Important!

This replacement procedure can be used for:
BMW 5 Saloon (E60) 525 d, BMW 5 Touring (E61) 525 d

The steps may slightly vary depending on the car design.

How to change front suspension arm / front control arm on BMW E60 [TUTORIAL AUTODOC]

Replacement: front lower arm – BMW E60. Tools you might need:

                        Wire brush
                      
                        WD-40 spray
                      
                        Brake cleaner 
                      
                        Copper grease 
                      
                        Combination spanner #9
                      
                        Combination spanner #10
                      
                        Combination spanner #16
                      
                        Combination spanner #18
                      
                        Drive socket # 10 
                      
                        Drive socket # 16 
                      
                        Drive socket # 18 
                      
                        Drive socket # 21 
                      
                        Wheel impact socket #17
                      
                        Ratchet wrench
                      
                        Torque wrench
                      
                        Flat chisel
                      
                        Hammer
                      
                        Ball joint puller
                      
                        Hydraulic transmission jack
                      
                        Wheel chock

All the parts you need to replace – Control Arm for 5 Saloon (E60) and other BMW models

BMW 5 Saloon (E60) 525 d

BMW 5 Touring (E61) 525 d

BMW 5 Saloon (E60) 525 d

BMW 5 Touring (E61) 525 d

BMW 5 Saloon (E60) 525 d

BMW 5 Touring (E61) 525 d

Replacement: front lower arm – BMW E60. AUTODOC recommends:

The replacement procedure is identical for the left and right lower control arms.
All work should be done with the engine stopped.

Replacement: front lower arm – BMW E60. Recommended sequence of steps:

Step 1

Secure the wheels with chocks.
Step 2

Loosen the wheel mounting bolts.Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 3

Raise the front of the car and secure on supports.
Step 4

Unscrew the wheel bolts.

Replacement: front lower arm – BMW E60. Tip:

To avoid injury, hold up the wheel when unscrewing the bolts.
Step 5

Remove the wheel.
Step 6

Clean the stabiliser link fasteners.Use a wire brush.Use WD-40 spray.
Step 7

Unscrew the fastener connecting the stabilizer link to the shock strut.Use a drive socket #16.Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 8

Clean the fastener connecting the tie rod end to the steering knuckle.Use a wire brush.Use WD-40 spray.
Step 9

Unscrew the end fastening nut to the steering knuckle.Use a drive socket #21.Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 10

Disconnect the tie rod end from the steering knuckle.
Step 11

Clean the fasteners of the headlight levelling sensor.Use a wire brush.Use WD-40 spray.
Step 12

Unscrew the fasteners of the headlight levelling sensor.Use a combination spanner #9.Use a combination spanner #10.
Step 13

Disconnect the headlight levelling sensor.
Step 14

Clean all joints of the arm.Use a wire brush.Use WD-40 spray.
Step 15

Unscrew the ball joint fastening to the steering knuckle.Use a drive socket #21.Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 16

Unscrew the front arm fastener.Use a combination spanner #18.Use a drive socket #18.Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 17

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

Unscrew the rear fastener connecting the control arm to the subframe.Use a combination spanner #18.Use a drive socket #18.Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 19

Unscrew the lower fastener connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle.Use a combination spanner #18.Use a drive socket #18.Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 20

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

Remove the fastening bolt.
Step 22

Unscrew the fastener of the stabiliser link bracket.Use a drive socket #16.Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 23

Release the lower fastener connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a flat metal-working chisel.Use a hammer.
Step 24

Lower the hydraulic transmission jack by 10-15 cm.

AUTODOC recommends:

Replacement: front lower arm – BMW E60. Lower the transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging components and mechanisms.
Step 25

Disconnect the lower arm from the steering knuckle.
Step 26

Remove the fastening bolt.
Step 27

Remove the arm.
Step 28

Clean the mounting seats and the thread of the suspension arm.Use a wire brush.Use WD-40 spray.
Step 29

Install a new arm.

Replacement: front lower arm – BMW E60. AUTODOC experts recommend:

During the installation process, use only new bolts and nuts.Do not damage the ball joint cover.
Step 30

Connect the lower arm to the steering knuckle.
Step 31

Raise the hydraulic transmission jack by 10-15 cm.
Step 32

Treat the shock strut mounting seat on the steering knuckle.Use a wire brush.Use WD-40 spray.
Step 33

Screw in the fastener of the stabiliser link bracket.Use a drive socket #16.Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 34

Install the fastening bolt.
Step 35

Screw in the fastener that connects the shock strut to the steering knuckle.Use a combination spanner #18.Use a drive socket #18.Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 36

Install the fastening bolt.
Step 37

Screw the front arm fastener.Use a combination spanner #18.
Step 38

Remove the support from under the steering knuckle.

Replacement: front lower arm – BMW E60. Tip from AUTODOC:

Lower the hydraulic transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging assemblies and mechanisms.
Step 39

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

Connect the tie rod end to the steering knuckle.
Step 41

Screw on the fastening nut that connects the tie rod end to the steering knuckle.Use a drive socket #21.Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 42

Connect the ball joint to the steering knuckle.

Step 43

Screw the fasteners of the ball joint.Use a drive socket #21.Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 44

Clean the mounting seats of the stabiliser link.Use a wire brush.Use WD-40 spray.
Step 45

Tighten the stabiliser link fastener.Use a combination spanner #16.
Step 46

Reconnect the headlight levelling sensor.
Step 47

Screw in the fasteners of the headlight levelling sensor.Use a combination spanner #9.Use a combination spanner #10.
Step 48

Tighten the fastener connecting the stabilizer link to the shock strut.Use a drive socket #16.Use a torque wrench.Tighten it to 60 Nm torque.
Step 49

Tighten the fastener of the stabiliser link bracket.Use a drive socket #16.Use a torque wrench.Tighten it to 50 Nm torque.
Step 50

Tighten the lower fasteners connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle.Use a drive socket #18.Use a torque wrench.Tighten it to 75 Nm torque.
Step 51

Tighten the fasteners of the headlight levelling sensor.Use a drive socket #10.Use a torque wrench.Tighten it to 7 Nm torque.
Step 52

Tighten the ball joint fastener.Use a drive socket #21.Use a torque wrench.Tighten it to 80 Nm torque.
Step 53

Tighten the fastening nut connecting the tie rod end to the steering knuckle.Use a drive socket #21.Use a torque wrench.Tighten it to 80 nm torque.
Step 54

Prop up the steering knuckle.Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 55

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 80 Nm torque.
Step 56

Tighten the rear 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 80 nm torque.
Step 57

Remove the support from under the steering knuckle.

AUTODOC recommends:

BMW E60 – Do not lower the transmission jack sharply to avoid damaging components and mechanisms of the car.
Step 58

Treat all joints of the arm.Use copper grease.
Step 59

Clean the wheel rim mounting seat.Use a wire brush.
Step 60

Treat the surface where the brake disc contacts the wheel rim.Use copper grease.
Step 61

Clean the brake disk surface.Use a brake cleaner.

Replacement: front lower arm – BMW E60. Tip from AUTODOC experts:

After applying the spray, wait a few minutes.
Step 62

Install the wheel.

AUTODOC recommends:

Important! Hold the wheel while screwing in the fastening bolts. BMW E60
Step 63

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

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