About Cars

How to Change the Front Struts on a BMW 330CI

Remove Existing Struts
1. Loosen the lug nuts on your front wheels, but do not remove them.
2. Raise your car, using the floor jack, by positioning it below the jack points that are behind the front wheels, and raising the car. Position one jack stand underneath each jack point, and lower the car, so the front end is supported on the jack stands.
3. Remove the lug nuts, and take off the front wheels.
4. Using the 17-mm socket wrench, loosen, and remove, the anti-roll bar linkage from the struts on each side.
5. Locate the lower shock clamp at the bottom of the strut, and remove the 18-mm nut that secures the clamp to the strut on each side. Place a floor jack underneath the control arms, as you loosen the clamp, while the control arms drop.
6. Grasp the spring on the strut, and move it, back and forth, in a twisting motion to remove it from the strut. Spray anti-seize compound, if the spring begins to get stuck or is difficult to remove. Perform this on both sides of the car.
7. Pop the 330Ci hood, and locate the strut towers that sit on both sides of the engine bay. Pop off the plastic covers, and loosen the 13-mm nuts that sit at the top of the strut towers.
8. Remove the screws on each side, to drop the strut down, and loosen it from place.
Install Replacement Struts
9. Position each new strut into the strut towers, and tighten the nuts at the top of the strut towers to secure the struts.
10. Slide the springs of the new struts to the top of the strut cylinder on each side.
11. Attach the lower strut clamps to the bottom of each strut, using your 18-mm socket wrench.
12. Attach the anti-roll bar linkage to each strut, using your 17-mm socket wrench.
13. Ensure all the nuts and bolts are tightened, and reinstall your front wheels. Screw in the lug nuts, but do not tighten them all the way.
14. Position the floor jack underneath the jack points. Lower each side of the car, and tighten the lug nuts on your wheels.
15. Check that the nuts at the top of the strut towers are tight, and reinstall the plastic covers. Shut your hood, and take the car for a test drive, to complete the installation.