habbyguy

I just finished swapping both rear axles in my 2006 530xi (Touring) E61. I was a bit (!) surprised at how much more complicated this was compared to the regular E60 models.

The difficulty is 99% in getting the left rear CV axle in and out of the space it's confined in. It required unbolting the knuckle, which required airing down the air bags (to take the pressure off the knuckle). Is there an easy way to air down the air bags completely using INPA / ISTA or the typical BMW-specific handheld scanner?

I wonder if anyone has tried "just" removing the diagonal brace on the left side, and unclipping all of the exhaust system hangers (which should allow the rear of the exhaust system to droop about 5-6" at the critical pinch point). I think that might give the clearance needed to fish the axle out and to install the new one, and might be easier than messing with the air suspension and taking apart the knuckle mounting.

The right one was a piece of cake - remove the axle bolt, unbolt the axle from the differential, rotate it away from the differential, and push the axle through the hub (easy this time since I spent a few hours getting it loose not long ago).

I put together a (one of my no-budget, low quality...) video showing the process, and am including it here because I couldn't find a post on replacing the rear axles on the E61 here (or really, anywhere else). Hope it helps...

You Tube

mitchpro

Easiest way to relief the pressure off the air bags is just connect the air lines from the air compressor. Takes about 10 minutes.

wkloppen

I reckon you mean disconnect...

habbyguy

That was my assumption too - and was the way I did it, though I do still wonder if there's a better way to command the system to air completely down via INPA or ISTA (or other BMW-specific device).

wkloppen

not sure ho low you go with INPA but I reckon you can deflate the bags fully. in INPA you can manually control the compressor. I've used it several times and if you dont have INPA you can shortcut the 2 pins of the ornage relais in the trunk. After you've removed the wheel you'll need some pressure on the knuckle by placing a piece of wood under it I guess to deflate the bag fully. Not sure...haven't done this.....yet

w

wkloppen

euhm...correction....shortcutting the pins will inflate the bags off course...not deflate.....stupid me...