[brocken]

BTW, thanks for the DIY!

I have a couple more questions for anybody that's done this. I'm thinking about installing some springs and shocks this weekend.

Is there any way possible that whole front assembly could come out without compressing the spring? Like an extra bolt you could remove that would drop the arm down?
The reason I ask is that it would be nice to take the whole thing off and go into a shop and have them take the old assembly apart and put the new parts on.
I can do the compressing part myself(did it on a honda) but I'd rather not if I don't have to.

Also, does anybody have a parts list for the shock assembly? Just in case I needed to replace something.
were you able to reuse the stock parts like bumpstops, etc.?

thanks!

[voltron1011]

I did this about 6 months ago and there is no way to do it without compressing the spring first.... It just won't clear under the fender...
You might be able to take the lower end bolt off and pull the entire strut assembly out, however I'm not sure if there is enough room for the strut/spring assy to extend.

Here's a link to the suspension parts breakdown: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/partgrp.d...22&hg=31&fg=10

[brocken]

Awesome, thanks for the post.
I think it still sounds doable myself, just not as easy as I thought.

Did you replace the shocks?
If so, did you just reuse the stock washers and bumpstop and re assemble?

[voltron1011]

Yeah I reused everything because I was going from non-sport-springs to sport-springs (both OEM) so there was no real need to change anything out....

A bit of advice from me: If you end up getting a spring compressor, make sure it's a good one. I had this POS one from Harbor-Freight that caused me a lot of grief.

Also, the rears are infinitly more simple to do than the fronts, so you may want to plan accordingly. Despite what other posters put in here about taking the inside bolt out to drop the control arm down, it's not the case.... All you need to do is remove the one from the outside (near the brakes). It's very simple.

Let me know if you have any more questions.

[brocken]

Thanks again for all the info here. I think I'm about to brave the install this weekend. I decided against the springs but I'm stilling installing the FSD shocks.

[voltron1011]

Good luck.

[brocken]

It's a no go for me! I think I'm just selling these darn things, too much going on.

I got the front passenger wheel off, shock assembly almost all the way out but couldn't get the lower part out of the control arm. Yes, I removed the "pinch" bolt on the control arm and tried prying that apart, still couldn't pull the shock out. It was completely wedged in there. I didn't really have any room to hammer on it so I just put everything back together.
I don't have the money to pay for the install so unfortunately I'm selling the badboys.
Thanks for the DIY though. I bet the springs would be a lot easier. You could take those off without taking the shock assembly out.

[ironic]

anyone know the torque specs for all the bolts? I'm about to do this and i'd like to do it right.

also anyone follow these instructions for the e92? did u have to do much improvising?

[brocken]

I posted up looking for the torque specs a while ago and didn't get a response. Good luck with that.

From taking apart my E92 the instructions looked about the same.
Like I mentioned, the only part I had trouble with was removing the front shock from the control arm. I just couldn't get it out without pounding on the shock. maybe I was just having a bad day... lol
If you're just doing springs it should be easier.

[wj4]

Originally Posted by NaTuReB0Y

if you need an extra pair of hands....let me know....

the dude at F1 did it in less than an hour......

Super late reply...but F1 as in F1 Motorsports in NoHo?

I'm going to try to tackle this job this weekend, well not springs but coilover...same principle

[BMWPower06]

nice right up, drop looks great

[voltron1011]

I'm going to be swapping out my shocks/struts in the next few weeks/months with ZSP one's... If time permits, I'll snap some photos of this and add it to this DIY, or maybe just start a new one?
Also, does anyone have any experience with this spring compressor: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=47890 ?

I'm thinking about picking it up because compressing the springs is the hardest part of this DIY!

[stressdoc]

wj4 how did your coilover swap go? I am planning on that when I get a break from work...

[Spool]

Thanks for the DIY...but the rear camber arm doesn't need to be unbolted, just undo the one near the wheel hub...much much easier, esp. if you got an E92 335, the exhaust pipe sits right where the other bolt is, impossible to get to..

[j|rz44]

Used the diy yesterday....
the guys out here wanted about $500 for the install!
thought i would save myself some money and learn something along the way
InI thank you very much for your help!
here are a few pics....
oh and for the rear ^+1
GL

[ph19]

Great DIY

[voltron1011]

jmramos, how did those spring compressors work out for you? Without a doubt, the hardest part of doing this is wrestling with them.

[j|rz44]

they worked well... the hardest part was paying $80 for them

[voltron1011]

Cool.... I'm getting ready to take this plunge again, but this time I'm keeping the springs and changing out the shocks and struts.... The rears are going to be super easy (thanks to longtran's diy), however the fronts will take a bit more work this time around because I'll have to completely remove the entire strut assembly. I'm not really looking forward to it all, esp with 115 degree summer approaching, but I'm not paying some shop 600 bux to do it.

I found this on bimmerpost a few months back... Even though it's for a Z3, the guy did a really good write up on changing out the suspension:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...ing+compressor

[Spool]

Once you do a car or two...everything is the same...you just gotta see what you need to take out for certain part to come out...and remember to put it back the way you took it out..

good luck, have fun..

[j|rz44]

GL & post pics. when you finish....

[Jason]

Added to DIY master list - http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1721

Thanks for sharing.