When I open up my hood, it normally would stay up, but recently it just falls back down and I need to hold it up manually with my hand while doing work on my engine. My question is, what do you call these parks that I have circled(In red) in the picture below?

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c58/tehclaw14/0607_ec_09zoomBMW_M3Front_Hood_Open.jpg

I believe one of these or both of them are broken, causing the hood to not stay elevated as it should. Your answers are greatly appreciated.

Those are gas shocks. One or both have failed and that's why you hood won't stay up. The fix (replacement) is easy and not expensive.

Thank you, so are you saying that it is a DIY kind of thing?

I believe one of these or both of them are broken, causing the hood to not stay elevated as it should. Your answers are greatly appreciated.

http://www.dvatp.com/bmw/maintenance/e36/2007/09/07/

-Doug

thank you very much