BMW 4 Series Front Suspension Strut: Specs, Fitment & Common Faults
On the 4 Series, a persistent front knock isn't always the strut — a genuinely useful light braking test can help rule out a common, cheaper alternative first.
Illustration for editorial purposes
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OEM Part Number: confirm via VIN — front struts (aftermarket) Bilstein 22-220080 / KYB 3348028
| Front strut / shock absorber (aftermarket) | Sachs 317 850 (LH) and 317 851 (RH), twin-tube gas, ST32/22X157A; Bilstein 22-220080 and 22-238276 (RH), B4 twin-tube; Bilstein 35-264545 (B6) and 35-264552 (B8); KYB 3348028 (Excel-G); Meyle 326 623 0058 (pairs) |
|---|---|
| Front lower arm / wishbone (aftermarket) | LH Delphi TC5033 (with ball joint), Lemförder 37114 01, Meyle 316 050 0066/HD, Ridex 273C0557; RH Delphi TC5032 (with ball joint), Lemförder 36940 01, Meyle 316 050 0069/HD (385 mm, with ball joint), febi 102430 |
| Top mount / strut bearing (aftermarket) | Sachs 803 213, 803 162; Lemförder 39800 01, 39405 01, 39092 01 (5-bore); Sasic 2656088 |
| Genuine (OE) numbers quoted | Sachs 803 213: 31 30 6 881 929; Sachs 803 162 and Lemförder 39405 01: 31 30 6 881 930; Lemförder 39092 01: 31 30 7 853 702; Sasic 2656088: 31306863135. None quoted for struts or arms. |
| Fitment notes | Standard plus B6/B8 sport; no engine split. |
M and higher-output variants use genuinely different suspension geometry and stiffer components than standard trims. Both RWD and xDrive versions of the same trim can be specified with M Sport suspension, so drivetrain alone doesn't determine which strut you need — confirm your exact option codes before ordering.
BMW 4 Series Front Suspension Strut: The System That Quietly Does All the Work
On the BMW 4 Series, every pothole, bump and cornering load gets filtered through these parts long before it's felt inside the car, which is precisely why wear rarely shows up as one clean symptom. A methodical, process-of-elimination check tends to find the actual culprit much faster than guessing.
BMW 4 Series Front Suspension Strut: What It Does
The BMW 4 Series's front struts fold two components into one: the damper and the coil spring's mount. A worn strut means the car keeps moving after a bump rather than settling promptly, and that lingering movement can accelerate uneven tyre wear over time.
BMW 4 Series Front Suspension Strut: Watch: Replacing It
F32 era 4 Series front strut
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A Genuinely Important Finding Worth Knowing — BMW 4 Series Front Suspension
If a persistent knock at the front has proven genuinely difficult to pin down, this is genuinely worth knowing: a confirmed finding from independent specialists shows that a knock specifically when braking lightly from low speeds is one of the most consistent indicators of worn front lower control arm bushes on related BMW models, a common wear pattern as mileage builds. A deliberate light braking test is a standard check used by independent specialists during a pre-purchase inspection, worth trying this specific test yourself.
It's also genuinely worth knowing that on a genuinely brand new car, a removable shipping clip designed to prevent the strut from compressing during transport not being removed has, in documented cases, been the actual cause of a rattling noise.
BMW 4 Series Front Suspension Strut: Warning Signs, DIY Difficulty & Aftermarket Advice
These are the same regardless of make or model — see our full Front Suspension Strut Guide for symptoms of worn bushings and ball joints, confirming fitment against your VIN, and rubber vs polyurethane guidance.
More BMW Front Suspension Strut
The same part, covered across other BMW models.