Page 713 of 1002

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Rear ~us~ensionl
Working in cargo compartment, attach BMW special tools
33 2 302,33 2 303 and 33 2 305 to special tool 33 2 304.
Use special tool 33 2 306 to compress spring.
Tighten until lower spring coil lifts off spring seat on wheel
bearing carrier.
- Disconnect control rod for ride height sensor if applicable.
4 Remove ABS pulse sensor (arrow) from wheel bearing car-
rier.
- Support wheel bearing carrier from below.
CAUTION-
The shock absorberprevents the drive axle and wheel bear-
ing carrier from dropping too far. Supporting the wheel bear-
ing carrier before disconnecting the shock absorber
mounting fastenerprevents damage to the
brake hose, park-
ing brake cable and drive axle
CVjoints.
- Remove shock absorber lower mounting bolt
4 Remove stabilizer bar link mounting nut (arrow). Press link
out of swing arm.
4 Mark location (arrow) of rear camber adjustment washer and
bolt.
NOTE -
Rear camber is adjusted at the inner swing arm eccentric
rear mounting bolt.
Page 716 of 1002
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Rear Suspension
4 Models with coil springs: Working at top of spring, press cen-
ter cap down or pry upward to remove. If pushed down, re-
move from inside coil spring from under car.
4 Working from underneath, position BMW special tool 33 2
301
between 2nd and 3rd spring coil from bottom.
Make sure tool recess faces upward.
Working in cargo compartment, guide BMW special tool 33
2 304
from above and thread into special tool 33 2 301.
Working in cargo compartment, attach BMW special tools 33
2
302,33 2 303 and 33 2 305 to special tool 33 2 304.
Use special tool 33 2 306 to compress spring.
Tighten until lower spring coil lifts off spring seat on wheel
bearing carrier.
- - -
-
Page 720 of 1002

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330-24
Rear Suspension
4 Working from underneath, position BMW special tool 33 2
301 between 2nd and 3rd spring coil from bottom.
Make sure tool recess faces upward.
Working in cargo compartment, guide BMW special tool 33
2 304 from above and thread into special tool 33 2 301.
4 Working in cargo compartment, attach BMW special tools 33
2 302, 33 2 303 and 33 2 305 to special tool 33 2 304.
Use special tool 33
2 306 to compress spring.
Tighten until lower spring coil lifts off spring seat on wheel
bearing carrier.
4 Models with air springs: Loosen compressed air pipes (ar-
rows) at air distribution assembly to release system pres-
sure.
WARNING -
Vehicle will lower when the air pipes are opened. 1
- Support wheel bearing carrier from below.
CAUTION-
The shock absorber prevents the drive axle and wheel bear-
ing carrier from dropping too far. Supporting the wheel bear-
ing carrier before disconnecting the shock absorber
mounting iastenerprevents damage to the brake hose,
parl-
ino brake cable and drive axle CV ioints.
- Models with air shock absorbers: Detach air supply line from
shock absorber. Plug ports and lines to keep out dirt.
- Remove shoclc absorber lower mounting bolt
Page 724 of 1002

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330-28
Rear Suspension
4 To install, jack subframe into position. Install and tighten sub-
frame mounting bolts. Note that on each bolt, rubber-coat-
ed detent plate
(arrow) must be installed at rear in driving
direction.
Tightening torques
Rear
subframe to body (M12) 163 Nm (120 ft-lb)
- Remainder of installation is reverse of removal, noting the fol-
lowing.
Make sure long lower strut bushing fits in hole in wheel
bearing carrier.
111 0 Tighten suspension arm and shoclc absorber fasteners to
502330036 final torque only afler vehicle has been lowered and sus-
pension has settled.
Have car professionally aligned when job is complete
Tightening torques
ABS pulse sensor to wheel bearing carrier 8 Nrn (6 ft-lb)
Brake rotor to hub
16 Nm (12 ft-lb)
Driveshaft
CV joint to final drive flange
- MI0 (Tow bolts) 70 Nm (51 ft-lb)
MB (compression nut) 32
Nm (24 ft-lb)
Rear brake pad
carrler (caliper) to wheel 65 Nm (48 ft-lb)
bear~ng carrler
Rear strut to
wheel bearlng carrler 127 Nm (94 ft-lb)
Road wheel to hub
120210Nrn
(89 57 ft-lb)
Rear axle assembly, removing and
installing (Sport Wagon models)
Incaseof damage to thesubframe, or if apressed-in bushing is
worn, remove
subframe by removing complete axle assembly.
In Sport Wagon models with conventional coil spring, lower
subframe slowly, making sure rear springs stay on spring
seats.
In models with air suspension
(EHC), disable the air supply
pump, deflate the air springs and disconnect them from the
wheel carriers before lowering the subframe.
- Raise car and remove rear wheels.
WARNING-
Page 725 of 1002

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Rear Suspension
- Remove exhaust system. See 180 Exhaust System.
- Detach driveshaft from differential. See 260 Driveshaft.
- Remove brake caliper and brake disc. Hang brake caliper
aside with stiff wire. Do not disconnect brake fluid hose. See
340 Brakes.
- Remove left and right ABS sensors from wheel bearing car-
riers.
Disconnect parking brake cable from brake shoe expander.
See 340 Brakes.
Remove heat shield from above driveshaft
If equipped, remove ride height sensor connectors
CAUTION-
Models with air springs: Disable air supply pump by discon-
necting electrical plug before performing any repairs. Pump is
locatedbeneath a coverunder
thespare tire in the floorof the
carqo compartment.
Models with air springs: Loosen compressed air pipes (ar-
rows) at air distribution assembly to release system pres-
sure.
WARNING -
Vehicle will lower when the air pipes are opened. 1
- Working underneath rear suspension, lift wheel bearing car-
rier to relieve rear spring tension. Then unbolt air spring
mounting bolt from seat on wheel bearing carrier.
4 Support final drive unit from below using transmission jack
(BMW special tools 00 2 030 and 33 4 390 or equivalent).
NOTE-
Special tool 33 4 390 will need modifications to cradle the fi-
nal drive properly
4 Remove right and left suspension trim panels (arrow),
Page 726 of 1002
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330-30
I Rear Suspension
Remove right and left lower strut mount bolts (arrow).
Remove rear suspension subframe by removing 4 mounting
bolts
(arrows).
Carefully lower rear suspension subframe away from body to
remove.
To install, jack
subframe into position. Install and t~ghten sub-
frame mounting bolts. Note that on each bolt, rubber-coat-
ed detent plate
(arrow) must be installed at rear in driving
direction.
Models
w~th coil springs: Fit springs correctly in lower
spring seats.
Models with air suspension: Fit eccentric lug at bottom of
air
sprlng in recess of wheel carrier spring seat.
Tightening torques
-
Air spring to wheel bearing carrier 20 Nm (1 5 ft-lb)
Rear subframe to body (M12) 163 Nm (120 ft-lb)
-
Page 732 of 1002
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330-36
l~ear Suspension
- Working underneath rear suspension, lift wheel bearing car-
rier to relieve rear spring tension. Then unbolt air spring
mounting bolt from seat on wheel bearing carrier.
- Models with rear coil springs: Remove cargo compartment
floor carpet.
Working at top of coil spring, press center cap down or pry
upward to remove. If pushed down, remove from inside
coii
spring from under car.
< Working from underneath, position BMW special tool 33 2
301
between 2nd and 3rd spring coii from bottom.
Make sure tooi recess faces upward.
Working in cargo compartment, guide
BMW special tooi 33
2 304
from above and thread into special tool 33 2 301.
4 Working in cargo compartment, attach BMW special tools 33
2
302,33 2 303 and 33 2 305 to special tool 33 2 304.
Use special tool 33 2 306 to compress spring.
Tighten until lower spring coil
lifts off sprrng seat on wheel
bearing carrier.
Page 735 of 1002

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330-39
I Rear suspension1
- Remainder of installation is reverse of removal, noting the fol-
lowing.
Models with coil springs: Fit spring correctly in lower spring
seat.
* Models with air suspension: Fit eccentric lug at bottom of
air spring in recess of wheel carrier spring seat.
Always use new self-locking nuts.
- Make sure all threaded bolts, nuts and mating surfaces are
clean.
a Tighten fasteners to final torque only after vehicle has
been lowered and suspension has settled.
Stake axle collar nut afler tightening.
Tightening torques
ABS pulse sensor to wheel bearing 8 Nm (6
ft-lb)
carrier
Air spring to wheel bearing carrier 20 Nm (15 ft-lb)
Brake rotor to hub 16 Nm (12
it-lb)
Rear axle shaft to hub (M27) 300 Nm (221 ft-lb)
Rear brake pad carrier (caliper) to wheel 65 Nm (48 ft-lb)
bearing carrier
Road wheel to hub
120ilONm
(89 k7 ft-lb)
Swing arm to wheel bearing carrier 256 Nm (189 it-lb)
Upperfrontcontrol arm (traction strut) to 65 Nm (48 ft-lb)
wheel carrier
Upper rear control arm to wheel carrier 142 Nm (105 ft-lb)
Rear wheel bearing, replacing
< The rear wheel bearing is integrated with its mounting flange.
1. Torx bolt
2. Wheel bearing and mounting flange
3. Wheel hub
4. Collar nut
- Raise rear end of car and remove wheel.
WARNING -
Make sure the car is firmly supported on jaclc stands de-
signed for the purpose. Place jack stands underneath struc-
tural chassis points. Do not place jack stands under
suspension parts.