37 11 032 Replacing front left or right spring strut shock absorber

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Special tools required:

31 3 340
31 3 341
31 3 351
33 0 040
83 30 2 210 778
31 0 010
83 30 2 210 783

WARNING: Completely read the respective operating instructions before using special tools 31 3 340 !
Strictly adhere to all safety information and instructions in the operating instructions!
Failure to observe these safety precautions and instructions increases the risk of serious physical injury, damage to your health and damage to property and equipment!

Attention!

Use the special tools approved by BMW only!
Prior to each use, check the special tools for defects, modifications and operational reliability.
Damaged/modified special tools must not be used!
No changes or modifications may be made to the special tools!
These special tools are intended solely for the purpose of tightening and relieving cylindrical and tapered suspension springs.
Keep special tools dry, clean and (down to the spindle) free from grease.
Impact screwdrivers are prohibited!
Risk of damage inside the shock absorber!
Do not compress coil spring to full extent.

Necessary preliminary work:

Remove front spring strut . See 37 11 030 REMOVING AND INSTALLING FRONT LEFT OR RIGHT SPRING STRUT or 37 11 030 REMOVING AND INSTALLING FRONT LEFT OR RIGHT SPRING STRUT (ALL-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE)

Removing:

Clamp special tool 31 3 341 in vice.

Fit special tools 31 3 351 from above on special tool 31 3 341 until retaining bolts (1) can be felt and heard to snap into place.

Fig 1: Installing Special Tools (31 3 351)

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Insert spring strut into spring tensioner in such a way that anti-roll bar link fixture (1) is horizontally positioned to left or right.

Fig 2: Identifying Anti-Roll Bar Link Fixture

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WARNING: Coils of coil spring must be located completely in recesses of special tools 31 3 351 !
Compress coil spring until stress on piston rod is relieved.

Fig 3: Compressing Coil Spring

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Release nut with special tool 33 0 040.

Check support bearing and spring pad for damage and replace if necessary.

Remove shock absorber, auxiliary damper, protective tube and spring pad from tensioned coil spring, examine and replace if necessary.

Impact screwdrivers are prohibited!

Risk of damage inside the shock absorber!

Fig 4: Identifying Special Tool (33 0 040)

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Attention!

When mounting, spring strut and support bearing must aligned using special tool 83 30 2 210 778.

The following procedure must be followed.

Fig 5: Identifying Spring Strut And Support Bearing Align Mark

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Insert shock absorber in tensioned coil spring.

Slide auxiliary damper, protective tube and spring pad onto piston rod.

Attention!

Lower end of coil spring must rest against spring pad (1).

Fig 6: Identifying Spring Pad

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Attention!

Fit support bearing and align with end of coil spring.

Fig 7: Identifying Coil Spring End

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Use special tool 33 0 040 to attach support bearing.

Replace nut!

Tightening torque 31 31 2AZ .

Impact screwdrivers are prohibited!

Risk of damage inside the shock absorber!

Fig 8: Identifying Special Tool (33 0 040)

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

WARNING: Danger of injury!
Adjusting device emits laser beam!
Do not look into the beam!
Laser class 2
In accordance with EN60825-1: 1994
P≤ 1 mW

NOTE: On F03 vehicles, adapter sleeves 31 0 010 are to be used to enable fixing of special tool 83 30 2 210 778 on spring strut (damper eyelet)!

Fig 9: Identifying Adapter Sleeves (31 0 010)

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Align laser (1) with prism mirror (2)!

Mount laser (1) in damper eyelet
Mount prism mirror (2) vertically onto spring strut!
The prism mirror must be mounted on a clean, smooth surface. Do not mount prism mirror on label or weld beads!

Laser beam must face mirror!
Adjust the laser with adjusting screw (3) in such a way that the laser beam is projected onto mark (4) via the mirror.
Remove prism mirror ->After this, the laser adjustment must not be changed at the adjusting screw (3)!

Fig 10: Aligning Laser With Prism Mirror
Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Align the spring strut and the support bearing with each other.

Connect the gauge 83 30 2 210 783 to the support bearing.

Right spring strut:

Vehicles built before 04/2010: Position mark (1) "RIGHT A" on arrow (2) on support bearing.

On vehicles from 04/2010: Position mark (1) "RIGHT B" on arrow (2) on support bearing.

Left spring strut:

Position mark (1) "LEFT" on arrow (2) on support bearing.

NOTE: It must always be possible to read the "RIGHT" or "LEFT" marks (1) from the top.

Fig 11: Identifying Support Bearing Position Mark

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Align spring strut with support bearing or with corresponding mark on gauge (1) using laser beam and relieve tension.

Attention!

After the spring tension is relieved, the laser beam must point to the specified mark of gauge (1).

Failure to observe this requirement will result in substantial impairment of handling characteristics.

Vehicles built before 04/2010: Position laser beam on mark "3" of gauge.

On vehicles from 04/2010: Position laser beam on mark "2" of gauge.

Relieve spring tension.

Fig 12: Identifying Spring And Support Bearing Mark

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

After installation:

Code spring strut with ISID diagnosis system and check software version