BMW 5 Series (E39) 1997-2003 - Rear ball joint - DIY Repair

Features BentleyPublishers' BMW 5 Series 1997-2003 Repair Manual (E39) - www.bentleypubl...
How to replace a rear ball joint on a 1997-2003 BMW 5 Series (E39). For more information on Bentley Publishers line of BMW technical manuals, visit www.bentleypubl...

[@mistokat]

If you don't have the BMW tool you can get away with a typical C-clamp style ball joint press, it requires considerably more care and really a second set of hands to keep everything lined up during the impact gun pressing phase. Also, be very careful with the vice grips holding things in place, they let go when I was doing this and mangled the rubber on the new ball Joint in the process, which subsequently ended up failing very quickly. It could also mangle a misplaced finger.

[@jjthesavage]

Joy, I'm doing this to my e38 in a week or two. Inner tire wear... I'll be using a c-clamp style ball joint press, should be fun times!

[@ooGENOCIDEoo]

Just did this repair last weekend using a jack and jack stands. I ended up having to disconnect the level sensor and the 2 innermost control arm bolts just so I could remove enough tension to swing the arm down some. Also, realigning everything was a real PITA. Saved a ton of money doing it myself though so !!!!!!

[@eonez3729]

Holy crap. I ended up unbolting the whole Lower control arm (swing arm) as shown in other videos and holy shit it took me like 2+ hours trying to put the thing back because of the tension everything. I had to hammer the outside Side of the Swing Arm in. Then inserted the largest bolt in (the one that goes through the wheel carrier) then i used an extra jack to push up Swing Arm to align it enough to insert the last bolt in. But man it looks easier than it is lol

[@ronfowler9563]

I am on day 5 with this on an 03 X5. Like you said E Onez, I can't align the other side of the integral link. I wasn't aware that with coil suspension it makes everything harder to do. Hopefully I'll be done by tomorrow night.

[@llanamejia]

I did not know The Bible was on KZbin. Great discovery

[@kenjones2972]

I have all the bentley manuals (set) but video is the best.. Thanks Bentley.

[@MrRoundel]

I'm curious as to where the mechanic is prying when he pulls the swing arm down. Is he under the axle? There's so much aluminum down there that I'd hate to damage it, but the axles seems iffy as well . I tried putting the end of the pry bar under the shock-mount nut, but didn't really have the kind of bite I needed. And why do most of these videos always edit out the hardest parts in wrestling the integral link and/or swing arm into position. These things appear in place like it magically set itself right? Not fair, guys.

[@LIOTBs]

Thank you for this! I have one question and I have been trying for a couple of days now. It's the very last step. For some reason I can't get the control arm and the knuckle to come together to get that final really long bolt through. The control arm keeps getting caught up on the ball joint. The only thing I can think of is that the ball joint was pressed too far. It did go about an 1/16 of an inch too far, the aluminum is pretty soft. Can you help!?! 2001 x5

[@ramp7t]

Great video, job is a pain.

[@lootzhimbeyohimbe6346]

Do you final torque at ride height?

[@kenjones2972]

Great Video. I'm going to have to do this soon :)

[@oscargutierrez6195]

hello? I want to know whether the suspension of a bmw e39 is compatible whit a bmw e60 545i 2005 thanks ✌

[@FidaPr]

Nice video quality !

[@syms85]

my e46 330cd has just failed its MOT on the rear rose bush joint its the upper one, is this the same????

[@Lineman_Lithuania]

thanks for the video

[@riazwade379]

Awesome

[@HondaCBRRRBlack]

Perfekt

[@playerbase0509]

Link for tool?

[@chippievw]

Vicegrips clamped on machine spot face on lower arm........please bin vicegrips from your workshop. I have commented on your other video too, please realise Im not an internet troll, but all Im saying is, theres a time and place for a vicegrips, and this is not one of those times, especially clamped on a forged alloy spotface, If it throws up a burr there, your initial preload force on long bolt will be inaccurate, and it will loosen.