Second Hand BMW 6 Series Bonnet Strut

The BMW 6 Series bonnet is supported by gas-filled bonnet struts (sometimes called bonnet lifters or bonnet dampers), one on each side, so yes, this part does genuinely exist on the 6 Series across all variants regardless of engine or drivetrain. They are not related to engine type, so whether your car is a diesel, petrol, or M variant makes no difference to the strut itself. When searching for a used part, you simply need to match the generation and facelift period rather than worrying about what is under the bonnet.

The fourth-generation 6 Series ran as the E63 coupe and E64 convertible from 2003 to 2010, with a facelift arriving around 2007 that updated the front end including the bonnet surround area. Within the pre-facelift cars (2003–2007) the struts should correspond to each other, and similarly within the post-facelift cars (2007–2010), but whether the strut itself crosses the 2007 facelift boundary is something you should confirm with the breaker against your registration before buying.

The F12 convertible, F13 coupe, and F06 Gran Coupe generation ran from 2011 to 2018, with a facelift in 2015 that revised the front end. Both your 2012 car and a 2015 car fall either side of that facelift boundary, so while the basic strut mechanism may be similar, you should check with the breaker using both registrations to confirm the part number matches before purchasing.

The bonnet and its associated struts are part of the front-end structure, which is shared across body styles within a generation, so whether your car is an F13 coupe, F12 convertible, or F06 Gran Coupe should not affect the bonnet strut fitment. The breaker will still want your registration to verify the part number, but body style is not typically the deciding factor here.

Trim level does not affect bonnet strut fitment on the BMW 6 Series – a Sport, SE, M Sport, or full M6 all share the same bonnet structure within a given generation and facelift period. There are no cosmetic or functional differences to the strut itself across these trims, so you do not need to seek out a strut specifically from the same trim as your car. Generation and facelift period are what matter.

No – the E24 (1976–1989), E63/E64 (2003–2010), and F12/F13/F06 (2011–2018) are entirely separate generations with different bodyshells, so their bonnet struts are not interchangeable. You need to source a strut from the same generation as your car, and then also consider whether the facelift period matches. Always give the breaker your registration so they can confirm the correct part.