BMW 5 Series F10 - Rear Strut, Shock Absorber, Spring Replacement - N55 DIY - 2011 BMW 535i F10 3.0

** TO AVOID DAMAGE TO BRAKE LINE **
At 9:01 and 17:45, you are technically risking damaging the brake line. To avoid this risk, remove the brake caliper before commencing the job.

[@Gino20202]

What a great, detailed video. Thank you for taking the time to make this to help others. You even included the torque specs! Really well done!

[@Eric-zo6eq]

I had a broken spring on the right rear of a 2013 535i w/ M-sport suspension. The cost of the spring and replacement lower rubber stopper was around $200. This video was very helpful in identifying what needed to be done and I, with assistance of my 14 yr. old son , was able to complete the repair. Key take always from my experience I would emphasize: - Be very careful not to drop the nuts from the top of the strut as you work through the speaker hole. It can fall into the upper trunk frame and is a pain to extract - Removing the lower strut bolt was easier for me with breaker bar closer to the hub rather than running a long extension. - When removing the strut I recommend removing the plastic clips and repositioning the brake line away from the frame rather than attempting to clear it over top and risk damage as a you bounce the suspension to get the strut out of the wheel well - in order to reattach the strut w/ with new spring I needed to put the wheel back on the car, strap a 60lb sandbag on the wheel and have my son step on the tire but it worked... Thanks for the help...!!!

[@yogi799]

thanks for contributing more useful info bud. glad the video helped.

[@traceyharris2573]

Your video is the best! No one else has shown this operation at this level of detail.

[@tofandao]

That’s why when you have a light color interior you remove any panel you can. I remember on my old E39, that had a the same interior color, I removed everything I could: interior rear side panels, back seats, before getting the car to the mechanic, because I didn’t trust him that he will not make a mess inside my car.

[@mattitolonen6280]

Nice to watch, but there is a one big error on installation. You have to torque the lower suspension bolt while the car is the normal driving position as BMW declares. Don’t torque the bolt while car is jacked up. Always final torque when the car stands by it’s own weight so the bushings don’t stress and break

[@Earlhelder]

Yeah.. The springs get rusty but isnt BMW fault since even if they aftermarket this happens.. I changed last year the front right and now is the Back right.. They always recommend change both sides springs because they will never bounce same because of over the years they lose their flexibility etc etc.. I changed both front and now both back. Thanks for the vid.. Just needed to know where the hell is the bolts to take away the suspension hehehe

[@Awackypenguin]

If you don't want to remove the brake line and are doing this solo, you can also just remove the track strut. It's the rear most control arm.

[@alexelliot7328]

great idea thanks

[@marcwhite7329]

Nice video. I watched it because I wanted to know why this repair was so labor intensive. I have a 2011 535 and had the rear right spring and strut replaced in 2017. It was under extended warranty. Same rear right spring broke in 2021. Called dealer for estimate. $908 for one side. One spring and strut is $271 new. The rest is labor. If I want to replace both left and right, $1,450. I will have the dealer replace the broken right one only.

[@omarelmeslouhi2550]

tks for the video , keep up the nice work , you give me confidence to work on my 535 . tks

[@Trump-The-GREATEST]

That big bottom strut bolt has to be torque at 180ft-lbs not 120 😂 There's a trick to doing this job easier and that's having all the right tools and full torque specs for each bolt and nut. Harbor Freight has all the tools ull need. For the big bottom strut bold removal, in my case cause i have EDC shocks on my M Sport 535i, it was soo damn hard to try to remove with just a hand power and a long breaker bar. So i studied it hard and found a way. I got a medium size good quality breaker bar that doesn't flex (Icon) put on a 3in extension and the 21mm deep impact socket. Went right under the bolt as there's about a 3 to 4 inch spack , got a good lock position and grabbed onto the exhaust pipe for leverage and used my powerful legs and pushed the breaker bar. That got it loosed easily. Now my M12 Stubby was able to get in there with the deep socket and loosen it more where i was able to use my wrench now to fully remove it!

[@papapalo6654]

Thanks 😊 it helps me to change shock absorber on my f10 👍

[@grzegorzszymanowski4091]

I must do the same with my BMW 7 series, i think it could be the same procedure. Thank you very much :)

[@yogi799]

You're welcome!

[@georgeutaumire946]

I am here because I messed up bought two shocks from a scrap yard they both looked dry only to discover that they wer cleaned so they don't have the oil they even worse than the ones I took out😂😂😂 Tip of the day don't buy used mechanical parts from junk yard only buy stuff that never needs to be repaired...

[@ionutbarac3859]

Very Very good explanation...

[@michaelk9270]

Great video and YES! BMW still cant get springs right on their cars!!!

[@Trump-The-GREATEST]

I have all the correct Torque specs for all the nuts & bolts for this job. A good quality torque wrench is recommended. Remember, the top small nuts that hold the strut/shock are easily breakable if you over hand tighten. The right tools for the right job will take you about 1hr or less for each side.

[@markmoore7462]

If you have the correct torque specs for this job could you please share?

[@kianward5999]

great vid pal i realy enjoyed it great job done

[@Trump-The-GREATEST]

My M-Sport f10 uses the most expensive shocks bmw offered. Mine are the EDC shocks that adjust from soft to firm instantly and cost and arm and a leg of about $600+ each! 😭🔫 my shock is way different with lots of electronic stuff attached on it (EDC system) and FCPeuro doesn't show them at the beginning but only untill i found out they were EDC versions and found them on FCPeuro & almost had a nuttsack explode when i saw the price for just one! There's no videos of anybody removing the same shocks as mine... 😂 But should be the same process as on this video...

[@Individjual]

Excellent thank you very much.

[@bmw4631]

Hello! I will be installing Dinan springs on my 2014 550 rear wheel drive very soon and i appreciate you putting so much detail in the work that is involved. Thank you! I had a quick question regarding the self locking nut that sits at the top of the top mount of the strut. At picture frame 12:52, what is the tightening torque needed for that nut?

[@yogi799]

sorry bud no idea. just feel how tight it is when you undo it and tighten to roughly the same amount lol. will make no difference tbh.

[@razasyed4577]

Great video !

[@buzzdig7917]

Hey man…I’m in middle of this project but I can’t remove the big bottom nut…so I’m stuck now. Any suggestions on tools or tricks??

[@yogi799]

Hey, two suggestions are big breaker bar or a power tool to knock it loose. Or is it something else.

[@yogi799]

Oh, just watched this vid and i said there is no space for impact gun. So, jack up the car higher and use a big ass breaker bar.

[@yogi799]

The other thing that always works is heating it up with propane torch. but be sure to not burn any rubber nearby as then you're screwed. I use propane all the time for removing brake rotors. must be red hot to go easily. but again, dont damage anything non-metal

[@mbmass]

Was there a reason you didnt turn the wheel for better access to the bolts you needed to remove and to remove the strut assembly?

[@robertspeck4935]

Because this is for the rear? Lol

[@emmetg888]

Good video

[@monacocross4241]

same spring se model car and m sport model ???

[@K.T.789]

Thank you for sharing this!!

[@stevekelly5166]

You are a cowboy that is lucky to have all of your limbs. How your airgun trigger works by just pushing the hose on an off. Scary. Then doing everything one handed like a spastic? That poor brake hose! I've got my second broken spring and looking to do it myself as I'm an engineer. Just needed to know how to access the relevant bolts. Thanks for that part though. The rest, you are lucky to have all of your fingers and eyes. If you were doing this in the middle of nowhere OK, but you are NOT.

[@yogi799]

LOL. Appreciate the drama but glad i was able to help.

[@stevekelly5166]

@@yogi799 You will save me not only on the labour cost, (but buying cheaper than official prices will help me.) I'll have to hire a spring compressor too. Look after your kids as if a spring slips, it sort of goes bang before you know it. OK for you, but keep the kids away. Cheers.

[@mustafaozkul5803]

Next time put the down side of your absorber in and put the above side at last. Than u dont need 2 people😉 but im just a mechanic. Do our own way😅

[@yogi799]

thanks!!

[@gtiracer2761]

This was no where near how hard it actually was 6 hours for 1 side putting the large bolt needed more than someone jumping on the hub. Show how you got the bottom bolt in.

[@yogi799]

hey bud, sorry to hear that but no, there was nothing else, a heavy person just jumping on it ideally with their full weight on it,

[@marcphelan9883]

Just changed both sides on mine 4 hours to do both just myself and I'm no mechanic

[@catfisher420]

Seems like an outrageous price for a used strut when a set of 4 new quick struts are only $200

[@yogi799]

Link please. Must fit this car.

[@soldiers-nf2ps]

Oh bullyaaat