bmw-shock-tower-fail-inside/79933/44 "2010-03-04T18:45:39Z")
> [@somedude](#): > > in the 80K that I have owned the car yes. That is not nicks fault it is a horribly designed transmission though. If it counts for anything each failure was unique. The most recent failure had the most carnage so it gets my vote for favorite transmission failure. So you kept putting the same shit back in not once or twice, but 6 times? :danny: ---
**Author:** ![somedude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@somedude](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/somedude)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 7:00pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/there-i-fixed-it-bmw-shock-tower-fail-inside/79933/45 "2010-03-04T19:00:30Z")
> [@Bastinado](#): > > So you kept putting the same shit back in not once or twice, but 6 times? > :danny: didn’t keep putting in the same thing. Changes were made after each failure which is why I never had the same failure twice. I gave up on the last one and had it rebuilt localy. It is by far the worst trans I have had in this car to date, but it works at low boost so fuck it. ---
**Author:** ![Half-Breed](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/half-breed/32/5351_2.png) [@Half-Breed](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Half-Breed)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 7:04pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/there-i-fixed-it-bmw-shock-tower-fail-inside/79933/46 "2010-03-04T19:04:15Z")
3 things i see wrong with this pic 1.) Wouldnt the mount be lower than normal? 2.) What about the sheet metal pulling away from the frame at the firewall? 3.) Yeah the bolts are probably strong enough but why would you use allen head bolts. Moooorrroooonnn!! ---
**Author:** ![MPD47](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/mpd47/32/7383_2.png) [@MPD47](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/MPD47)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 7:52pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/there-i-fixed-it-bmw-shock-tower-fail-inside/79933/47 "2010-03-04T19:52:21Z")
I’m sorry, what’s wrong with allen keys? ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/2X/b/b7170c8eddc0b95ece6b88172b2f416a08489a45.png) [@system](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 8:10pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/there-i-fixed-it-bmw-shock-tower-fail-inside/79933/48 "2010-03-04T20:10:05Z")
> [@Half-Breed](#): > > 3 things i see wrong with this pic > > 1.) Wouldnt the mount be lower than normal? > > 2.) What about the sheet metal pulling away from the frame at the firewall? > > 3.) Yeah the bolts are probably strong enough but why would you use allen head bolts. Moooorrroooonnn!! You do realize it is the REAR strut mount… ---
**Author:** ![JDMSIR](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jdmsir/32/7376_2.png) [@JDMSIR](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JDMSIR)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 8:15pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/there-i-fixed-it-bmw-shock-tower-fail-inside/79933/49 "2010-03-04T20:15:20Z")
↑ How would it be lower if the holes line up where they are supposed to spot welded ? You truly are a half breed. ---
**Author:** ![newman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/newman/32/7569_2.png) [@newman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newman)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 5:38am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/there-i-fixed-it-bmw-shock-tower-fail-inside/79933/50 "2010-03-05T05:38:48Z")
It would be lower, but really only by the material thickness, I think. Second, the rear shock mount on a BMW does not carry the spring, just the damper. ---
**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 5:56am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/there-i-fixed-it-bmw-shock-tower-fail-inside/79933/51 "2010-03-05T05:56:58Z")
> [@newman](#): > > It would be lower, but really only by the material thickness, I think. > > Second, the rear shock mount on a BMW does not carry the spring, just the damper. right, It is like stacking cups I would think. ---
**Author:** ![Axis](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/axis/32/5149_2.png) [@Axis](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Axis)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 5:59am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/there-i-fixed-it-bmw-shock-tower-fail-inside/79933/52 "2010-03-05T05:59:31Z")
> [@Half-Breed](#): > > 3 things i see wrong with this pic > > 1.) Wouldnt the mount be lower than normal? > > 2.) What about the sheet metal pulling away from the frame at the firewall? > > 3.) Yeah the bolts are probably strong enough but why would you use allen head bolts. Moooorrroooonnn!! 1. Yes but only by the thickness of the material, which is negligible. 2. ??? 3. wat ---
**Author:** ![turbociv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@turbociv](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/turbociv)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 6:55am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/there-i-fixed-it-bmw-shock-tower-fail-inside/79933/53 "2010-03-05T06:55:38Z")
> [@boardjnky4](#): > > right, It is like stacking cups I would think. wrong, the replaced part was installed just like oem but instead of tack welding the holes they were drilled thru and bolted. there is no height difference and like already stated it doesnt matter because it only carries the shock which has nothing to do with ride height. ---
**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 7:11am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/there-i-fixed-it-bmw-shock-tower-fail-inside/79933/54 "2010-03-05T07:11:28Z")
> [@turbociv](#): > > wrong, the replaced part was installed just like oem but instead of tack welding the holes they were drilled thru and bolted. there is no height difference and like already stated it doesnt matter because it only carries the shock which has nothing to do with ride height. got ya ---
**Author:** ![JDMSIR](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jdmsir/32/7376_2.png) [@JDMSIR](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JDMSIR)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 12:57pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/there-i-fixed-it-bmw-shock-tower-fail-inside/79933/55 "2010-03-05T12:57:05Z")
> [@newman](#): > > It would be lower, but really only by the material thickness, I think. > > Second, the rear shock mount on a BMW does not carry the spring, just the damper. I don’t see how though, isn’t it an exact replacement, or am I looking at it wrong? edit: didn’t read above posts, but ya that’s what I was thinking. It just looks weird because there is no rubber shit on the inside on top. ---
**Author:** ![Final\_GTS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/final_gts/32/7359_2.png) [@Final\_GTS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Final_GTS)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 4:21pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/there-i-fixed-it-bmw-shock-tower-fail-inside/79933/56 "2010-03-05T16:21:26Z")
> [@turbociv](#): > > wrong, the replaced part was installed just like oem but instead of tack welding the holes they were drilled thru and bolted. there is no height difference and like already stated it doesnt matter because it only carries the shock which has nothing to do with ride height. I could be wrong, but judging by the design of that tower, and the configuration of the studs, the way that the shaft comes through, etc… that appears to be a strut- not a shock. In which case, yes, it will affect ride height. And I have to concur, hack job or not, it will hold. Personally, I would have used body panel adhesive between the two and smoothed everything out. I also would have used buttom head torx machine screws w/washers instead of cap screws, perhaps into nutserts… but whatever floats his boat. [Previous page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/there-i-fixed-it-bmw-shock-tower-fail-inside/79933.md?page=2)