Front Struts & Springs

Front Struts & Springs

The E46 front suspension uses MacPherson struts with separate coil springs. This page covers diagnosis, replacement, and upgrade options.

Symptoms of Worn Struts

• Excessive body roll in corners
• Nose dive under braking
• Bouncy ride over bumps
• Oil leaking from strut body
• Clunking over rough surfaces
• Uneven tire wear

OEM Replacement Options

• Sachs: OEM supplier, factory ride quality
• Bilstein B4: OEM replacement, slightly firmer
• Bilstein B6: Performance upgrade, HD yellow
• Bilstein B8: Short-body for lowered cars

Replacement Procedure Overview

1. Raise and support vehicle, remove wheel
2. Disconnect ABS sensor line from strut
3. Disconnect sway bar end link
4. Remove steering arm pinch bolt at strut (81 Nm)
5. Remove three strut tower nuts from engine bay
6. Remove strut assembly
7. Compress spring and disassemble
8. Transfer spring, mount, and bump stop to new strut
9. Reassemble and install in reverse order
10. Alignment required after installation