Part 1: Installing shocks, struts and springs on a BMW 3 series 99 thru 05 (E46)

[@weyderwarr]

It's great to see retailers putting this much care into educating consumers. Great job! Thank you.

[@co-deangramz3307]

Naw thank youtube period 😂

[@petetaormina-g3v]

MISS YOU GUYS. BEST DIY ON THE WORLD. MISS THE STORE AS WELL

[@originaleastender]

From the United Kingdom - you have made installing suspension so easy and calmly!! Great work mate.

[@breyton490]

I may have to get rid of my Audi S4 and get a BMW... These videos are fantastic. Nothing like these exist for Audi owners...Awesome info and very well produced.. Clear info, great explanation of tasks...

[@JosueGarciarace]

I'm going to buy a BMW this year so watching all these videos help so much! I want to do my own maintenance not pay someone else!

[@bavarianautosport]

Good luck with the search for the "new" car!

[@JosueGarciarace]

BavarianAuto Haha thanks man!

[@dijonnahar7613]

+Josue Garcia did you get a BM yet?

[@JosueGarciarace]

Dijon Nahar haha, sadly i didn't ....i bought a miata with 70k miles for $2800 and sold it 2 months ago for $4500 now i bought a Porsche 944 for $3900... im already bored with the porsche so now im trying to sell it to buy a E30!

[@dijonnahar7613]

Why bored with Porsche?

[@dr.g2307]

great video..i just replaced the front shocks with no problems thanks to this video....a 500 dollars saved

[@bavarianautosport]

Thanks for your comments and notes. We have indeed used penetrating lube many times on the later models that use the pinch clamp for the front shocks.

[@Muzikteechur]

Man do I miss BavAuto. :(

[@garvinaaharris8273]

Excellent by Bavarian, Everytime, all the time, by the time and up to the time, A GARVIN" Say So!!

[@deangayon8442]

Great video, Thank you! However, years ago when I replaced the control arm bushing/control arms/ ball joints, everyone was raving about the Meyle arms/joints/bushings. Now, attempting to install stock replacement dampers, I can't get enough clearance to get the shock in/out of the steering hub cinch assembly. Amy tricks?

[@bavarianautosport]

Are you sure that the tire is rubbing on the strut vs. a negative camber issue? Can you see the rubber on the strut?

[@DanTheManIOM]

Helping my son, just doing a stock, 1 for 1 replacement...IDK there was a Bentley manual, I have one for my vw. but this is E46 is a different car all together !

[@bavarianautosport]

Preston Adams - Unfortunately, we cannot reply directly to your comment that was input via google+ -The E46 325xi shocks are installed exactly as shown on this 2wd model.

[@samiralim95]

do you have to perform wheel alignment since u loosen those inner lower controll arm nuts??

[@tawkinhedz]

Samir Alim yea

[@whatthehell3949]

noticed that there is no bump stop installed to the new Bilstein is this supposed to be

[@JoseRamirez-xs5lq]

Toy guys at bav auto are really professional love the vids... Was wondering if this was the issue with my 02 325i.. every time i turn the wheel i hear a really bad sound its not coming from the power steering. . It sounds like something is not greased and i can feel it in the steering wheel..any ideas? Fellow KZbinrs, bav auto??

[@JCru2]

I noticed you didn't show us the upper mount that screws on with three bolts under the hood. How does it fit, does it need a cushion pad? Does it fit flat against the mount? It is flat surface.

[@CapN-Savvy]

Question regarding st coil overs - The front shock is not cone shaped like the pss10. therefore do i not need a upper spring pad nor the spring plate?

[@mxkcrm]

hello. Im hoping you could help, I have a 2005 M3 and the inner tire (Front left) keeps rubbing against the strut where the spring seats. All components are original including the rim and tire size. The tire is now wasted around 1 inch on the inner side. Any idea what can possibly be wrong?? Also, about a week ago I had to pull over to the side of the road to find the tire shredded (same side). I threw away the tire before i could take a look if it had gone through the same problem

[@MrCollindpyle]

Hi Otto, do you sell the entire shock with the spring compressed? I thought I remembered seeing this somewhere but I cannot seem to find it. Thanks

[@Reygerhard]

Hello, I have an 04' 330i zhp one of my rear shock needs to be replace any suggestions thanks

[@dlad38]

I was asked by a lady friend of mine to check her shocks, on a 2003 BMW 330xi, so I told her I would need to do some research first. Looking at her shocks it looks like who ever did them may have replaced them wrong. The flang on the shock looks like its in the wrong position facing inboard instead of toward the back of the vehicle is this wrong? Also do you have a diagram for how the bottom spring plate sits, in relation to the flang?

[@BASSREEFLEX]

Detailed & explained professionally Great video ! Liked & Sub...

[@ThePeoplesLlama]

at about 7:40 you talk about the link that connects to that headlight thing, my link is okay but the plastic around the link broke off, what is that whole headlight thing called?

[@bavarianautosport]

If the arm from the sensor unit is broken (that the link connects to), you'll need to replace the sensor. If you have an E46 3-series, here's a link to it: www.bavauto.com/fland.asp?part=37%2014%206%20784%20696

[@WatchdogVideo]

I have a 2000 323i which I am having trouble finding the correct aftermarket strut/spring assembly. The dealer looked up my VIN and said that my BMW is the sport/premium package with the sport struts. Most all the aftermarket struts state they are NOT for the sports suspension. I do not have the electronic suspension. Do you sell the correct strut/spring assembly for the front of this BMW and what part number is it? Thanks in advance.

[@ginellecross6523]

Another great video!

[@hpygolkyone]

Wondering why you did not install strut tower reinforcements?

[@whatthehell3949]

how come there is bump stop reinstalled

[@bavarianautosport]

Unfortunately, we do not currently have any E34 models on the lot. However, much of what we do can be applied. If you would like assistance with any particular tasks, please email our advisors. [e-mail]

[@rickh1634]

Probably just a personal thing but I always replace the pinch bolt. The reason is that I don’t know the history of the bolt and what stresses it’s seen previously; it came off easily in this video but in the past it may have been more difficult and taken beyond yield. It also might not be the correct bolt if there’s been a previous problem. Stick a new OEM one in, you know it’s safe. Same with any other main bolt e.g. the ones for the alloy brace under the car.

[@franciscodee1059]

So when I purchase the strut assembly, that includes the shocks aswell?? or do I need to purchase seperate shocks from the strut assembly?? also will this resolve any tramlining that I've been experiencing while going about 35mph or more on the highway?

[@bavarianautosport]

Really, all you are replacing is the shock. The complete assembly of the shock, spring and associated components is what is commonly called the "strut". You would normally replace the shock and reuse the spring. You may or may not replace the upper mount and other hardware.People tent to use the term "strut" for what is really just the shock itself. As for your "trammeling", worn shocks may or may not be contributing to this. Are you talking about a vibration or the steering tending to pull one way or the other?

[@franciscodee1059]

BavarianAuto No vibration, just the steering needs to be corrected at speeds higher then 35mph when on the highway there is a 2inch or so play. Do you know what that could be?

[@7150285]

in order to install the "strut dust cover" will I need to remove the entire strut as well as the coil spring?

[@bavarianautosport]

If you mean the plastic tube that is snapped onto the external compression bumper, and protects the shock piston rod from direct exposure to dirt and moisture ...... yes, complete disassembly is required to remove or replace it.

[@7150285]

BavarianAuto :( so will you need a spring compressor as well to do so ?? And I will need to do alignment after I re-attach the strut right?

[@howlingmedia4354]

I have 2002 bmw 325i e46 m52tu how would i k now if i have a sport suspension ?

[@Tr33People]

I have an e46 1999 that I had trouble removing the front struts from. I bought struts from you guys and got them installed into the spring. When I was trying to remove the old struts I could not get enough clearance to get the tube out of the c clamp. Any hints or ideas?

[@bavarianautosport]

If you disconnect the swaybar link, you should be able to push the control arm (and hub asssembly) down a bit more.

[@Tr33People]

BavarianAuto Swaybar end link removed like in the above video. I had to reconnect the top bolts in wheel well and then push the c clamp back on and all the way up, then shove the c clamp and rotor down hard then the bottom of the strut popped out of the c clamp. Had to do it on both sides. I'll be lucky if I didn't break anything.

[@Tr33People]

I called in and got an answer that should help.

[@bavarianautosport]

Ra0king - Any progress?

[@Tr33People]

BavarianAuto Thanks for asking, I got it done on Saturday without any real issues for some reason putting it in was easier than taking the strut out. I really don't know why but I didn't need to pry anything downward.

[@francoesposito1617]

Would spraying WD40 on the pinch bolt help so it won't snap? If does snap what would you use to remove the broken bolt?

[@marlensands943]

great video. well explained.

[@dmcadik]

How do I get the strut off if the bolts are stripped

[@jakofall79]

what would the link actually control with the bi xenon lights the one which you say is connected to lower control arm

[@bavarianautosport]

+cash money - The automatic up/down aiming of the lights.

[@frenchcleaners3048]

Bavarian Autosport tm

[@jonathannellis]

Ahhh the e46 strut pinch bolt, my arch nemesis. So we meet again. :D Doesn't this bolt have like a 50% chance of failure the first time it is removed?

[@bavarianautosport]

Not exactly 50% .... We've broken one. It certainly is an issue to be aware of ... and prepared for.

[@edwardshippen4357]

I have a 2000 328i with performance suspension. Got everything loose, but the hub assembly would not drop down enough for me to remove the old shock. Even with prying it needed to drop another inch and a half to remove old shock. Any suggestions?

[@bavarianautosport]

We're not exactly sure just where you are having trouble. If you remove the lower mount bolt first and dislodge the lower end of the shock from the trailing arm, The complete shock will drop right out, once the upper mount is disconnected.

[@edwardshippen4357]

I did not remove the top three bolts, just the lower mount bolt and the arm on the side of the shock. The trailing arm(hub assembly) drops down but wont drop far enough for the shock to be removed. Is this problem with the performance suspension?

[@bavarianautosport]

edward shippen --woops. We assumed your were at the rear suspension. Sorry. On the front, if you disconnect the swaybar link and the headlight sensor link (if used), you should be able to push the steering knuckle clamp downward on the shock. You will not typically be able to fully push it down off the shock tube. As shown in the video, remove the three upper mount nuts and then lower the shock and hub assembly. Push the assembly downward and pull the top of the shock assembly out of the wheel well. You can then pull the shock out of the clamp. You can have a helper push downward on the hub assembly as you pull the shock from the clamp. -

[@edwardshippen4357]

ed shippen Tried again, This time removing 3 upper mount bolts. It will not clear wheel well, so did not help. The hub is down as far as I can push downward on it and it still needs to drop another inch or 2 in order to remove shock. Evidently performance suspension requires different procedure. Do I need to lower trailing arm ball unit?

[@bavarianautosport]

edward shippen Ed, do you have doth the right and left sides in the air 9wheels hanging)? Do you have the swaybar link disconnected? Sport suspension will have nothing to do with how low the control arm and hub will push down.

[@morantb]

My wheel on my 330ci 2002 gets pulled to the right and left when it drives over bumpy surfaces. A mechanic told me that it was due to someone putting the spring back onto the strut without twisting the spring into the correct position. So now the spring acts a little wonky. Does any body know if the spring needs to sit onto the spring pad in a very specific location or not?

[@Gadman]

Yes. There's a Bavarian Auto sport video that shows the correct location for the spring. Better late than never.

[@rickyjhutty9267]

How similar is the process in an e46 m3?

[@bj2benn93]

can you do some work on e34s

[@dessiemurray3026]

will the coil springs from the from off a e46 fit a e36

[@bavarianautosport]

The rear springs will physically fit. The fronts will not.

[@tomyarosz7407]

And if the bolt breaks like mine did.. What do I do???? Do I have to buy a new pinch clamp or can it be drilled and tapped ?

[@bavarianautosport]

+Tom Yarosz - You can drill & tap. We've had to do it too.

[@tomyarosz7407]

+Bavarian Autosport so what size drill bit and tap should I get ? Thanks for replying so quickly !

[@bavarianautosport]

Haha ... well, if nothing else, that sounds like a good reason to switch!

[@jamespha9896]

Thank you learn educates

[@luisr9501]

whats the drop on this?

[@martinaddai5718]

Can I get e46 part supply to Africa?

[@superdiver.]

7:35, very important!!!

[@dessiemurray3026]

the front ones will fit all that has to be done is use the e46 top part off the shock im up and going

[@ledmk2]

Nice

[@tonyrunyon375]

do I need a different sway bar end link if I'm using an adjustable height strut?

[@iamjeeves]

7:25 DAS BOOT!

[@kennywebster8765]

The E46 M3 is not that easy

[@saleplains]

hahahaha gently lower the assembly so that we dont "shock" anything. excellent pun.

[@25tubz]

All that talking and you didnt show how to remove the top mount off the strut

[@pierreg1184]

25tubz they posted another video showing all the strut assembly / disassembly process

[@1rewd133]

Easy-peasy for you on the pinch bolt, mine is being a b****.