ROCKITMAN

Picked up this 2006 530xi awd for a good price a few months ago. The interior and exterior were very well taken care of, especially the interior which is pretty immaculate. It has 130K miles on the odometer and pretty much everything underneath looks original. As you can imagine a few things needed to be addressed, so I started with the suspension and the front brakes.











I am not a professional mechanic, but I have had a few BMWs and learned enough along the way to get through most things. My last car that I worked on for 5 years was an E34, so this wagon is entirely different animal to me, but I am eager to learn as much as I can.


I got in on the ISC group buy and opted to go with the full kit replacing the self leveling system in the rear. The guys at ISC were very nice and the customer service that I received was very good.


So then I got to work on the front.


When I finally got the drivers down enough it revealed how bad it really was. Yikes!







Moving on I didn't run into any major issues.






New rotors and pads are in as well.



The carnage....




This was my first attempt at measuring before I set it down.


This is where that guess put it...

ROCKITMAN

So wouldn't you know it! As soon as I set the car down after finishing the front, the car decides that it does not want to start. After some messing about, I have discovered that the starter decided it did not want to work anymore.

I am in a pretty tight garage and the wagon is situated in a place that makes it very difficult to work on the rear, so it would be ideal to be able to move it before tackling that.......but of course it is not a perfect world.

I got to work on the starter....


I do not have the smallest hands and arms, so it was a little tricky for me to get in there.


You need a 3/8 adjustable head wrench and a torx bit to get at the back, I couldn't figure out any other way, its tight in there.



So while I was taking the intake manifold off I broke one of the crank case oil hoses, specifically the return hose that nobody had in stock, so now I wait again.

ROCKITMAN

Decided to tackle the rear where it sits, It's not leaving me much room to work with, but Im gonna give it a go.



Got everything apart, let the air out of the bags to remove them and now I am at my first obstacle.






So the airbag mounted with a plastic plug at the bottom and two prongs at the top that just twisted into the slot at the top........

5wag

Great start, I am anxious to see all the ISC call overs work on the wagon I am considering buying a set for my East 61 as well.... Keep posting

E61FUN

Yes, Please!

pocholin

It is looking good! What a bummer with your starter.

What are you doing with the coding for removing the rear air bags and compressor? I ask because I also have to do the same with mine.

ROCKITMAN

I will keep up with this thread so that I can give my honest opinion on them. There are not very many in depth threads or DIY write-ups for the suspension on these wagons that I have been able to find, so hopefully this will help someone.



Yeah the starter and the hose were both unexpected, but I am no stranger to having to wait for parts.

I have a buddy of mine that may be able to take care of the coding for me, but if not I was given the information of a guy based out of Texas that can do it remotely.


I finally got a chance to work on the rear and with a little help from the guys at ISC, I got it all figured out.

I honestly can't say enough good things about ISC, so far they have been a pleasure to do business with.

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FYI: The setting on the rear springs is all the way down to its lowest and that is where the car is sitting right now, but the pictures show where the spring was before I turned them all the way down. I have to get it started so I can actually drive and get it all dialed in. I will run some spacers in the rear until I figure out what wheels I want.

pocholin

I need to figure out how to get the rear done and coded as well. I got the same kit from ISC, they have worked with me on the front, I really like the shocks and everyone at ISC as well!!!

Junger

Good work.

So after a few months, how are you liking that ISC set up?

ROCKITMAN

I still have not bothered with getting it coded yet because the warning does not bother me that much, but I am going to get to it eventually.

Hey buddy. So far so good, I have been messing around with the Damping or "Dampening" as some say and getting it to where I want it. I will have a better opinion after some new wheels and tires, but overall I am happy with them.....especially for the price.