Get those bad boys on there and take some before and after pix. We are accepting a full report back KU.

 

Im lost xi model have auto level?

 

No, the talk was about the touring, just happened to be in this thread, as it was an X-drive touring

 

Thanks for clearing that up for me

 

swap is not going as smoothly as planned. I got the rears on but the fronts are not co operating with me. I am having the darnedest time getting the strut off.

 

Are you doing it yourself??? How long did each of the rears take?

 

Rears are about an hour for both sides. And yes I do my own work I always have.

 

What's the word? Are you done? Let's see!!!

 

Ok guys I am 3/4 done. I had a lot of trouble witht he fronts I spent about 4 hrs spinning my wheels them a little light went off in my head. Call the guy you know that is a tech at the BMW dealer. Well this should help for you guys who are not DIY'ers like myself. When you take it to a shop that has done a 530i and says it is the say set up tell him he is wrong. First thing you can not just drop the suspension to swing the strut out far enough to remove and the spring with out pulling the drive shaft which I do not recommend becasue you have to get it perfect to put back on and work properly. The other glaring difference is that the spindle on the 530i is aluminum and ours is cast iron. There is a bolt that helps to clamp the strut to the spindle. Now with the cast iron you need a pry bar to open that clamp once the bolt is out to free the strut. Easier said than done because it is cast iron and not aluminum so it does not give very easily. You will say a lot of curse words or some alternative to curse words like myself ( I have a G rated house).. Once you are able to pry it apart then push the spindle down. once detached then you can take the 3 nuts off that hold the strut to the shock tower. This really took me so long becasue I wasted half the day forgetting that I have all wheel drive car and forgot about the drive shaft. I also am a one man show so I had to stop to make lunch for the kids, play with the kids, stop and make dinner get them in the bath so I am a little behind. The rear is much simpler. 4 bolt and you good. The one holding the shock to the spindle takes a little encouraging but that is all. I will get some pics of the problem areas tommorow. Pics of before and after up as well. But for now I am going to bed.

 

Wow! This is great to know. Thanks for writing this up M. Appreciate it. Can't wait to see the finished result.