BMW 7 Series: Replacing Front Left Or Right Coil Spring

Notes

IMPORTANT: Both coil springs on the relevant axle must be replaced only in the event of corrosion breakage!

The coil spring is allocated in the Electronic Parts Catalogue (EPC) under the menu item "Spring table" after the vehicle identification number has been entered and the relevant optional equipment of the car has been selected.

WARNING: Prior to each use of special tool 31 3 340 , it is essential to read the associated Owner's Handbook fully! All the safety information and instructions contained in the Owner's Handbook must be strictly observed!

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!

IMPORTANT:

1. Prior to each use, check the special tools for defects, modifications and operational reliability.

7. Do not compress coil spring to full extent.

Necessary preliminary work

• Remove FRONT SPRING STRUT

Relieve tension on coil spring and remove from special tools 31 3 351.

Fig. 64: Removing Coil Spring From Special Tool (31 3 351)

IMPORTANT: To be able to align the support bearing to the spring-strut bore when assembling the spring strut (see illustration), the spring in the spring tensioner must be positioned correctly!

• The spring coil with the largest diameter must be positioned against the support bearing
• The upper coil spring end must be in contact with the limit position of the spring pad!
• Position the spring with mounted support bearing and gauge 83 30 2 210 780 in the spring tensioner so that the marks (1) are positioned vertically toward the top.

  Position the gauge on the support bearing:
  Right support bearing:

Fig. 65: Identifying Support Bearing On Spring-Strut Bore Aligning Mark

In vehicles to 04/2010, position mark "RIGHT A" on arrow at support bearing In vehicles from 04/2010, position mark "RIGHT B" on arrow at support bearing Left support bearing:

Position mark "LEFT" on arrow at support bearing See also REPLACING SPRING STRUT!

WARNING: Do not compress coil spring to full extent.

Coils of coil spring must be located completely in recesses of special tools 31 3 351!

Tension coil spring.

Fig. 66: Removing Coil Spring From Special Tool (31 3 351)

Further assembly: See REPLACING FRONT LEFT OR RIGHT SPRING STRUT

REPLACING FRONT LEFT OR RIGHT SPRING STRUT SHOCK ABSORBER

Notes

WARNING: Prior to each use of special tool 31 3 340 , it is essential to read the associated Owner's Handbook fully! All the safety information and instructions contained in the Owner's Handbook must be strictly observed! 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!

IMPORTANT:

1. Prior to each use, check the special tools for defects, modifications and operational reliability.

7. Do not compress coil spring to full extent.

Necessary preliminary work

• Remove FRONT SPRING STRUT

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. 67: Identifying Bolt And Special Tools (31 3 341 And 31 3 351)

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. 68: Identifying Anti-Roll Bar Link Fixture

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. 69: Identifying Special Tool (31 3 351)

Release nut with special tool 33 0 040 Socket.

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.

Fig. 70: Releasing Nut Using Special Tool (33 0 040)

IMPORTANT: When mounting, spring strut and support bearing must aligned using special tool 83 30 2 210 778! The following procedure must be followed.

Fig. 71: Aligning Spring Strut And Support Bearing

Insert shock absorber in tensioned coil spring.

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

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

Fig. 72: Identifying Spring Pad

IMPORTANT: Fit support bearing and align with end of coil spring.

Fig. 73: Identifying Support Bearing On Coil Spring Aligning Position

Use special tool 33 0 040 Socket to attach support bearing.

Replace nut! Tightening torque 31 31 2AZ.

Fig. 74: Releasing Nut Using Special Tool (33 0 040)

WARNING: Danger of injury! Adjusting device emits laser beam! Do not look into the beam! Laser class 2
To EN60825-1 : 1994
P < or = 1 mW

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. 75: Aligning Laser On Mark Using Prism Mirror

Align spring strut and support bearing with each other

Mount gauge 83 30 2 210 780 onto 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.

Fig. 76: Identifying Position Mark On Support Bearing

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

IMPORTANT: 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. 77: Identifying Support Bearing On Spring-Strut Bore Aligning Mark

Spring With Suspension

MEASURING VEHICLE RIDE HEIGHT

Determine actual ride height (A) - to do so, attach tape measure to rim flange (2) at bottom middle and measure to wheel arch lower edge (1).

Fig. 78: Identifying Vehicle Ride Height From Wheel Arch Lower Edge To Rim Flange

REMOVING AND REFITTING/REPLACING FRONT LEFT OR RIGHT SPRING STRUT

BEARING

NOTE: Procedure is described in REPLACING FRONT LEFT OR RIGHT SPRING STRUT.

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