How to Replace the Hood Struts on a BMW E34

1. Open the hood. If you are replacing hood struts, they probably are not supporting the weight of the hood well. Support the hood with a baseball bat or something similar while you replace the hood struts.
2. Use a screwdriver to push off the clip that holds the pin in place on the end of the strut that fastens to the hood. Remove the pin and the end of the strut from the hood.
3. Remove the clip on the opposite end of the strut, which fastens to the engine bay, in the same manner. Remove the pin and the end of the strut from the vehicle. Do not drop either the clips or the pins into the engine bay. Repeat this process for the opposite hood strut.
4. Install the new hood struts one at a time. Install the pin. Slide the clip over the pin. Repeat the procedure for the opposite end of the strut. Ensure that both ends of the strut are held securely in place. Shut the hood and open it to make sure the hood struts are operating properly. Discard the used hood struts.