Important!

This replacement procedure can be used for:
BMW 5 Saloon (E39) 525tds, BMW 5 Saloon (E39) 523i, BMW 5 Saloon (E39) 528i, BMW 5 Saloon (E39) 525 td, BMW 5 Saloon (E39) 520 d, BMW 5 Saloon (E39) 520 i, BMW 5 Saloon (E39) 525 i, BMW 5 Saloon (E39) 530 i … View more

The steps may slightly vary depending on the car design.

How to change front springs / front coil springs on BMW 520i (E39) [TUTORIAL AUTODOC]

All the parts you need to replace – Springs for 5 Saloon (E39) and other BMW models

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Replacement: coil springs – BMW E39. Tools you need:

                      Wire brush
                    
                      WD-40 spray
                    
                      Brake cleaner 
                    
                      Copper grease 
                    
                      Combination spanner #13
                    
                      Combination spanner #16
                    
                      Combination spanner #18
                    
                      Drive socket # 13 
                    
                      Drive socket # 16 
                    
                      Drive socket # 18 
                    
                      Drive socket # 22 
                    
                      HEX bit No.H6.
                    
                      HEX bit No.H7.
                    
                      Wheel impact socket #17
                    
                      Ratchet wrench
                    
                      Torque wrench
                    
                      Shock absorber socket
                    
                      Tap wrench
                    
                      Crow bar
                    
                      Ball joint puller
                    
                      Hydraulic strut spring compressor
                    
                      Hydraulic transmission jack
                    
                      Fender cover
                    
                      Wheel chock

Buy tools

Replacement: coil springs – BMW E39. Tip from AUTODOC:

Both coil springs of the front suspension should be replaced simultaneously.
The replacement procedure is identical for the left and right coil springs of the front suspension.
All work should be done with the engine stopped.

Replacement: coil springs – BMW E39. Use the following procedure:

Step 1

Open the bonnet.
Step 2

Use a fender protection cover to prevent damaging paintwork and plastic parts of the car.
Step 3

Clean the fasteners of the shock strut upper mount. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 4

Remove the shock strut mount cap. Use a crowbar.
Step 5

Loosen the upper fastener of the shock strut mount. Use a combination spanner #13.
Step 6

Secure the wheels with chocks.
Step 7

Loosen the wheel mounting bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 8

Raise the front of the car and secure on supports.
Step 9

Unscrew the wheel bolts.

Replacement: coil springs – BMW E39. AUTODOC recommends:
To avoid injury, hold up the wheel when unscrewing the bolts.
Step 10

Remove the wheel.

Step 11

Clean the stabiliser link fasteners. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 12

Clean the brake caliper bracket fasteners. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 13

Spread the brake pads. Use a crowbar.
Step 14

Unscrew the caliper bracket fastening. Use a drive socket #18. Use a tap wrench.
Step 15

Remove the brake caliper together with its bracket. Use a crowbar.

Replacement: coil springs – BMW E39. Professionals recommend:
Tie the caliper to the suspension or to the body with a wire without disconnecting from the brake hose to prevent depressurization of the brake system.Make sure that the brake caliper is not hanging on the brake hose.Don't press the brake pedal after the brake caliper has been removed. As a result, the piston can fall out from the brake cylinder, and brake fluid leakage and depressurization of the system may occur.
Step 16

Unscrew the fastener connecting the stabilizer link to the shock strut. Use a drive socket #16. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 17

Unscrew the lower fastener connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a combination spanner #18. Use a drive socket #16. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 18

Remove the fastening bolts.
Step 19

Clean the fastener connecting the tie rod end to the steering knuckle. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 20

Unscrew the end fastening nut to the steering knuckle. Use a combination spanner #18.
Step 21

Disconnect the tie rod end from the steering knuckle. Use a ball joint puller.
Step 22

Support the arm. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 23

Disconnect the tie rod end from the steering knuckle.
Step 24

Remove the support from under the arm.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: coil springs – BMW E39. Lower the transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging components and mechanisms.
Step 25

Disconnect the ABS sensor wiring.
Step 26

Clean all joints of the arm. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 27

Remove the control arm cover.
Step 28

Clean all joints of the arm. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 29

Unscrew the front arm fastener. Use a combination spanner #18. Use a drive socket #18. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 30

Remove the front fastener of the control arm.
Step 31

Prop up the steering knuckle. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 32

Unscrew the rear fastener connecting the control arm to the subframe. Use a combination spanner #16. Use a drive socket #18. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 33

Remove the rear fastener of the control arm.
Step 34

Clean the fasteners connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 35

Release the lower fastener connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a special drive socket to remove the shock absorber.
Step 36

Remove the support from under the steering knuckle.

AUTODOC recommends:
BMW E39 – Do not lower the transmission jack sharply to avoid damaging components and mechanisms of the car.
Step 37

Disconnect the steering knuckle from the shock absorber strut.
Step 38

Unscrew the top fastening of the shock strut mount.

Replacement: coil springs – BMW E39. Tip from AUTODOC:
To avoid injuries, hold the shock strut when undoing the fastening bolts.
Step 39

Remove the suspension strut.
Step 40

Set the shock absorber strut on the spring compressor tool.

Replacement: coil springs – BMW E39. AUTODOC experts recommend:
Note that when using a spring compressor, spring coils need to be securely gripped, compressing the spring on the opposite sides.Ensure the correct position of the spring in the retainer.Make sure that the spring coils tightly entered the lock handles.
Step 41

Compress the spring.
Step 42

Remove the strut piston rod nut. Use a drive socket #22. Use HEX No.H7. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 43

Remove the top strut mount.
Step 44

Release the coil spring.
Step 45

Remove the spring.
Step 46

Remove the shock absorber dust cap and the bump stop.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: coil springs – BMW E39. Carefully inspect the mount, the boot, and the bump stop of the shock absorber. Replace if necessary.
Step 47

Install the boot and a bump stop onto the shock absorber.
Step 48

Install the spring on the shock absorber.
Step 49

Compress the spring.
Step 50

Install the upper strut mount and the strut mount bearing.
Step 51

Tighten the shock strut piston rod nut. Use a drive socket #22. Use HEX No.H6. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 64 Nm torque.

Replacement: coil springs – BMW E39. Tip:
Check to make sure the spring is positioned correctly. Avoid its misalignment.
Step 52

Decompress the spring.
Step 53

Remove the assembled shock strut.
Step 54

Install the shock strut into the wheel arch.
Step 55

Screw the top fastening of the shock strut mount. Do not tighten it.

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Hold the suspension strut while screwing in the fastening bolts. BMW E39
Step 56

Treat the shock strut mounting seat on the steering knuckle. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 57

Fix the shock absorber strut on the steering knuckle.
Step 58

Prop up the steering knuckle. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 59

Clean the mounting seats and the thread of the suspension arm. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 60

Install the front fastener of the arm.
Step 61

Clean the mounting seats and the thread of the suspension arm. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 62

Install the rear fastener of the control arm.
Step 63

Remove the support from under the steering knuckle.

Replacement: coil springs – BMW E39. Tip from AUTODOC experts:
Lower the hydraulic transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging assemblies and mechanisms.
Step 64

Clean the mounting seats of the tie rod end. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 65

Support the arm. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 66

Connect the tie rod end to the steering knuckle.
Step 67

Screw on the fastening nut that connects the tie rod end to the steering knuckle. Use a combination spanner #18.
Step 68

Install the shock absorber mount using the center hole as a guide.
Step 69

Clean the mounting seats of the stabiliser link. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 70

Install the fastening bolts.
Step 71

Screw in the fastener that connects the shock strut to the steering knuckle.
Step 72

Raise the hydraulic transmission jack by 10-15 cm.
Step 73

Screw the rear fastener connecting the control arm to the subframe. Use a combination spanner #16. Use a drive socket #18. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 74

Screw the front arm fastener. Use a combination spanner #18. Use a drive socket #18. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 75

Tighten the front fastener connecting the control arm to the subframe. Use a combination spanner #18. Use a drive socket #18. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 110 Nm torque.
Step 76

Tighten the rear fastener connecting the arm to the body subframe. Use a combination spanner #16. Use a drive socket #18. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 110 nm torque.
Step 77

Tighten the lower fasteners connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a combination spanner #18. Use a drive socket #16. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 81 Nm torque.
Step 78

Tighten the fastener connecting the stabilizer link to the shock strut. Use a drive socket #16. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 65 Nm torque.
Step 79

Tighten the fastening nut connecting the tie rod end to the steering knuckle. Use a drive socket #18. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 65 nm torque.
Step 80

Remove the support from under the arm.

AUTODOC recommends:
BMW E39 – Do not lower the transmission jack sharply to avoid damaging components and mechanisms of the car.
Step 81

Connect the ABS sensor wiring.
Step 82

Clean the mounting seats of the caliper and its bracket. Use a wire brush. Use a brake cleaner.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: coil springs – BMW E39. After applying the spray, wait a few minutes.
Step 83

Install the brake caliper together with its bracket.
Step 84

Tighten the brake caliper bracket. Use a drive socket #18. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 110 Nm torque.
Step 85

Install the control arm cover.
Step 86

Treat all joints of the arm. Treat the shock strut fasteners. Use copper grease.
Step 87

Treat the surface where the brake disc contacts the wheel rim. Use copper grease.
Step 88

Clean the brake disk surface. Use a brake cleaner.

Replacement: coil springs – BMW E39. AUTODOC recommends:
After applying the spray, wait a few minutes.
Step 89

Install the wheel.

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Hold the wheel while screwing in the fastening bolts. BMW E39
Step 90

Screw in the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 91

Lower the car and working in a cross order, tighten the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 120 Nm torque.
Step 92

Remove the jacks and chocks.
Step 93

Tighten the upper fastener of the shock absorber strut mount. Use a drive socket #13. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 24 Nm torque.
Step 94

Treat the fasteners of the shock strut mount. Use copper grease.
Step 95

Install the shock strut mount cap.
Step 96

Remove the fender protection cover.
Step 97

Close the hood.

AUTODOC recommends:
BMW E39 – Without starting the engine, press the brake pedal several times until it feels firm.

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