Air Spring Strut

Replacing front left or right air spring strut

Caution:
The system must be fully depressurized before any components are replaced.

Drive car onto lifting platform and raise car.
Lower front and rear axles with BMW diagnostic system in EHC2 program under menu item "Component activation". Carry out each activation 6 times.
After the repairs have been completed, the pneumatic suspension system of the car on the lifting platform must be refilled with air with the diagnostic program (Component activation, raise front and rear axles).
Carry out each activation 6 times.
After this basic filling, lower car from lifting platform, then adjust ride levels in accordance with TIS with diagnostic program and carry out ride level offset.
In area of line connections, extreme cleanliness must be ensured during all tasks!
Even the smallest of dirt particles can cause leakage in the system.
Execute all screw connections in plastic threads with care as threads can very easily be damaged.
Do not kink pipes!

The car must not be set on its wheels with pressureless air spring struts.
The air spring struts can be damaged and destroyed during driving!
A vehicle with a faulty air spring strut is no longer roadworthy!

Remove front wheel.
Remove cover from front wheel housing.

Note: If there is no centering pin (1) fitted, only one nut may be released first.





Position of threaded pin to wheel arch must be marked. This ensures that the original camber is retained on installation.
Release two nuts of spring strut support bearing/wheel arch connection.

Installation:
Tightening torque:
- Spring strut mount to wheel house
- Flanged hexagon nut 18 mm 24 Nm
- Flanged hexagon nut 21 Nm 34 Nm





Right side of car: Release nuts securing washer fluid reservoir (1), bring reservoir into appropriate position in order to guarantee access to inner nut of spring strut support bearing/wheel arch connection.

Installation:
If a plastic centering pin (2) is screwed into the spring strut support bearing, carefully position centering pin during installation in bore in wheel arch. It is very easy for the plastic centering pin to be damaged.





Release nut of stabilizer link/air spring strut connection.

Installation:
Tightening torque:
- Stabilizer link on spring strut shock absorber and stabilizer 100 Nm
Note: wrench surface must be parallel to absorber axle.





Unclip speed sensor/brake wear cable from fixture (1) and disconnect in plug housing (2).





Unscrew nuts.
Remove swivel bearing and tie back.

Installation:
Replace self-locking nut.
Tightening torque:
- Spring strut shock absorber to pivot mount 250 Nm

Installation:





Fit bracket (1).





Release pipe (1).
Release as yet unreleased nut of spring strut support bearing/wheel arch connection and press air spring strut (2) into appropriate position in order to guarantee access to screw connection between pipe and air spring strut (arrow).
Unscrew pipe (1) at screw connection from air spring strut.
Remove air spring strut (2) towards bottom.