I know this is a difficult question to answer because everyones driving style and conditions are different, but when did you guys notice your factory struts needed to be replaced?

I've got 117k on what (I believe) is the original stockers....they seem to be fine and rebound quite well.

How about strut mounts? Do those need to be replaced or do they last darn near forever?

im at 92k mine are fine
strut mount need to be replaced at least when you change struts

About 120,000 on mine. Although they weren't that bad, and many others may not have touched them at that point.

Well, on my 1992 SE it still rode very well, and on rough roads it tracked straight with no over-roughness until the day it was totalled out at almost 300,000 miles. I had bought it at 159,000 so if they weren't the originals they had a good 140,000 on them.
My 1994 SLE has 206,000 miles and that too rides very well. I'd say even firmer andthe steering response has a much better feel than on my 1999 with only 146,000 miles, but then again the 1999 has the air suspension which is more for a quite and smooth freeway ride.
My 1999 SSEi is fair (was alot better before they took the trans out to rebuild last month, and after I got it back it isn't nearly as smooth and the steering kinda wanders -not real bad, but noticeable, by me and the cars driving around me). :? <-- Well, not quite that bad. I am going to take it in and have it checked out at Sears Automotive next week.

Cool, thanks guys....I guess I will continue to drive it 'til I start noticing that it handles like a sofa

Are you guys replacing strut mounts when you get new struts? Those things are as expensive as the struts! (If not more expensive!)

--Chris

im at 141,000 and mine are fine but i do need to replace the strut mount.

I guess mine are still in good shape. About 94,500 on it now. Tracks straight, good ride. Just have to watch out for the pot holes.

The struts on my 93 are TERRIBLE. The car rides and handles like crap! They are the original and the front mounts are also bad. I need new struts all the way around. I feel every little pebble on the road. At the tune of $670 for 4 new struts and 2 new front mounts, I'm dealing with it until the tranny goes....then I'll sell the whole operation as-is!!

The struts are excellent on my 99 (anything'* better than the 93!!).

Mine'* pretty worn out all around at 112K, although nothing'* actually broken, unless you count the left-side strut which seems to be largely empty. When the weather improves and I can get another car for commuting, I'll probably overhaul the front end myself and get some new struts in there.

Hey, it could be worse: Check out my adventures fixing Dad'* '83 BMW 528e after it broke its front leg:

http://www.unofficialbmw.com/cgi-bin...c&f=6&t=001648

Most people would have simply shot the car, but I need the money from selling it (haven't sold it yet!), so I managed to fix the broken strut myself. (On those cars the lower mount isn't replaced as part of the strut, so they can fail rather dramatically if they get too rusty.)