[Pete7769]

Hi All
I have a 2016 435D convertible and I have a button on my key that shows the boot symbol, but when I press this the boot just unlocks, it doesn't actually open, is this correct?

I've also noticed that when I close the boot lid it just seems to come down very quickly and bangs shut, do you think the dampers need changing?

TIA Pete

[RockCrusher]

Originally Posted by Pete7769

Hi All
I have a 2016 435D convertible and I have a button on my key that shows the boot symbol, but when I press this the boot just unlocks, it doesn't actually open, is this correct?

I've also noticed that when I close the boot lid it just seems to come down very quickly and bangs shut, do you think the dampers need changing?

TIA Pete

Symptoms suggest the boot dampeners (struts) are bad.

The ones that supported the front trunk lid of my 2002 Boxster let me know they were bad one day when after I raised the lid like I had done a number of times before the thing came down and bonked me in the head. Thankfully just a mild bonk but a wake up call nonetheless. I replaced both the two struts of the front trunk lid and those of the rear trunk lid.

[Ohio Enthusiast]

The E93 and F33 top is identical, so I assume the trunk portion is also very close. On my E93 I too thought that the trunk struts were worn, replaced them and... it was exactly the same.

For me the trunk pops open and needs quite a bit of force to start opening, and after a few inches the struts finally take over. The same goes when closing it - you need quite a bit of force to get it to start closing and then it basically falls, then latches electronically.

I figure that this is normal due to the heavy weight of the trunk cover with its roof mechanism (the double opening). If the gas struts were powerful enough to pop the trunk it would have been impossible to close (without some very clever hinges that there might not be enough room to package).

I'd say so long as the gas struts pull it open after you manually raised it and then keep it open, they're good enough. I wouldn't start worrying until they actually struggle to hold the trunk open (had that in a hatchback a long time ago and it was pretty obvious).

Finally, when I got mine there was a huge price difference between BMW, Stabilus and TRW. My original BMW struts were made by Stabilus, and the TRW struts I bought had a TRW sticker covering a Stbilus logo, so I guess they're all the same and you should get the cheapest option.