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How to change front coil springs on BMW E46 touring – replacement guide

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Important!

This replacement procedure can be used for:
BMW 3 Touring (E46) 320i, BMW 3 Touring (E46) 330 i, BMW 3 Touring (E46) 320 i, BMW 3 Touring (E46) 328i, BMW 3 Touring (E46) 320 d, BMW 3 Touring (E46) 330 d, BMW 3 Touring (E46) 325 i, BMW 3 Touring (E46) 320 d … View more

The steps may slightly vary depending on the car design.

How to change front springs / front coil springs on BMW 3 (E46) [TUTORIAL AUTODOC]

All the parts you need to replace – Springs for 3 Touring (E46) and other BMW models

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Replacement: coil springs – BMW E46 touring. Tools you might need:

                      Wire brush
                    
                      WD-40 spray
                    
                      Copper grease 
                    
                      Combination spanner #17
                    
                      Combination spanner #19
                    
                      Combination spanner #21
                    
                      Drive socket # 13 
                    
                      Drive socket # 18 
                    
                      Drive socket # 21 
                    
                      HEX bit no.H6
                    
                      HEX bit no.H7
                    
                      Wheel impact socket #17
                    
                      Shock absorber socket
                    
                      Ball joint puller
                    
                      Ratchet wrench
                    
                      Torque wrench
                    
                      Tap wrench
                    
                      Crow bar
                    
                      Hydraulic strut spring compressor
                    
                      Hydraulic transmission jack
                    
                      Fender cover
                    
                      Wheel chock

Buy tools

Replacement: coil springs – BMW E46 touring. 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.
Please note: all work on the car – BMW E46 touring – should be done with the engine switched off.

Carry out replacement in the following order:

Step 1

Open the bonnet.
Step 2

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

Loosen the upper fastener of the shock strut mount. Use a drive socket #13. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 4

Secure the wheels with chocks.
Step 5

Loosen the wheel mounting bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 6

Raise the front of the car and secure on supports.
Step 7

Unscrew the wheel bolts.

AUTODOC recommends:
Warning! To avoid injury, hold the wheel while unscrewing the fastening bolts. BMW E46 touring
Step 8

Remove the wheel.
Step 9

Clean the stabiliser link fasteners. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 10

Unscrew the nut and remove the stabilizer rod from the shock strut. Use HEX No.H7. Use a combination spanner #17. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 11

Treat the retaining bracket that secures the brake hose and the wiring harness. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 12

Disconnect the wiring and the brake hose from the bracket on the shock strut.
Step 13

Clean the fasteners connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Clean the fastener connecting the ball joint to the steering knuckle. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 14

Unscrew the lower fastener connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a drive socket #18. Use a tap wrench.
Step 15

Unscrew the ball joint fastening to the steering knuckle. Use a combination spanner #19.
Step 16

Support the arm. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 17

Disconnect the ball joint from the steering knuckle. Use a ball joint puller.
Step 18

Lower the hydraulic transmission jack by 10-15 cm.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: coil springs – BMW E46 touring. Lower the transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging components and mechanisms.
Step 19

Disconnect the lower arm from the steering knuckle.
Step 20

Prop up the steering knuckle. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 21

Release the lower fastener connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a special drive socket to remove the shock absorber.
Step 22

Lower the hydraulic transmission jack by 10-15 cm.

AUTODOC recommends:
BMW E46 touring – Do not lower the transmission jack sharply to avoid damaging components and mechanisms of the car.
Step 23

Disconnect the steering knuckle from the shock absorber strut.
Step 24

Unscrew the top fastening of the shock strut mount. Use a drive socket #13. Use a ratchet wrench.

AUTODOC recommends:
BMW E46 touring – To avoid injury, hold the suspension strut while unscrewing the fastening bolts.
Step 25

Remove the suspension strut.
Step 26

Set the shock absorber strut on the spring compressor tool.

Replacement: coil springs – BMW E46 touring. Tip from AUTODOC:
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 27

Remove the shock strut mount cap. Use a crowbar.
Step 28

Compress the spring.
Step 29

Treat the shock strut rod. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 30

Remove the strut piston rod nut. Use a combination spanner #21. Use HEX No.H6. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 31

Remove the top strut mount. Use a crowbar.
Step 32

Release the coil spring.
Step 33

Remove the spring.
Step 34

Remove the shock absorber dust cap and the bump stop.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: coil springs – BMW E46 touring. Carefully inspect the mount, the boot, and the bump stop of the shock absorber. Replace if necessary.
Step 35

Install the boot and a bump stop onto the shock absorber.
Step 36

Install the spring on the shock absorber.
Step 37

Compress the spring.
Step 38

Install the upper strut mount and the strut mount bearing.
Step 39

Tighten the shock strut piston rod nut. Use a drive socket #21. Use HEX No.H6. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 64 Nm torque.

AUTODOC recommends:
Check to make sure the spring is positioned correctly. Avoid its misalignment.
Step 40

Decompress the spring.
Step 41

Remove the assembled shock strut.
Step 42

Install the shock strut mount cap.
Step 43

Install the shock strut into the wheel arch.
Step 44

Screw the top fastening of the shock strut mount. Use a drive socket #13. Do not tighten it.

Replacement: coil springs – BMW E46 touring. Professionals recommend:
To avoid injuries, hold the shock strut when screwing the fastening bolts in.
Step 45

Treat the shock strut mounting seat on the steering knuckle. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 46

Prop up the steering knuckle. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 47

Fix the shock absorber strut on the steering knuckle.
Step 48

Install and tighten a new bolt of the steering knuckle.
Step 49

Tighten the lower fasteners connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a drive socket #18. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 80 Nm torque.
Step 50

Remove the support from under the steering knuckle.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: coil springs – BMW E46 touring. Lower the transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging components and mechanisms.
Step 51

Clean the ball joint mounting seat. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 52

Treat the fasteners connecting the control arm to the steering knuckle. Use copper grease.
Step 53

Connect the lower arm to the steering knuckle. Install the control arm fasteners.
Step 54

Support the arm. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 55

Screw the fastener connecting the ball joint to the steering knuckle. Use a combination spanner #19. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 65 Nm torque.
Step 56

Treat the shock strut fasteners. Treat all joints of the arm. Use copper grease.
Step 57

Secure the stabilizer link on the suspension strut. Use HEX No.H7. Use a combination spanner #17. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 55 Nm torque.
Step 58

Treat all joints of the stabiliser link. Use copper grease.
Step 59

Fasten the brake hose on the strut. Connect the fastener of the ABS sensor cable to the shock absorber strut.
Step 60

Clean the wheel rim mounting seat. Use a wire brush. Treat the contacting surface. Use copper grease.
Step 61

Install the wheel.

AUTODOC recommends:
Warning! To avoid injury, hold the wheel while screwing in the fastening bolts on the car. BMW E46 touring
Step 62

Screw in the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 63

Tighten the upper fastener of the shock absorber strut mount. Use a drive socket #13. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 34 Nm torque.
Step 64

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 65

Remove the jacks and chocks.
Step 66

Remove the fender protection cover.
Step 67

Close the hood.

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