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How to change front suspension strut on BMW E82 – replacement guide

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Important!

This replacement procedure can be used for:
BMW 1 Coupe (E82) 118 d, BMW 1 Coupe (E82) 135 i, BMW 1 Coupe (E82) 120d, BMW 1 Coupe (E82) 123d, BMW 1 Coupe (E82) 120d, BMW 1 Coupe (E82) 120 i, BMW 1 Coupe (E82) 118 d … View more

The steps may slightly vary depending on the car design.

How to change a front shock strut on BMW 1 Series E82 [TUTORIAL AUTODOC]

All the parts you need to replace – Shock Absorber for 1 Coupe (E82) and other BMW models

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Replacement: suspension strut – BMW E82. Tools you need:

                      Wire brush
                    
                      WD-40 spray
                    
                      Brake cleaner 
                    
                      Copper grease 
                    
                      Combination spanner #13
                    
                      Combination spanner #18
                    
                      HEX bit no.H6.
                    
                      Drive socket # 13 
                    
                      Drive socket # 15 
                    
                      Drive socket # 18 
                    
                      Drive socket # 21 
                    
                      Wheel impact socket #17
                    
                      Shock absorber socket
                    
                      Ratchet wrench
                    
                      Torque wrench
                    
                      Tap wrench
                    
                      Crow bar
                    
                      Hydraulic strut spring compressor
                    
                      Hydraulic transmission jack
                    
                      Fender cover
                    
                      Wheel chock

Buy tools

Replacement: suspension strut – BMW E82. Professionals recommend:

Both shock struts of the front suspension should be replaced simultaneously.
The replacement procedure is identical for the left and right shock struts of the front suspension.
Please note: all work on the car – BMW E82 – 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

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

Loosen the upper fastener of the shock strut mount. Use a combination spanner #13.
Step 5

Secure the wheels with chocks.
Step 6

Loosen the wheel mounting bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 7

Raise the front of the car and secure on supports.
Step 8

Unscrew the wheel bolts.

Replacement: suspension strut – BMW E82. AUTODOC recommends:
To avoid injury, hold up the wheel when unscrewing the bolts.
Step 9

Remove the wheel.
Step 10

Clean the stabiliser link fasteners. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 11

Unscrew the fastener connecting the stabilizer link to the shock strut. Use a combination spanner #18. Use a drive socket #15. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 12

Remove the stabilizer rod.
Step 13

Disconnect the ABS sensor wiring.
Step 14

Detach the ABS sensor connector.
Step 15

Spread the brake pads. Use a crowbar.
Step 16

Clean the brake caliper bracket fasteners. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 17

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

Remove the brake caliper together with its bracket.

AUTODOC recommends:
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 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 drive socket #21. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 21

Disconnect the tie rod end from the steering knuckle.
Step 22

Clean all joints of the arm. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 23

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 24

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

Step 25

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 26

Unscrew the front arm fastener. Use a combination spanner #18. Use a drive socket #18. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 27

Remove the fastening bolts.
Step 28

Remove the control arms. Use a crowbar.
Step 29

Remove the fastening bolt.
Step 30

Prop up the steering knuckle. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 31

Release the lower fastener connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a special drive socket to remove the shock absorber. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 32

Lower the hydraulic transmission jack by 10-15 cm.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: suspension strut – BMW E82. Lower the transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging components and mechanisms.
Step 33

Disconnect the steering knuckle from the shock absorber strut.
Step 34

Unscrew the top fastening of the shock strut mount.

Replacement: suspension strut – BMW E82. Tip:
To avoid injuries, hold the shock strut when undoing the fastening bolts.
Step 35

Remove the suspension strut.
Step 36

Set the shock absorber strut on the spring compressor tool.

Replacement: suspension strut – BMW E82. 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 37

Compress the spring.
Step 38

Remove the shock strut mount cap. Use a crowbar.
Step 39

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

Remove the strut piston rod nut. Use a drive socket #21. Use HEX No.H6. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 41

Remove the top strut mount.
Step 42

Release the coil spring.
Step 43

Remove the spring.
Step 44

Remove the shock absorber dust cap and the bump stop.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: suspension strut – BMW E82. Carefully inspect the mount, the boot, and the bump stop of the shock absorber. Replace if necessary.
Step 45

Remove the old shock absorber from the hydraulic coil spring compressor.

Replacement: suspension strut – BMW E82. Tip from AUTODOC experts:
Before installing a new shock absorber you should pump it manually 3-5 times.
Step 46

Install the new shock absorber on the hydraulic coil spring compressor.
Step 47

Install the dust sleeve and the bump stop on the new 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 #21. Use HEX No.H6. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 64 Nm torque.

Replacement: suspension strut – BMW E82. Tip:
Check to make sure the spring is positioned correctly. Avoid its misalignment.
Step 52

Treat the shock strut rod. Use copper grease.
Step 53

Install the shock strut mount cap.
Step 54

Decompress the spring.
Step 55

Remove the assembled shock strut.
Step 56

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

Install the shock strut into the wheel arch.
Step 58

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 E82
Step 59

Treat the shock strut mounting seat on the steering knuckle. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 60

Fix the shock absorber strut on the steering knuckle.
Step 61

Install the fastening bolt.
Step 62

Remove the support from under the steering knuckle.

AUTODOC recommends:
BMW E82 – Do not lower the transmission jack sharply to avoid damaging components and mechanisms of the car.
Step 63

Clean the mounting seats and the thread of the suspension arm. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 64

Install the control arms.
Step 65

Install the fastening bolts.
Step 66

Clean the mounting seats of the tie rod end. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 67

Connect the tie rod end to the steering knuckle.
Step 68

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 69

Install the brake caliper together with its bracket.
Step 70

Tighten the brake caliper bracket. Use a drive socket #18. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 110 Nm torque.
Step 71

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 72

Support the arm. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 73

Tighten the rear fastener of the control arm. Use a combination spanner #18. Use a drive socket #18. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 68 Nm torque.+90°

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Be sure to use new fasteners.
Step 74

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 68 Nm torque.+90°

Replacement: suspension strut – BMW E82. Professionals recommend:
Important! Be sure to use new fasteners.
Step 75

Tighten the lower fasteners connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a combination spanner #18. Use a drive socket #18. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 82 Nm torque.
Step 76

Remove the support from under the arm.

AUTODOC recommends:
Lower the hydraulic transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging assemblies and mechanisms.
Step 77

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 165 nm torque.

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Be sure to use new fasteners.
Step 78

Attach the ABS sensor connector.
Step 79

Connect the ABS sensor wiring.
Step 80

Ιnstall the transverse stabilizer link.
Step 81

Tighten the fastener connecting the stabilizer link to the shock strut. Use a combination spanner #18. Use a drive socket #15. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 58 Nm torque.
Step 82

Treat all joints of the arm. Treat the shock strut fasteners. Use copper grease.
Step 83

Treat the surface where the brake disc contacts the wheel rim. Use copper grease.
Step 84

Clean the brake disk surface. Use a brake cleaner.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: suspension strut – BMW E82. After applying the spray, wait a few minutes.
Step 85

Install the wheel.

Replacement: suspension strut – BMW E82. Tip from AUTODOC experts:
To avoid injury, hold up the wheel when screwing in the fastening bolts.
Step 86

Screw in the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 87

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 88

Remove the jacks and chocks.
Step 89

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 90

Treat the fasteners of the shock strut mount. Use copper grease.
Step 91

Remove the fender protection cover.
Step 92

Close the hood.

AUTODOC recommends:
BMW E82 – Press the brake pedal several times with the engine shut down until you feel the resistance built up.

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