bhamg

Long ago I started on a quest to find gas springs that would be optimized for a lightweight hood. I bought a number from several different sources but nothing worked out. After returning the last bunch of four to Grainger I called every manufacturer of OE fitment gas springs that I could find. I struck out with all of them...except Bansbach (manufacturers of the EasyLift line).

To make a long story short, an aerospace engineer in Bansbach's FL facility took pity on me and started working with me to spec a set of gas springs for the C63. Some months later, the prototypes are here from Germany. This set utilizes a release screw so I can incrementally bleed off pressure to find the ideal pressure. The factory will then build a custom set for me. Yup, all that work and effort just for me.

If you are interested in a set for your own car please post a reply here. I'm a few weeks away from the trial fitting and am not opening the package until then. The photo shows my OE gas springs and the new Bansbach replacement still packaged. I'll post followup photos. Bansbach has provided me with pricing for a quantity (one shot) purchase. Amazingly, it's lower than the OE gas springs at discount internet pricing. This would not be run as a group buy (i.e., I will NOT be sending them out), but I'll work on having Bansbach or Grainger handling the lot and providing direct fulfillment services. I'll update this thread in a few weeks.

AMG893

Good work!

NellyRod

That's awesome that you got a custom set made, but why not just use the ones from the C63 Black Series??? It's an all aluminum hood and weighs close to nothing.

Maverick1975

I have had a dads cf vneted hood on C63 with OEM struts for years now and never a problem. It opens and shuts just like it always did. What has been the problem with yours?

Sincity

^It's more of a possible potential problem and depending on how often you open/close the hood, you may weaken the mount area as the OEM strut was designed for a metal hood and not a lightweight fiber hood.

Good idea from NellyRod.

Kriston

Bhamg you are boss... Thats amazing level of detail.

Fellas the reason why Bhamg sought after a softer tensioned damper was to compensate for the lighter weight of the CF hood. If you are open/closing your hood fairly often, you may put stress cracks on your hood due to the higher then needed tension on your OEM dampers (specifically to lift your aluminum hood).

Great job!

abcut973

How much are we talking about here?
I might be installing a CF hood in the near future so this could help.

bhamg

My parts guys told me the part numbers were the same for the C63 and C63BS. Are they different after all?

bhamg

Thanks Kriston (and the rest who posted here)! Yes, I can get a little nuts but this was important to me.

Here's the hood, painted.

Autosport7

bhamg

Two more very low res.

mthis

Count me in. Let me know when to pay and where to send the funds.

bhamg

For a minimum quantity of 10 pieces for each side, a total of a little over $100 for both R&L. Smaller quantities = higher price. I.E., dirt cheap.

edit: Great, mthis. As this develops I'll update pricing and fulfillment info.

otakki

Is the non-BS hood not aluminum? I thought they are all aluminum.

abcut973

Let me know as well whenever this will be available.

Fung63

I do the same with my dads hood as well. Although I can tell that the struts are a bit strong for a light hood it works just fine


however OP, good idea and thanks for taking the initiative