31 31 000 Removing and installing complete left or right spring strut shock absorber

WARNING: This page does not describe the selected car, but rather 11 other vehicles, including the 2013 BMW 328i, 2012 BMW 328i, 2011 BMW 328i, 2010 BMW 335i, and 2010 BMW 328i. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

IMPORTANT: If the centering pin is missing from the support bearing, the position of the studs to the wheel arch must be marked so that the original camber is approximately maintained.
Only one nut may ever be released for marking.

Necessary preliminary tasks:

Remove front wheel. See 10 WHEELS .
Remove front brake disc. See 11 FRONT BRAKE .
Remove anti-roll bar link from spring strut .
Detach plug connection for pulse generator and expose line up to holder on spring strut
Detach plug connection for brake pad sensor and expose line up to holder on spring strut

If necessary, remove jointed rod of ride-height sensor from control arm.

Fig 1: Locating Jointed Rod Of Ride-Height Sensor

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Slacken control arm bolt connection on front axle carrier in order to prevent control arm rubber mount from being damaged.

Remove control arm from swivel bearing .

Remove tie rod end from swivel bearing. See 32 21 151 REPLACING LEFT OR RIGHT TIE ROD .

Remove trailing link from swivel bearing

WARNING: Risk of injury! Secure spring strut against falling out.

Centering pin missing: remove tension strut (on spring strut dome) and mark position of threaded pins to wheel arch. See 51 71 371 REMOVING AND INSTALLING/REPLACING TENSION STRUT ON LEFT OR RIGHT SPRING STRUT DOME .

Release nuts (1) and remove spring strut with swivel bearing towards bottom.

Installation:

Clean contact surface in spring strut dome.

Align spring strut using centering pin to bore in wheel arch or studs to wheel arch and push upwards.

Replace self-locking nuts.

Tightening torque, see 31 31 1AZ in 31 31 SPRING STRUTS .

Fig 2: Identifying Nuts

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

IMPORTANT: Replace faulty sealing washer (1).
Reinstall sealing washer (1) and plate insert (2).

Fig 3: Identifying Sealing Washer And Plate

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

After installation:

Perform chassis alignment check. See 32 00 150 KDS CHASSIS/WHEEL ALIGNMENT CHECK WITH LOAD UP TO DESIGN POSITION or 32 00 155 KDS CHASSIS/WHEEL ALIGNMENT CHECK WITH RIDE-HEIGHT MEASUREMENT WITHOUT LOAD .
Carry out steering angle sensor adjustment/adjustment for active front steering. See 61 31 996 CARRY OUT STEERING ANGLE SENSOR ADJUSTMENT or 32 10 005 ADJUSTMENT FOR ACTIVE FRONT STEERING .