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How to change front suspension strut on BMW X3 E83 – replacement guide

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Important!

This replacement procedure can be used for:
BMW X3 (E83) xDrive20d, BMW X3 (E83) xDrive 30 d, BMW X3 (E83) xDrive30i, BMW X3 (E83) 3.0i xDrive, BMW X3 (E83) 3.0d, BMW X3 (E83) 2.0d, BMW X3 (E83) 2.0i, BMW X3 (E83) 3.0d, BMW X3 (E83) 3.0 si, BMW X3 (E83) 2.5si, BMW X3 (E83) 3.0sd, BMW X3 (E83) 2.0 sd, BMW X3 (E83) xDrive 20 i, BMW X3 (E83) xDrive25i, BMW X3 (E83) xDrive30i, BMW X3 (E83) xDrive20d, BMW X3 (E83) xDrive 18 d, BMW X3 (E83) xDrive 30 d, BMW X3 (E83) xDrive 35 d, BMW X3 (E83) 2.5i, BMW X3 (E83) xDrive 18 d, BMW X3 (E83) 2.5si xDrive, BMW X3 (E83) 3.0i, BMW X3 (E83) 3.0 si, BMW X3 (E83) 3.0d, BMW X3 (E83) xDrive25i … View more

The steps may slightly vary depending on the car design.

How to change a front shock strut on BMW X3 E83 [TUTORIAL AUTODOC]

All the parts you need to replace – Shock Absorber for X3 (E83) and other BMW models

Alternative products

Shock absorber

Replacement: suspension strut – BMW X3 E83. Tools you might need:

                      Wire brush
                    
                      WD-40 spray
                    
                      Brake cleaner 
                    
                      Copper grease 
                    
                      Torque wrench
                    
                      Combination spanner #16
                    
                      Drive socket # 13 
                    
                      Drive socket # 16 
                    
                      Drive socket # 18 
                    
                      Drive socket # 19 
                    
                      Drive socket # 21 
                    
                      HEX bit No.H6
                    
                      Shock absorber socket
                    
                      Wheel impact socket #17
                    
                      Ratchet wrench
                    
                      Crow bar
                    
                      Hydraulic strut spring compressor
                    
                      Hydraulic transmission jack
                    
                      Fender cover
                    
                      Wheel chock

Buy tools

Replacement: suspension strut – BMW X3 E83. Tip from AUTODOC:

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 X3 E83 – 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

Secure the wheels with chocks.

Step 5

Loosen the upper fasteners of the suspension strut. Use a drive socket #13. Use a ratchet wrench.
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.

AUTODOC recommends:
Warning! To avoid injury, hold the wheel while unscrewing the fastening bolts. BMW X3 E83
Step 9

Remove the wheel.
Step 10

Disconnect the brake hose.
Step 11

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

Unscrew the fastener connecting the stabilizer link to the shock strut. Use a drive socket #16. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 13

Remove the stabilizer rod.
Step 14

Disconnect the ABS sensor wiring.
Step 15

Clean the lower fastener connecting the suspension strut to the steering knuckle. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.

Step 16

Unscrew the lower fastener connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a combination spanner #16. Use a drive socket #18. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 17

Remove the fastening bolt.
Step 18

Prop up the steering knuckle. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 19

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 20

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

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: suspension strut – BMW X3 E83. After applying the spray, wait a few minutes.
Step 21

Unscrew the fastener connecting the control arm to the subframe. Use a combination spanner #16. Use a drive socket #18. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 22

Lower the hydraulic transmission jack by 10-15 cm.

Step 23

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

Unscrew the upper fasteners of the shock strut.

AUTODOC recommends:
BMW X3 E83 – 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: suspension strut – BMW X3 E83. Professionals 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 27

Compress the spring.
Step 28

Remove the shock strut mount cap. Use a crowbar.
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 drive socket #21. Use HEX No.H6. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 31

Remove the top strut mount.
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: suspension strut – BMW X3 E83. Carefully inspect the mount, the boot, and the bump stop of the shock absorber. Replace if necessary.
Step 35

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

Replacement: suspension strut – BMW X3 E83. Tip from AUTODOC experts:
Before installing a new shock absorber you should pump it manually 3-5 times.
Step 36

Install the new shock absorber on the hydraulic coil spring compressor.
Step 37

Install the dust sleeve and the bump stop on the new shock absorber.
Step 38

Install the spring on the shock absorber.
Step 39

Compress the spring.
Step 40

Install the upper strut mount and the strut mount bearing.
Step 41

Tighten the shock strut piston rod nut. Use a drive socket #19. Use HEX No.H6. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 64 Nm torque.

Replacement: suspension strut – BMW X3 E83. AUTODOC experts recommend:
Check to make sure the spring is positioned correctly. Avoid its misalignment.
Step 42

Treat the shock strut rod. Use copper grease.
Step 43

Install the shock strut mount cap.

Step 44

Decompress the spring.
Step 45

Remove the assembled shock strut.
Step 46

Treat the shock strut mounting seat on the steering knuckle. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 47

Install the shock strut into the wheel arch.
Step 48

Secure the upper fasteners of the shock strut. Do not tighten it.

AUTODOC recommends:
Warning! To avoid injury, hold the wheel while screwing in the fastening bolts on the car. BMW X3 E83
Step 49

Clean the mounting seats of the shock strut. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 50

Fix the shock absorber strut on the steering knuckle.
Step 51

Install the fastening bolt.
Step 52

Screw in the fastener that connects the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a combination spanner #16. Use a drive socket #18. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 53

Remove the support from under the steering knuckle.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: suspension strut – BMW X3 E83. Lower the transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging components and mechanisms.
Step 54

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

Screw the fastener connecting the control arm to the subframe. Use a combination spanner #16. Use a drive socket #18. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 56

Tighten the fasteners connecting the control arm and the subframe. Use a combination spanner #16. Use a drive socket #18. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 110 Nm torque.
Step 57

Tighten the lower fastening of the shock absorber. Use a drive socket #16. Use a drive socket #18. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 100 Nm torque.
Step 58

Remove the support from under the arm.

AUTODOC recommends:
BMW X3 E83 – Do not lower the transmission jack sharply to avoid damaging components and mechanisms of the car.
Step 59

Connect the ABS sensor wiring.
Step 60

Clean the mounting seats of the stabiliser link. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 61

Ιnstall the transverse stabilizer link.
Step 62

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 63

Attach the brake hose.
Step 64

Treat all joints of the arm. Treat the shock strut fasteners. Use copper grease.
Step 65

Clean the wheel rim mounting seat. Use a wire brush.
Step 66

Treat the surface where the brake disc contacts the wheel rim. Use copper grease.
Step 67

Clean the brake disk surface. Use a brake cleaner.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: suspension strut – BMW X3 E83. After applying the spray, wait a few minutes.
Step 68

Install the wheel.

AUTODOC recommends:
Warning! To avoid injury, hold the wheel while screwing in the fastening bolts on the car. BMW X3 E83
Step 69

Screw in the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 70

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 140 Nm torque.
Step 71

Remove the jacks and chocks.
Step 72

Tighten the upper fasteners of the shock strut. Use a drive socket #13. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 32 Nm torque.
Step 73

Treat the fasteners of the shock strut mount. Use copper grease.
Step 74

Remove the fender protection cover.
Step 75

Close the hood.

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