[hamanncheese]

Here's a quick write-up from my 535i H&R Spring install. This is from memory so I'm sure I'm missing a few steps. Sorry I don't recall the socket and wrench sizes. Please use these photos for reference only and it is by no means a complete write-up.

Before pic


Front suspension


Remove sway bar link and move it out of the way


Remove lower shock bolt


Remove strut mount nuts


Remove strut by pressing down on the aluminum arm and maneuver the strut out of the control arm. You'll need a buddy for this step. This step was a bit challenging but it is possible to remove the strut without removing any additional components.


Here's the stock front strut


Swap springs by using spring compressor to compress spring. Swap spring out with H&R. Sorry no pics of this step.

Rear Suspension


Access rear shock mount nuts by removing rear speaker grills and speakers. You'll need a stubby swivel socket wrench and a torx bit.


Remove shock mount nuts


Remove lower shock mount bolt


You'll notice that the shock won't come out since many components are blocking it's way out. I found that if you remove the following components, you'll be able to remove the shock:





Swap over H&R Springs


Comparison of stock spring to H&R spring


Button everything up to Bentley torque specs and let the suspension settle for a few weeks before aligning. Will post after pics shortly. Good luck!!!

Also, if you are in so-cal and are too lazy to do the spring install yourself. PM me and I'll refer you to my buddy who helped me with the install. We knocked this out in about 3 hours.

[Suthrn]

Thanks man. Good start. If I do this or we have anyone else on here do this more pics will really help.

[XDEEDUBBX]

looking forward to those pics, got mine installed today but picking up my car tomorrow

[ausfahrt]

Originally Posted by hamanncheese

Button everything up to Bentley torque specs

Thanks for the DIY. I've looked for a Bentley Manual for the F10 and cant find one. So what's the Torque specs for all the bolts that you removed? Or can you guide me to where you got the Bentley Manual so I may purchase it. Thanks again.

[JNoSol]

Great post. Can you please PM the torque spec?

[Alan l.]

Was the install any different on the F10 than any other car? I've done my fair share of installs on various cars and they are more or less the same in every car. Seems like i'm seeing shops charge a huge premium installing springs on the F10 making me think theres something completely different about the work done or otherwise shops are just praying on those who aren't mechanically inclined hitting them with a premium BMW 5 Series tax...

[sanf]

haha..also there's no competition on installs over here in the East coast. So it's a premium price no matter where you go.

[Vinfast]

Depends on where you go --- my install was a bargain!!

[ImSW1]

I ended up doing my own install in my drive way for the same reason. Everyone quoted 7 hours to do the work, it took me 6. I don't have a compressor, or any other fancy tools and had never even looked under my car until that day. I'm pretty decent with a wrench though. You will need a 21mm socket and a decent pry bar. The other thing is swivels to get to the bolts that are under the rear speakers. Otherwise it's a standard install using standard tools.

It was this DIY that conviced me to do my own and it basically is exactly as hamanncheese describes. My answer, they're definitely ripping us off. With airtools and a lift I probably could have cut another hour off the job pretty easily.

My biggest issue has been finding someone outside of the dealer that can do a wheel alignment. The angle sensors seem to scare most standard shops away from the work, so it went to the dealer. It's still better that chewing up and paying for replacement tires.

Sean

[Alan l.]

I was charged 150 to install coilovers on my E90 and thats only because i was lazy to do it myself. going rate seems to be about 150-250 depending where you go for install on "regular" cars. I've seen people pay 5-6-700 on just labor on the F10 which is outrageous.

Thanks to this DIY which confirms it for me installing suspension on the F10 isn't any different than on any other car

[Jimefam]

Nice thread. Yeah some people are getting raped with the install charges, there's a guy on another board that paid over $1400 labor to install his $500 springs. Thanks to Vinfast I paid a fraction of that.

[alextremo]

Just an update to this for those with EDC and IAS...

I used this write up to install my ACS springs this weekend on jackstands by myself in my garage and it was great (thanks to hamanncheese for the write up and ImSW1 for the tips!) A couple of differences that I noticed:

1) I did not need to remove the other suspension bits in the rear to get the strut out as shown above, I just removed the wheel well liner and it came out easily.

2) The speaker covers on the back deck just pop out using a trim removal tool - start with the front and then push up to remove.

3) I picked up a bendy wrench from HF for $10 and it made removing the strut tower bolts under the speaker a piece of cake.

4) I did need to remove the tension strut in the front to get the strut out - the extra electronics and valves on the strut body won't allow it to come out as mentioned above. To remove this I used a 24mm box end wrench and a T47 driver.

5) There is a plug leading from the strut to to a plastic housing for the electronics that you have to remove. The housing has tabs on top that you can pop open with your fingertips, the plug has a lock on the black end that you push to release and it pops right out.

6) If I had to do it again, I would probably pay a garage with a hydraulic spring compressor to swap the springs once I got them out. That was the worst part of the job, especially on the front springs...

[missilewarriorz]

Originally Posted by Alan l.

I was charged 150 to install coilovers on my E90 and thats only because i was lazy to do it myself. going rate seems to be about 150-250 depending where you go for install on "regular" cars. I've seen people pay 5-6-700 on just labor on the F10 which is outrageous.

Thanks to this DIY which confirms it for me installing suspension on the F10 isn't any different than on any other car

very true...the labor price on the install on e90s and e92s are a lot less than an f10 install

[rbembas535i]

I'm a first time BMW owner of a F10 535i with a 6 speed MT and I would like to know how much of a difference does it make changing the springs?

[rbembas535i]

Originally Posted by hamanncheese

Here's a quick write-up from my 535i H&R Spring install. This is from memory so I'm sure I'm missing a few steps. Sorry I don't recall the socket and wrench sizes. Please use these photos for reference only and it is by no means a complete write-up.

Before pic


Front suspension


Remove sway bar link and move it out of the way


Remove lower shock bolt


Remove strut mount nuts


Remove strut by pressing down on the aluminum arm and maneuver the strut out of the control arm. You'll need a buddy for this step. This step was a bit challenging but it is possible to remove the strut without removing any additional components.


Here's the stock front strut


Swap springs by using spring compressor to compress spring. Swap spring out with H&R. Sorry no pics of this step.

Rear Suspension


Access rear shock mount nuts by removing rear speaker grills and speakers. You'll need a stubby swivel socket wrench and a torx bit.


Remove shock mount nuts


Remove lower shock mount bolt


You'll notice that the shock won't come out since many components are blocking it's way out. I found that if you remove the following components, you'll be able to remove the shock:





Swap over H&R Springs


Comparison of stock spring to H&R spring


Button everything up to Bentley torque specs and let the suspension settle for a few weeks before aligning. Will post after pics shortly. Good luck!!!

Also, if you are in so-cal and are too lazy to do the spring install yourself. PM me and I'll refer you to my buddy who helped me with the install. We knocked this out in about 3 hours.

I'm a first time BMW owner of a F10 535i with a 6 speed MT and I would like to know how much of a difference does it make changing the springs?

[premiertuning]

I'm planning on fitting some Eibach Pro's to my UK 520D - this thread has given me the inspiration to go for it!!

Can anyone confirm the torque specs please?

And what are the angle sensors? Are they fitted to all F10's or just those with the adaptive suspension? (mine has stock suspension)

[saurabh_turingMS]

Bump for Bentley torque specs

[half man half amazin]

The shop working on mine right now has encountered the (air ride) ad self leveling connections on the strut. Any idea of how they should proceed as installation has halted while they are trying to figure this out.

[alextremo]

Just unplug them, I mentioned this in a post above.

[Will Pwr]

Originally Posted by half man half amazin

The shop working on mine right now has encountered the (air ride) ad self leveling connections on the strut. Any idea of how they should proceed as installation has halted while they are trying to figure this out.

Follow the harness that comes from the shock to a black box on the chassis, there is a plug in connector in the box.

[half man half amazin]

Cool, thanks guys.

[jande25670]

Hammancheese, any after pics of your ride?

Thanks.