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How to change front strut mount on BMW E39 – replacement guide

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Important!

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

The steps may slightly vary depending on the car design.

How to change strut mount BMW 5 E39 [TUTORIAL AUTODOC]

Alternative products

Top strut mount

Replacement: strut mount – BMW E39. List of the tools you'll need:

                      Wire brush
                    
                      WD-40 spray
                    
                      Brake cleaner
                    
                      Copper grease
                    
                      Combination spanner #10
                    
                      Combination spanner #13
                    
                      Combination spanner #18
                    
                      Combination spanner #19
                    
                      Drive socket # 10
                    
                      Drive socket # 13
                    
                      Drive socket # 16
                    
                      Drive socket # 22
                    
                      HEX bit no.H6.
                    
                      Wheel impact socket #17
                    
                      Ratchet wrench
                    
                      Torque wrench
                    
                      Flat Screwdriver
                    
                      Flat chisel
                    
                      Hammer
                    
                      Ball joint puller
                    
                      Hydraulic strut spring compressor
                    
                      Hydraulic transmission jack
                    
                      Fender cover
                    
                      Wheel chock

Buy tools

Replacement: strut mount – BMW E39. AUTODOC recommends:

The replacement procedure is identical for the mounts of the left and right shock struts of the front suspension.
All mounts of the front shock struts should be replaced simultaneously.
Be sure to replace all self-locking nuts and bolts during installation.
Please note: all work on the car – BMW E39 – should be done with the engine switched off.

Carry out replacement in the following order:

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: strut mount – BMW E39. Tip:
To avoid injury, hold up the wheel when unscrewing the bolts.
Step 5

Remove the wheel.
Step 6

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

Step 7

Unscrew the end fastening nut to the steering knuckle. Use a combination spanner #19.
Step 8

Disconnect the tie rod end from the steering knuckle. Use a ball joint puller.
Step 9

Unscrew the fasteners of the control arm plastic cover. Use a drive socket #10. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 10

Remove the control arm plastic cover.
Step 11

Clean the fasteners connecting the control arm to the subframe. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.

Step 12

Loosen the front fastener of the control arm. Use a combination spanner #18 (2 pieces).
Step 13

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

Step 14

Unscrew the fasteners of the headlight levelling sensor. Use a combination spanner #10. Use a drive socket #10. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 15

Disconnect the headlight levelling sensor.

Step 16

Unscrew the rear fastener connecting the control arm to the subframe. Use a combination spanner #18. Use a drive socket #16. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 17

Remove the rear fastener of the control arm.

Step 18

Unscrew the fastener of the stabiliser link bracket. Use a drive socket #16. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 19

Remove the fastening bolt.

Step 20

Clean the fasteners connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 21

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 22

Remove the fastening bolt.
Step 23

Remove the bracket from the shock absorber strut.

Step 24

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

Step 25

Disconnect the steering knuckle from the shock absorber strut.

Replacement: strut mount – BMW E39. AUTODOC experts recommend:
Make sure that the steering knuckle is supported.
Step 26

Install the rear fastener of the control arm.

Step 27

Lower the car.

Step 28

Open the bonnet.
Step 29

Use a fender protection cover to prevent damaging paintwork and plastic parts of the car.
Step 30

Clean the fasteners of the shock strut upper mount. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 31

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

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Hold the suspension strut while unscrewing the fastening bolts. BMW E39
Step 32

Remove the suspension strut.
Step 33

Set the shock absorber strut on the spring compressor tool.

Replacement: strut mount – BMW E39. Tip from AUTODOC experts:
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 34

Compress the spring.
Step 35

Remove the shock strut mount cap. Use a flat screwdriver.
Step 36

Treat the shock strut rod. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 37

Remove the strut piston rod nut. Use a drive socket #22. Use HEX No.H6. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 38

Remove the top strut mount.

Replacement: strut mount – BMW E39. Professionals recommend:
Examine the shock absorber dust cap and the bump stop. Replace them if necessary.
Step 39

Clean the mounting seat of the shock strut mount. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.

Step 40

Treat the fasteners of the shock strut mount. Use copper grease.
Step 41

Install a new top shock strut mount.
Step 42

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: strut mount – BMW E39. AUTODOC recommends:
Check to make sure the spring is positioned correctly. Avoid its misalignment.
Step 43

Install the shock strut mount cap.
Step 44

Decompress the spring.

Step 45

Remove the assembled shock strut.
Step 46

Install the shock strut into the wheel arch.
Step 47

Screw the top fastening of the shock strut mount.

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Hold the suspension strut while screwing in the fastening bolts. BMW E39
Step 48

Tighten the upper fastener of the shock absorber strut mount. Use a combination spanner #13. Use a drive socket #13. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 24 Nm torque.
Step 49

Remove the fender protection cover.
Step 50

Close the hood.
Step 51

Raise the front of the car and secure on supports.

Step 52

Remove the rear fastener of the control arm.

Step 53

Fix the shock absorber strut on the steering knuckle.
Step 54

Install the rear fastener of the control arm.

Step 55

Prop up the steering knuckle. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 56

Install the fastening bolt.

Step 57

Install the bracket onto the shock absorber strut.
Step 58

Install the fastening bolt.
Step 59

Tighten the fastener of the stabiliser link bracket. Use a drive socket #16. Use a ratchet wrench. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 60 Nm torque.
Step 60

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 61

Remove the support from under the steering knuckle.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: strut mount – BMW E39. Lower the transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging components and mechanisms.
Step 62

Connect the tie rod end to the steering knuckle.

Step 63

Tighten the fastening nut connecting the tie rod end to the steering knuckle. Use a combination spanner #19. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 65 nm torque.
Step 64

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

Step 65

Prop up the steering knuckle. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 66

Tighten the rear fastener of the control arm. Use a combination spanner #18. Use a drive socket #16. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 110 Nm torque.
Step 67

Tighten the front fastener connecting the control arm to the subframe. Use a combination spanner #18 (2 pieces). Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 110 nm torque.

Step 68

Treat all joints of the arm. Use copper grease.
Step 69

Remove the support from under the steering knuckle.

Replacement: strut mount – BMW E39. Tip from AUTODOC experts:
Lower the hydraulic transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging assemblies and mechanisms.
Step 70

Install the control arm plastic cover.
Step 71

Screw the fasteners of the control arm plastic cover. Use a drive socket #10. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 72

Reconnect the headlight levelling sensor.

Step 73

Tighten the fasteners of the headlight levelling sensor. Use a combination spanner #10. Use a drive socket #10. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 7 Nm torque.
Step 74

Treat the surface where the brake disc contacts the wheel rim. Use copper grease.
Step 75

Clean the brake disk surface. Use a brake cleaner.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: strut mount – BMW E39. After applying the spray, wait a few minutes.
Step 76

Install the wheel.

AUTODOC recommends:
To avoid injury, hold up the wheel when screwing in the fastening bolts.
Step 77

Screw in the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 78

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 79

Remove the jacks and chocks.

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