not sure if help but i remember hearing mechanic say that maf was ready 0 but i will still disconnect and advise

I am not certain but if you disconnect everything from the a-arm, loosen the big bolt that connects it to the subframe and then push down on it, you might get more clearance. I had to pull basically everything to replace my diff, and I am pretty sure I got another inch or so with everything off and the tension on the a-arm bushing totally off.

Sidebar- how does your rear spacer mount? Does the spring plug into it like the OEM rubber isolator at the top, or what? Also, I am interested to see how that effects the angle of the a-arm once you get it back in.

I tried top and bottom using the bmw mounts for the spring, on the top i made the spacer so you can bolt it to the body using the holes for the air bag, on the bottom i used a spacer and a peg that fit into the hole for the bottom mount. The only issue i see is if you disconnect everything and try to get the spacer in there, your fighting the spring both up and down force wise, and side to side at that point...or in and out depending at how you look at it. the spring will want to push the hub towards the outside.

Hi mate

I appeciate your pain here, I've just been through the same and even putting LOWERING springs in I had a lot of heartache.

As mentioned earlier, coil springs are not covered in the Bentley manual - and as not a lot of people have coil springs in the rear, I didn't find much on the net either.

This is as close as I could find in terms of a guide:

BMW Workshop Manuals > X Series E53 X5 3.0d (M57) OFFRD > 2 Repair Instructions > 33 Rear Axle > 53 Springs With Suspension > 2 RA Removing And Installing_replacing Rear Left Or Right Coil Spring

I think you're going to have a real time of it with getting a spacer up in there. I have read some people suggest compressing the spring off the car, then tieing it down with ratchet straps or chains in a compressed state - inserting into spring pocket and releasing. This just sounded way too sketchy for my liking.

(I fitted strut spacers and 2inch lift springs to my Pathfinder - the springs required so much compression especially being heavy duty off road springs - I had four compressors on it and still wasnt enough to get the top hat on - in the end. It was sure one of the compressors was about to sheer so I stopped and took it to a shop who had a wall mounted hydraulic compressor. The guy showed me a hole in their workshop roof where a spring had come loose and fired off. It was pretty frightening. Also saw it happen on an episode of 'RoadKill' were Freidenburger nearly got taken out by a spring shooting out from under the wheel arch. So be careful!!)


Are you sure fluidmotorunion weren't using a car with an airbag rear? With airbags it would be a lot easier as you just deflate it, roll it up and slot it in.

Yeah, theirs has airbags in the back, it's a last resort, I think I Mauy have found a tool that'll work , I'll keep you posted.