37 11 032 Replacing front left or right spring strut (M5)

WARNING: This page does not describe the selected car, but rather 50 other vehicles, including the 2016 BMW M5, 2016 BMW ActiveHybrid 5, 2016 BMW 550i xDrive, 2016 BMW 550i, and 2016 BMW 535i xDrive. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Special tools required:

31 3 340
31 3 341
83 30 2 318 833
83 30 2 210 783
83 30 2 304 586
83 30 2 210 778

WARNING: Prior to each use of special tool 31 3 340 , it is essential to read the associated Owner's Handbook fully!
All the safety information and instructions contained in the Owner's Handbook must be strictly observed!
Failure to observe these safety precautions and instructions increases the risk of serious physical injury, damage to your health and damage to property and equipment!

IMPORTANT:

Prior to each use, check the special tools for defects, modifications and operational reliability.
Damaged/modified special tools must not be used!
No changes or modifications may be made to the special tools!
These special tools are intended solely for the purpose of tightening and relieving cylindrical and tapered suspension springs.
Keep special tools dry, clean and (down to the spindle) free from grease.
Impact screwdrivers are prohibited!
Risk of damage inside the shock absorber!
Do not compress coil spring to full extent.

Necessary preliminary tasks:

Remove FRONT SPRING STRUT

Removing:

Clamp special tool 31 3 341 in vice.

Fit special tools 83 30 2 318 833 from above on special tool 31 3 341 until locking pins (1) can be felt and heard to snap into place.

Fig 1: Identifying Special Tool (31 3 341)

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

To be able to position the support bearing relative to the spring strut when installing the new spring strut, insert the spring strut into the spring tensioner in such a way that the special tool 83 30 2 210 783 faces vertically upward and the taper (1) from the anti-roll bar link support faces up.

Fig 2: Inserting Spring Strut Into Spring Tensioner

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

WARNING: Coils of coil spring must be located completely in recesses of special tools 83 30 2 318 833!

Compress coil spring until stress on piston rod is relieved.

Fig 3: Identifying Special Tool (2 318 833)

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

IMPORTANT: Do not turn the piston rod, simply hold it. Failure to comply with this instruction causes piston rod breakage.

Release nut with special tool 83 30 2 304 586 while holding with ring spanner AF 10.

Check support bearing and spring pad for damage and replace if necessary.

Remove shock absorber, auxiliary damper, protective tube and spring pad from tensioned coil spring, examine and replace if necessary.

Impact screwdrivers are prohibited!

Risk of damage inside the shock absorber!

Fig 4: Tightening Nut Using Special Tool (2 304 586)

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

IMPORTANT: When mounting, spring strut and support bearing must aligned using special tool 83 30 2 210 778.
The following procedure must be followed.

Fig 5: Aligning Spring Strut And Support Bearing Using Special Tool (83 30 2 210 778)

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Insert shock absorber in tensioned coil spring.

Slide auxiliary damper, protective tube and spring pad onto piston rod.

IMPORTANT: Lower end of coil spring must rest against spring pad (1).

Fig 6: Identifying Spring Pad

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

IMPORTANT: Fit support bearing and align with end of coil spring.

Fig 7: Aligning Support Bearing With End Of Coil Spring

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

IMPORTANT: Do not turn the piston rod, simply hold it. Failure to comply with this instruction causes piston rod breakage.

Tighten nut with special tool 83 30 2 304 586 while holding with ring spanner AF 10.

Replace nut!

Tightening torque 31 31 2AZ .

Impact screwdrivers are prohibited!

Risk of damage inside the shock absorber!

Fig 8: Tightening Nut Using Special Tool (2 304 586)

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

WARNING: Danger of injury!
Adjusting device emits laser beam!
Do not look into the beam!
Laser class 2
To EN60825-1: 1994
P≤ 1 mW

Align laser (1) with prism mirror (2)!

Mount laser (1) in damper eyelet
Mount prism mirror (2) vertically onto spring strut!
The prism mirror must be mounted on a clean, smooth surface. Do not mount prism mirror on label or weld beads!

Laser beam must face mirror!
Adjust the laser with adjusting screw (3) in such a way that the laser beam is projected onto mark (4) via the mirror.
Remove prism mirror ->After this, the laser adjustment must not be changed at the adjusting screw (3)!

Fig 9: Aligning Laser With Prism Mirror
Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Align spring strut and support bearing with each other_

Mount gauge 83 30 2 210 783 on support bearing.

Left spring strut:

image A: Position mark "Left" on arrow at support bearing.

Right spring strut:

image B: Position mark "Right B" on arrow at support bearing.

Fig 10: Installing Gauge (2 210 783) On Support Bearing

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Align spring strut with support bearing or with corresponding mark "2" on gauge (1) using laser beam and relax spring.

IMPORTANT: When relaxing the spring, the spring may twist in the spring tensioner if the laser beam no longer points directly to mark "2" ; repeat the process and, before relaxing the spring, align the laser beam so it does not point directly to mark "2" .
After the spring tension is relaxed, the laser beam must point to mark "2" of the gauge (1).
Failure to observe this requirement will result in substantial impairment of handling characteristics.

Fig 11: Positioning Spring With Mounted Support Bearing

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.