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How to change rear coil springs on BMW E39 – replacement guide

downloads: 5

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) 540i, BMW 5 Saloon (E39) 535i, BMW 5 Saloon (E39) 525 td, BMW 5 Saloon (E39) 530 d, BMW 5 Saloon (E39) M5, BMW 5 Saloon (E39) 535i, 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) 530 i … View more

The steps may slightly vary depending on the car design.

How to change rear springs / rear coil springs on BMW 520i (E39) [TUTORIAL AUTODOC]

Alternative products

Coil spring

Replacement: coil springs – BMW E39. List of the tools you'll need:

                      Wire brush
                    
                      WD-40 spray
                    
                      Brake cleaner 
                    
                      Copper grease 
                    
                      Combination spanner #16
                    
                      Combination spanner #22
                    
                      Drive socket # 10 
                    
                      Drive socket # 13 
                    
                      Drive socket # 16 
                    
                      Drive socket # 21 
                    
                      Drive socket # 22 
                    
                      Wheel impact socket #17
                    
                      Ratchet wrench
                    
                      Torque wrench
                    
                      Shock absorber socket #DD6
                    
                      Tap wrench
                    
                      Crow bar
                    
                      Plastic trim tool
                    
                      Phillips screwdriver
                    
                      Hydraulic strut spring compressor
                    
                      Hydraulic transmission jack
                    
                      Wheel chock

Buy tools

Replacement: coil springs – BMW E39. Tip:

Both coil springs of the rear suspension should be replaced simultaneously.
The replacement procedure is identical for the left and right coil springs of the rear suspension.
Warning! Shut down the engine before starting any work – BMW E39.

Carry out replacement in the following order:

Step 1

Remove the lower part of the rear seat.
Step 2

Unscrew the fasteners of the rear seat backrest. Use a drive socket #10. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 3

Remove the rear seat headrests.
Step 4

Remove the rear seat backrest.
Step 5

Remove the side plastic cover. Use a plastic trim tool.
Step 6

Unscrew the rear seat headrest bracket. Use a Phillips screwdriver.
Step 7

Remove the clips from the parcel shelf.
Step 8

Detach the parcel shelf.
Step 9

Unscrew the fasteners of the speakers. Use a Phillips screwdriver.
Step 10

Detach the speaker connector.
Step 11

Remove the speakers.
Step 12

Bend the interior sound insulation upwards.
Step 13

Remove the shock strut mount cap.
Step 14

Loosen the upper fastener of the shock strut mount. Use a drive socket #13. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 15

Secure the wheels with chocks.
Step 16

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

Raise the rear of the car and secure on supports.
Step 18

Unscrew the wheel bolts.

Replacement: coil springs – BMW E39. AUTODOC recommends:
To avoid injury, hold up the wheel when unscrewing the bolts.
Step 19

Remove the wheel.
Step 20

Clean the stabiliser link fasteners. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 21

Unscrew the fastener connecting the stabilizer link to the stabilizer bar. Use a combination spanner #16. Use a drive socket #16. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 22

Remove the stabilizer rod.
Step 23

Disconnect the brake pads wear sensor. Use a crowbar.

Please note!
Some cars are not equipped with the brake pad wear sensor.
Step 24

Support the arm. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 25

Spread the brake pads. Use a crowbar.
Step 26

Clean the brake caliper bracket fasteners. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 27

Unscrew the caliper bracket fastening. Use a drive socket #16. Use a tap wrench.
Step 28

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 29

Remove the support from under the arm.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: coil springs – BMW E39. Lower the transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging components and mechanisms.
Step 30

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

Unscrew the lower fastener of the shock absorber strut. Use a drive socket #21. Use a tap wrench.
Step 32

Clean all joints of the arm. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 33

Disconnect the ABS sensor wiring.
Step 34

Clean all joints of the arm. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 35

Unscrew the fastener connecting the control arm to the rear knuckle. Use a combination spanner #22. Use a drive socket #10. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 36

Unscrew the arm fastening to the beam. Use a combination spanner #16.
Step 37

Detach the bottom part of the shock strut. Use a crowbar.
Step 38

Remove the fastening bolt.
Step 39

Remove the arm.
Step 40

Unscrew the top fastening of the shock strut mount.
Step 41

Remove the suspension strut.
Step 42

Set the shock absorber strut on the spring compressor tool.

Replacement: coil springs – BMW E39. AUTODOC experts 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 43

Compress the spring.
Step 44

Treat the shock strut rod. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 45

Remove the strut piston rod nut. Use a shock absorber socket DD№6. Use a drive socket #16. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 46

Remove the top strut mount.
Step 47

Release the coil spring.
Step 48

Remove the spring.
Step 49

Remove the shock absorber dust cap and the bump stop.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: coil springs – BMW E39. Carefully inspect the mount, the boot, and the bump stop of the shock absorber. Replace if necessary.
Step 50

Install the spring on the shock absorber.
Step 51

Install the boot and a bump stop onto the shock absorber.
Step 52

Compress the spring.
Step 53

Install the upper strut mount and the strut mount bearing.
Step 54

Tighten the shock strut piston rod nut. Use a shock absorber socket DD№6. Use a drive socket #16. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 27 Nm torque.

AUTODOC recommends:
Check to make sure the spring is positioned correctly. Avoid its misalignment.
Step 55

Decompress the spring.
Step 56

Remove the assembled shock strut.
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 E39
Step 59

Clean the mounting seats of the shock strut. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 60

Attach the bottom part of the shock strut.
Step 61

Tighten the lower fastening of the shock absorber. Use a drive socket #21. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 127 Nm torque.
Step 62

Clean the mounting seats and the thread of the suspension arm. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 63

Reinstall the control arm.

Replacement: coil springs – BMW E39. Tip:
Do not damage the ball joint cover.
Step 64

Install the fastening bolt.
Step 65

Screw in the fastener that connects the control arm to the rear knuckle. Use a combination spanner #22. Use a drive socket #10. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 66

Tighten the fastener connecting the suspension arm to the rear knuckle. Use a drive socket #22. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 142 Nm torque.
Step 67

Support the arm. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 68

Screw in the fastener connecting the control arm to the subframe. Use a combination spanner #16.
Step 69

Tighten the arm fastening to the beam. Use a drive socket #16. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 110 nm torque.
Step 70

Connect the ABS sensor wiring.
Step 71

Install the brake caliper together with its bracket.
Step 72

Tighten the brake caliper bracket. Use a drive socket #16. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 65 Nm torque.
Step 73

Connect the brake pads wear sensor.
Step 74

Remove the support from under the arm.

AUTODOC recommends:
BMW E39 – Do not lower the transmission jack sharply to avoid damaging components and mechanisms of the car.
Step 75

Ιnstall the transverse stabilizer link.
Step 76

Tighten the fastener connecting the stabilizer link to the stabilizer bar. Use a combination spanner #16. Use a drive socket #16. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 60 Nm torque.
Step 77

Treat all joints of the arm. Treat the shock strut fasteners. Use copper grease.
Step 78

Treat the surface where the brake disc contacts the wheel rim. Use copper grease.
Step 79

Clean the brake disk surface. Use a brake cleaner.

Replacement: coil springs – BMW E39. Tip from AUTODOC:
After applying the spray, wait a few minutes.
Step 80

Install the wheel.

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Hold the wheel while screwing in the fastening bolts. BMW E39
Step 81

Screw in the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 82

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 83

Remove the jacks and chocks.
Step 84

Tighten the upper fastener of the shock absorber strut mount. Use a drive socket #13. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 24 Nm torque.
Step 85

Treat the fasteners of the shock strut mount. Use copper grease.
Step 86

Install the shock strut mount cap.
Step 87

Reinstall the interior sound insulation.
Step 88

Reinstall the speakers.
Step 89

Screw in the fasteners of the speakers. Use a Phillips screwdriver.
Step 90

Attach the speaker connector.
Step 91

Reinstall the parcel shelf.
Step 92

Reinsert the parcel shelf clips.
Step 93

Screw in the rear seat headrest bracket. Use a Phillips screwdriver.
Step 94

Install the side plastic panel. Use a plastic trim tool.
Step 95

Reinstall the rear seat backrest.
Step 96

Screw in the fasteners of the rear seat backrest. Use a drive socket #10. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 97

Reinstall the rear seat headrests.
Step 98

Reinstall the lower part of the rear seat.

Replacement: coil springs – BMW E39. AUTODOC recommends:
Without starting the engine, press the brake pedal several times until you feel significant resistance.

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