Replacing front shocks and springs on E38

[NA1983]

Hello all,

My grandfather has a year 2000 E38 735i SE with the standard suspension. He wants to get the front shocks and springs replaced as one of the shocks is leaking all over the spring and a horrible noise coming from that corner when going over bumps. The springs are all very rusty so he thought he might as well get these replaced too.

The question he has is that is he missing anything from the list below? Are there any recommendations to get replaced at the same time?

2x shock absorbers (Sachs 317564 and 317565)
2x coil springs
2x top mounts
Bump stops as per here: https://www.c3bmw.co.uk/bump-stop-kit-front-e30-e3...
2x 31331094795 spring pad lowers

A friend of his mentioned something about "shock absorbers bushings" so that has really confused us.

We look forward to your advice. Thank you.

[d_a_n1979]

NA1983 said:

Hello all,

My grandfather has a year 2000 E38 735i SE with the standard suspension. He wants to get the front shocks and springs replaced as one of the shocks is leaking all over the spring and a horrible noise coming from that corner when going over bumps. The springs are all very rusty so he thought he might as well get these replaced too.

The question he has is that is he missing anything from the list below? Are there any recommendations to get replaced at the same time?

2x shock absorbers (Sachs 317564 and 317565)
2x coil springs
2x top mounts
Bump stops as per here: https://www.c3bmw.co.uk/bump-stop-kit-front-e30-e3...
2x 31331094795 spring pad lowers

A friend of his mentioned something about "shock absorbers bushings" so that has really confused us.

We look forward to your advice. Thank you.

Nope; that's all you need really. However, my advice would be to get new bolts from BMW too as if they start to be a pain to remove, you can just cut them and replace them with the new ones when buttoning it all back up.

Whoever is doing the work for you too; ensure that they only torque up the bushes when the E38 is on the ground/suspension under full tension to ensure the bushes aren't twisted when the cars on the ground

[NA1983]

Hi Dan,

That is wonderful, thank you for your reply!

I think it would be prudent for us to get the bolts purchased now rather than wait. Would you be able to help us with the BMW part numbers for the bolts you think should be purchased please and he will then purchase them?

Thank you.

[d_a_n1979]

NA1983 said:

Hi Dan,

That is wonderful, thank you for your reply!

I think it would be prudent for us to get the bolts purchased now rather than wait. Would you be able to help us with the BMW part numbers for the bolts you think should be purchased please and he will then purchase them?

Thank you.

Here you go; all part numbers here in relevant diagrams

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/partgrp?id=GG42-E...

If you contact the guys at Cotswolds BMW, they offer BMW forum discounts; they'll confirm all using the reg anyway:

[e-mail] // 01242 335365

[I-am-the-reverend]

I did a few of these back in the day, mainly to replace snapped front springs - a fairly common issue. Like the E46, the E38 hub to strut clamp bolt threads directly into the hub rather than a proper nut and bolt. Those bds love to snap off in the hub and getting the remains out is not easy.

If you're planning on doing the job yourself, you will need to warm the hub up with oxy acetalyne and ease the bolt out very carefully. You'll also need some trick spring compressors as these have 'barrel' springs (wider in the middle) - you may find it impossible with ordinary spring compressors.

[d_a_n1979]

Agree re spring compressors... Ended up using 2 sets on mine when I did the suspension overhaul...

Getting the bolts out wasn't an issue, but the size of that spring is huge!

[NA1983]

Thank you both, very useful.

It will be a good friend of a friend that will be doing the work for my grandfather subject to us buying all of the parts.

Thanks for the link for the realoem site. I have added the below bolts to the buy list:

• 31106774714 - Self-locking hex nut
• 31306779487 - Hex bolt with washer

I cannot seem to find the hub to strut clamp bolt that is mentioned. Could you help me with that please? Could it be 31306779487?
Thank you.

Edited by NA1983 on Saturday 20th January 20:23

[Higgs boson]