Thanks Andrew. I was referring to TIS instructions and that special internal spring compressor you linked a picture about. Not sure if there are any other similar tools available to that BMW one. It would need specific plate measures for it to work correctly but would make the job like walking in the park compared to other options. I remember doing a full part renewal on my E53 and everything was apart and it was still some work to slide the spring over the lower pad. In this case E70 is a bit easier as the center of the lower pad is separate where as E53 is one rubber piece.

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E39 530dA -02 M-Sport Messing metallic
E53 X5 3.0dA -06 Sport Stratus grey
E70 X5 40d -12 M-Sport Space grey