How to remove X5 driver side control arm/tension strut?
 

I wonder if there is a DIY that shows how to remove/replace driver-side control arm/tension strut for a 2003 X5. The passenger side was pretty easy by removing the two 20mm nut and bolt. On the driver-side the bolt was blocked by a plastic piece that look like a air duct or reservoir. Do I need to remove the front bumper to do the job?

Thanks for your help.

R&R of the driver side is the same as passenger side??? I'm looking at my 01 and 04 and they are set up the same unless I am looking/not understanding what you are talking about.

Snap a picture for us, so we are on the same page.

Nothing on my 02 that is in the way.

My 03' was the same way. I just unclipped it from the rear of the bumper and it came right out.

Replacing the tension strut is not hard, except the driver-side one is blocked by a plastic air duct. I had to first removed front bumper in order to gain access to the air duct. (see picture)


http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y29...130524-174.jpg

Once the front bumper was removed. I was able to remove a couple of screws holding the air duct to give me enough room to insert a socket. The bolt will eventually need that same head room to be removed.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y29...130524-171.jpg


I did not need to do anything special to remove the passenger side tension strut.

Here is a pretty good instruction on removing front bumper http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...tructions.html)

There is absolutely no need to remove the front bumper.

??? You removed the whole bumper? If you dont have a 4.6, then the 3.0 and 4.4 just have a blocked air duct, which you just unclip the plastic cover and it comes out... Unless I am misunderstanding your interpretation of the air duct.

Both Skyline and TwinTurboGTR are correct. I looked at my 3.0 and it appears that there's some type of air supply (to the alternator??) that can be fairly easily moved without having to remove the entire front bumper.

What does it mean to "unclip" the plastic cover? The plastic piece comes in two pieces (top and bottom). At the first, I attempted to just separate the two pieces by "unclipping" the bottom piece without removing the bumper, but was not successful. Perhaps, I just did not try hard enough. I ended up removing the entire front bumper.

It is good to know that others were successful at separating the bottom piece.