Front Shock Replacement
 

Question:


I'm going to replace my factory shocks with Bilstein HD units. When replacing the front shocks, do you really have to go through removing everything from the front suspension per the factory book, or can you just slide the strut up and out of the suspension assy after removing the pinch bolt (i.e. drop the suspension below the level of the strut)?


I'm trying to determine if this is something that I can do in my garage, or need to take it to someone who works on BMW's for a living?


I have a friend who has the tools to compress the springs, so that is a no-brainer - just removing the struts from the front end of this 530xi sportwagon.


Thanks


windnsea

On my E60 525I its easy
I simply removed the pinch bolt and expanded it with a cold chiesel
Then I loosened the bolts on the bushes for the two contol arms
Undo the top shock nuts and it will drop low enough to remove the shock.

But in refitting ensure you have the shock under stress before tightning the bush bolts again

You can certainly do it yourself.. I just flipped over my suspension last week.. I didn't change the struts but it could have easily come out.

I took off the sway bar end link... and make sure you take off the headlight leveler on the passenger side. I just undid the brake pad wear sensors from the box and the strut, it has enough slack to rotate everything out and free.

HD shocks
 

Make sure you put the shocks in right. They are labeled left and right.

I read this somewhere else. Does anyone know why? I could understand not starting up the car with the sensor getting crazy input but nobody is going to start up the car during a strut replacement.

Where is the headlight leveling gizmo?

E4-WM5-Y132A01- EINBAUANLEITUNG/
MOUNTING INSTRUCTION
erstellt am: 04.02.1999 E4-WM5-Y132A01_4 Seite 1 von 2 geändert am: 25.03.04
Tabelle Anzugsmomente - list of torques
Gewinde M8 M 10 M 12 M 14 M 16 Thread
Anzugsmoment
Nm
13 25 45 72 110
10 19 34 54 83
Torque
Nm
Torque
ft lb
ZUM LÖSEN UND ANZIEHEN DER MUTTERN
DARF KEIN SCHLAGSCHRAUBENDREHER
VERWENDET WERDEN DAS BEFESTIGUNGSGEWINDE
WIRD SONST ZERSTÖRT.
SELBSTSICHERNDE MUTTERN DÜRFEN NUR
EINMAL VERWENDET WERDEN!
FOR THE REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION OF
NUTS, IMPACT TOOLS MUST NOT BE
USED BECAUSE THIS WOULD DAMAGE THE
MOUNT THREADS. SELF- LOCKING NUTS MUST
ONLY BE USED ONCE!
Federbeine/ Dämpfer die in Gummiaufhängungen
gelagert sind, dürfen erst angezogen werden, wenn
das Fahrzeug wieder auf dem Boden steht. Andere
Befestigungen (z. B. Schellen) müssen vor dem Herablassen
des Fahrzeugs angezogen werden.
All rubber- mounted strut/ damper attachments
must not be fully tightened until AFTER the
suspension system is loaded (wheels on the
ground). Other mounting fasteners (for example
brackets) must be securely tigh-tened BEFORE
load is placed on the suspension system.
ALLE DARSTELLUNGEN SIND SCHEMATISCH!
KEINE DARSTELLUNG DIVERSER
HALTER O. Ä. AM FEDERBEIN!
ALL DIAGRAMS ARE GENERALIZED
AND NOT TO SCALE!
BRACKETS, ETC. SPECIFIC TO
STRUT ARE NOT SHOWN!
BMW E39/ E60/ E63 BMW E39 touring
22 Nm/ 16 ft lb 72 Nm/ 54 ft lb
Befestigungsbolzen
100 Nm; muß mit LOCTITE
gesichert werden/
mounting bolt 75 ft lb;
must be secured by LOCTITE
E4-WM5-Y132A01- EINBAUANLEITUNG/
MOUNTING INSTRUCTION
erstellt am: 04.02.1999 E4-WM5-Y132A01_4 Seite 2 von 2 geändert am: 25.03.04
1. BILSTEIN- Stossdämpfer mit Original- Feder
2. BILSTEIN- Stossdämpfer mit BILSTEIN- Feder
3. Original- Stossdämpfer mit BILSTEIN- Feder
1. BILSTEIN shock absorber with original spring
2. BILSTEIN shock absorber with BILSTEIN spring
3. Original shock absorber with BILSTEIN spring
Ausbau
Das Fahrzeug auf eine radfreie Hebebühne
stellen, anheben und Räder demontieren.
Bei Fahrzeugen mit Xenon- Licht ist vor dem
Ausbau der Federbeine, der Sensor für die
Leuchtweitenregulierung auszubauen.
Die Schräglenker sind beim Ausbau
stets mit geeignetem Hilfswerkzeug
abzustützen!
Die untere Befestigung lösen und entfernen.
Die obere Befestigungsmutter am Stützlager
entfernen. Nicht die Kolbenstangen- Mutter lösen!
Den Stoßdämpfer komplett ausbauen und in
einem geeigneten Spannbock spannen.
Die Feder mit einem Spanngerät so weit
vorspannen, bis das Stützlager frei ist.
Mutter, Original- Anbauteile und Original- Feder
demontieren. Hierbei ist zu prüfen, welche
Original- Anbauteile durch Bilstein- Anbauteile
( Lieferumfang ) ersetzt werden.
Einbau
BILSTEIN und/ oder Original- Anbauteile, sowie die
neue BILSTEIN- Feder in umgekehrter Reihenfolge,
analog zum Ausbau, auf BILSTEIN- Stoßdämpfer
montieren.
Vor dem Entspannen der Feder ist darauf
zu achten, daß die Federenden korrekt in
den Ausschnitten des oberen und unteren
Federtellers anliegen!
Die Einbaulage der Federn ist an der Bedruckung
ablesbar. Die Federbezeichnung muß in Einbaulage
lesbar sein.
Den komplettierten BILSTEIN- Stoßdämpfer in
umgekehrter Reihenfolge analog zum Ausbau
wieder montieren.
Removal
Place vehicle on a chassis hoist,
lift it and remove wheels.
Vehicles equipped with xenon
headlight the sensor for the headlamp
levelling controller must removed bevor.
The lower control arm must be
supported by suitable means!
Remove bottom mount.
Remove top fixing nutsfrom support bearing.
Do not remove center nut at this time!
Remove complete shockabsorber and
clamp it in an appropriate strut vise.
Using a suitable spring compressor,compress
suspension spring until tension on support
bearing is released.
Release center nut and remove original
mounting parts and coil spring. Please refer
to diagram to identify which parts will be
replaced with BILSTEIN- supplied components.
Install
Assemble BILSTEIN and/ or original mounting
parts, as well as the new BILSTEIN spring on the
BILSTEIN shockabsorber in reverse sequence of removal.
Before releasing the spring, care is to
be taken to ensure that the spring rest
in the cutouts of top and bottom spring
plate!
The correct mounting position of the suspension
springs can be determined by the printing on
the springs; install them with the print upright.
Fit assembled BILSTEIN shockabsorber to
the vehicle in reverse sequence of removal.
ThyssenKrupp Bilstein Suspension GmbH
August-Bilstein-Str. 4, 58256 Ennepetal
Postfach 11 51, 58240 Ennepetal
Telefon: (0 23 33) 791-0, Telefax: (0 23 33) 7 91- 4900
Hotline: 01805- 600- 860; Internet: ThyssenKrupp Bilstein GmbH

Sure.. because if you don't take it off you will break it.. simple as that.

It's a little plastic arm that's attached to another plastic arm.. that's on your control arm. When you move it to pull the strut out.. it doesn't bend that way. :rolleyes:

Got the new Bilstein HD's in -- actually quite easy. Had to unbolt the headlight adj arm off the rt control arm, the sway bar links, and the steering ball joints. Took off the caliper and associated fasteners from the strut and the hub, and you can push down enough to get the job done and the strut out.


I decided to replace the lower control arms and then had a full alignment after it was all reassembled.


Car rides great and feels fantastic. A bit more firmer than stock, but I'm going to drop the tire pressure to the recommended unburdened pressure to compensate.

Did you do both the front and the back? Where did you get them?

Thanks,
Greg

currently Billstein says the rear HD will fit but all resellers say it won't .