Did you loosen the a-arm and let it hang down AND compress the spring? There is plenty of space to shove the spring in and out if the a-arm is pushed down out of the way. That also means disconnecting the shock, sway bar and brake line.

I can see how if you had a big spacer on the top of the spring, it would be hard to wedge it back in and seat the bottom in the arm again.

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2001 E53 3.0 5pd