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I have new struts...now how do I replace them?

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Old 01-21-2012, 11:50 AM
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I received my new struts yesterday and have searched for a DIY but cannot find it anywhere for the e60.

Does anyone know the procedure to change the front struts?
I have removed the tire, the pinch bolt, the top 3 bolts under the hood, and the strut is loose, but I cannot get it completely out of the strut carrier.
Old 01-21-2012, 12:03 PM
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Wow, talk about putting the horse before the cart. I give you credit for buying what you needed and setting out to do it on your own, but shouldn't you have looked first for the procedure???

Try this: Replacing tension struts
Old 01-21-2012, 12:59 PM
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When I replaced mine I was able to pry the lower arm down enough. It was tight, but if it did not go low enough my next step was to remove the front bolt holding the tension control arm.


Oh make sure the sway bar bracket is removed from both sides so the knuckle will hang down as low as possible.

I have new struts...now how do I replace them?-dsc07482-copy.jpg
Old 01-21-2012, 10:08 PM
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Here's an awesome DIY by Joe aka "Rizbel." A lot of pics included. Good luck

https://5series.net/forums/topic/853...1#entry1005275
Old 02-12-2012, 07:08 PM
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Originally Posted by jaycal3
Wow, talk about putting the horse before the cart. I give you credit for buying what you needed and setting out to do it on your own, but shouldn't you have looked first for the procedure???

Try this: Replacing tension struts
Nope! I have a friend to do the job, but didn't think I could wait for his free time so I was going to try it myself. Turns out he was free the next weekend, so he did it for $80.00
Old 02-12-2012, 07:11 PM
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do you have a spring compressor?
Old 02-14-2012, 05:28 PM
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Originally Posted by 2004BMW545i
Nope! I have a friend to do the job, but didn't think I could wait for his free time so I was going to try it myself. Turns out he was free the next weekend, so he did it for $80.00
LOL @ horse before cart. LOL.
$80 for the job? Talk about a true friend. lol
Old 02-14-2012, 06:44 PM
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Originally Posted by AchtungE60
LOL @ horse before cart. LOL.
$80 for the job? Talk about a true friend. lol
Is that sarcasm? or is $80 a good deal?
Old 02-14-2012, 06:45 PM
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Originally Posted by turboawd
do you have a spring compressor?
no, I was going to rent one if I did it myself.
Old 02-14-2012, 06:56 PM
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Originally Posted by 2004BMW545i
Is that sarcasm? or is $80 a good deal?
man that's a steal. i can easily do all of this work myself. i have every BMW tool you could think of and any tool to do pretty much any job. But if I could pay someone $80 to do it for me and sit back I'd pay in a heartbeat! I could do something else with my time. However, i am EXTREMELY picky so i'd first have to know the worksmanship tech does. I do not just let anyone touch anything of mine. I find it hard to trust that someone will take the time to treat something as if its their own. Most will give you shit work and that's why I end up doing everything myself anyway.....people are just not good enough for me..so i've been told.


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