We hate to be the bearers of bad news, but your BMW Struts are a performance compromise. When the spring and shock are combined into one unit, as they are in your struts, the suspension geometry that results is never perfect, and it’s not as precise as that found in a separate spring/shock suspension system. That’s not to say struts aren’t good: BMW engineers have made BMW strut suspensions handle with the best cars on the planet. Plus, struts are less expensive than separate springs and shocks, and they’re easier to package in a vehicle.

Struts do suffer from the same basic maladies that wear shock absorbers out, however. Leakage of the fluid and the gas inside the strut cause its damping abilities to wear down over time. Strut bushings can also wear out, causing various squeaks and rattles when you travel over bumps. Basically, the same tests you use to determine the condition of your shock absorbers should give you a good indication of how long you have before it’s time to replace your BMW struts.