Change Car Rear Silencer BMW 5-Series

Change Car Rear Silencer

Easy 0h45–2h30 ~75–250£
Estimated time 0h45–2h30
Estimated labour cost ~75–250£
Difficulty Easy
Vehicles
5-Series 1987-1997 6
  • 520i Petrol (M20B20M)
  • 525i Petrol (M20B25M)
  • 525i, -ix Petrol (M50B25)
  • 530i Petrol (M30B30M)
  • 535i Petrol (M30B35M)
  • 535i Petrol (M30B35M)
5-Series 1996-2004 20
  • 520d Diesel (M47D20 (204D1))
  • 520i Petrol (M52B20TU (206S4))
  • 520i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M52B20 (206S3))
  • 520i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M52B20TU (206S4))
  • 520i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M54B22 (226S1))
  • 523i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M52B25 (256S3))
  • 523i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M52B25TU (256S4))
  • 525d Diesel (M57D25 (256D1))
  • 525i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M54B25 (256S5))
  • 525td Diesel (M51D25 (256T1))
  • 525tds Diesel (M51D25 (256T1))
  • 528i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M52B28 (286S1))
  • 528i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M52B28TU (286S2))
  • 530d Diesel (M57D30 (306D1))
  • 530d Diesel (M57D30 (306D1))
  • 530i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M54B30 (306S3))
  • 535i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M62B35 (358S1))
  • 535i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M62B35TU (358S2))
  • 540i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M62B44 (448S1))
  • M5 Petrol (S62B50 (508S1))
5-Series 2003-2011 30
  • 520d Diesel (M47D20T2)
  • 520d Diesel (N47D20A)
  • 520d Diesel (N47D20C)
  • 520i (120/125 kW) Petrol (N43B20A)
  • 520i Petrol (M54B22)
  • 520i Petrol (N46B20B)
  • 523i Petrol (N52B25A)
  • 523i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (N52B25A)
  • 523i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (N53B25A)
  • 525d Diesel (M57D25TU)
  • 525d Diesel (M57D25TU)
  • 525d Diesel (M57D30 (306D3))
  • 525d, Xd Diesel (M57D30T2)
  • 525i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M54B25)
  • 525i, Xi LPG,Petrol (N52B25A)
  • 525i, Xi Petrol (N53B30A)
  • 530d Diesel (M57D30T2)
  • 530d Diesel (M57D30TU)
  • 530d, Xd Diesel (M57D30T2)
  • 530d, Xd Diesel (M57D30T2)
  • 530i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M54B30)
  • 530i, Xi LPG,Petrol (N52B30A)
  • 530i, Xi Petrol (N52B30A)
  • 530i, Xi Petrol (N53B30A)
  • 535d Diesel (M57D30T2TOP)
  • 535d Diesel (M57D30TUTOP)
  • 540i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (N62B40A)
  • 545i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (N62B44A)
  • 550i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (N62B48B)
  • M5, -LPG LPG,Petrol (S85B50A)
5-Series 2009-2017 35
  • 518d Diesel (B47D20A)
  • 518d Diesel (N47D20C)
  • 520d Diesel (B47D20A)
  • 520d Diesel (N47D20C)
  • 520d, -xDrive Diesel (N47D20C)
  • 520d, -xDrive M Performance Diesel (B47D20A)
  • 520d, -xDrive M Performance Diesel (N47D20C)
  • 520d,-xDrive Diesel (B47D20A)
  • 520i Petrol (N20B16A)
  • 520i Petrol (N20B20A)
  • 520i Petrol (N20B20B)
  • 520i Petrol (N20B20D)
  • 523i Petrol (N52B25A)
  • 523i Petrol (N53B30A)
  • 525d Diesel (N57D30A)
  • 525d Diesel (N57D30A)
  • 525d, -xDrive Diesel (N47D20D)
  • 528i Petrol (N52B30A)
  • 528i Petrol (N53B30A)
  • 528i, -xDrive Petrol (N20B20A)
  • 530d, -xDrive Diesel (N57D30A)
  • 530d, -xDrive Diesel (N57D30A)
  • 530d, -xDrive M Performance Diesel (N57D30A)
  • 530i Petrol (N52B30A)
  • 530i Petrol (N53B30A)
  • 535d Diesel (N57D30B)
  • 535d, -xDrive Diesel (N57D30B)
  • 535i, -xDrive M Performance Petrol (N55B30A)
  • 535i, -xDrive Petrol (N55B30A)
  • 550i, -xDrive Petrol (N63B44A)
  • 550i, -xDrive Petrol (N63B44B)
  • M5 30 Jahre Petrol (S63B44B)
  • M5 Petrol (S63B44B)
  • M5 Petrol (S63B44B)
  • M550d xDrive Diesel (N57D30C)
5-Series 2017-2025 33
  • 518d Diesel (B47D20B)
  • 518d, -mHev 48V (MHEV),Diesel (B47D20B)
  • 520d, -mHev, -xDrive 48V (MHEV),Diesel (B47D20B+JA1)
  • 520d, -mHev, -xDrive 48V (MHEV),Diesel (B47D20B+JA1)
  • 520d, -xDrive Diesel (B47D20A)
  • 520d, -xDrive Diesel (B47D20B)
  • 520e Electricity,Petrol (B48B20A+GC1)
  • 520i M Performance Petrol (B48B20A)
  • 520i mHev 48V (MHEV),Petrol (B48B20A)
  • 520i Petrol (B48B16A)
  • 520i Petrol (B48B20A)
  • 520i Petrol (B48B20A)
  • 520i Petrol (B48B20B)
  • 520i Petrol (B48B20B)
  • 525d Diesel (B47D20B)
  • 530d mHev, -xDrive 48V (MHEV),Diesel (B57D30B+JA1)
  • 530d, -xDrive Diesel (B57D30A)
  • 530e iPerformance Electricity,Petrol (B48B20A+GC1)
  • 530e, -xDrive Electricity,Petrol (B48B20A+GC1)
  • 530i mHev, -xDrive 48V (MHEV),Petrol (B48B20B)
  • 530i, -xDrive Petrol (B48B20B)
  • 540d mHev, -xDrive 48V (MHEV),Diesel (B57D30B)
  • 540d, -xDrive Diesel (B57D30B)
  • 540i mHev, -xDrive 48V (MHEV),Petrol (B58B30C)
  • 540i xDrive Petrol (B58B30C)
  • 540i, -xDrive M Performance Petrol (B58B30A)
  • 540i, -xDrive Petrol (B58B30A)
  • 545e, -xDrive Petrol (B58B30C+GC1)
  • M5 Competition Petrol (S63B44B)
  • M5 Petrol (S63B44B)
  • M550d xDrive Diesel (B57D30C)
  • M550i xDrive Petrol (N63B44C)
  • M550i xDrive Petrol (N63B44D)
Remove/refit the silencer 0h45–2h30
Renew the silencer 0h45–2h30
Repair the silencer* 1h30
Remove/refit the front silencer 1h00–2h00
Renew the front silencer 1h00–2h00
Repair the front silencer 0h30
Align the front silencer 0h30
Remove/refit the main silencer 1h30–6h00
Renew the main silencer 1h30–6h00
Repair the main silencer 0h30–0h45
Align the main silencer 0h30–0h30
Difficult main silencer removal* 0h30
Remove/refit the rear silencer 0h45–2h30
Renew the rear silencer 0h45–2h30
Repair the rear silencer 0h30
Weld a sheet-metal repair panel onto the rear silencer* 0h45–6h00
Difficult rear silencer removal 0h30–0h30
Remove/refit the rear silencer trim 0h30–0h30
Renew the rear silencer trim 0h30–0h30
Remove/refit the exhaust pipe bracket 0h30
Renew the exhaust pipe bracket 0h30
Repair the front silencer* 1h30
Align the front silencer* 0h30
Remove/refit the centre and rear silencers 1h30–2h00
Renew the centre and rear silencers 1h30–2h00
Remove/refit the rear left silencer 1h00–2h30
Align the main silencer* 0h30
Weld a sheet-metal repair panel onto the rear silencer 0h30
Renew the rear left silencer 1h00–2h00
Remove/refit the rear right silencer 1h00–2h00
Renew the rear right silencer 1h00–2h00
Difficult rear silencer removal* 0h30
Repair the main silencer* 0h30–1h30
Repair the rear silencer* 0h30–1h30
Remove/refit both rear silencers 1h30
Renew both rear silencers 1h30
Remove/refit both rear silencer trims 0h30
Renew both rear silencer trims 0h30
Remove/refit the centre silencer 1h30

What is a BMW 5-Series rear silencer?

The rear silencer (also called the back box or rear muffler) reduces exhaust noise to an acceptable level. It is located at the end of the exhaust line, after the catalytic converter, particulate filter (if fitted), and sometimes an intermediate silencer.

When should you change the BMW 5-Series rear silencer?

No periodic replacement interval is specified. Carry out regular visual inspections for corrosion, holes, and deteriorated mounting rubbers. Signs that replacement is needed: louder exhaust noise, rattling from loose baffles, visible rust holes, exhaust fumes entering the cabin, or failure at the MOT/roadworthiness test.

Is it difficult to change the BMW 5-Series rear silencer?

Difficulty level 2/5: technically easy but may require effort if bolts and clamps are rusted. Key steps: raise the vehicle, apply penetrating oil to clamp bolts, remove the clamp connecting the silencer to the intermediate pipe, remove the mounting rubber hangers, fit the new silencer with new gasket/clamp, reattach mounting rubbers, check for leaks with engine running.

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6 models covered

Model Year Range Engines covered Fuel
5-Series 1981-1988 1981-1988 518 Petrol (M10B18), 518i Petrol (M10B18), 520i Petrol (M20B20), 520i Petrol (M20B20), 524td Diesel (M21D24), 525e Petrol (M20B27), 525i Petrol (M30B25), 528i Petrol (M30B28), 535i Petrol (M30B34), M5 Petrol (S38B35) Diesel, Petrol
5-Series 1987-1997 1987-1997 520i Petrol (M20B20M), 525i Petrol (M20B25M), 525i, -ix Petrol (M50B25), 530i Petrol (M30B30M), 535i Petrol (M30B35M), 535i Petrol (M30B35M) Petrol
5-Series 1996-2004 1996-2004 520d Diesel (M47D20 (204D1)), 520i Petrol (M52B20TU (206S4)), 520i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M52B20 (206S3)), 520i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M52B20TU (206S4)), 520i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M54B22 (226S1)), 523i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M52B25 (256S3)), 523i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (M52B25TU (256S4)), 525d Diesel (… Diesel, LPG, Petrol
5-Series 2003-2011 2003-2011 520d Diesel (M47D20T2), 520d Diesel (N47D20A), 520d Diesel (N47D20C), 520i (120/125 kW) Petrol (N43B20A), 520i Petrol (M54B22), 520i Petrol (N46B20B), 523i Petrol (N52B25A), 523i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (N52B25A), 523i, -LPG LPG,Petrol (N53B25A), 525d Diesel (M57D25TU), 525d Diesel (M5… Diesel, LPG, Petrol
5-Series 2009-2017 2009-2017 518d Diesel (B47D20A), 518d Diesel (N47D20C), 520d Diesel (B47D20A), 520d Diesel (N47D20C), 520d, -xDrive Diesel (N47D20C), 520d, -xDrive M Performance Diesel (B47D20A), 520d, -xDrive M Performance Diesel (N47D20C), 520d,-xDrive Diesel (B47D20A), 520i Petrol (N20B16A), 520i Petr… Diesel, Petrol
5-Series 2017-2025 2017-2025 518d Diesel (B47D20B), 518d, -mHev 48V (MHEV),Diesel (B47D20B), 520d, -mHev, -xDrive 48V (MHEV),Diesel (B47D20B+JA1), 520d, -mHev, -xDrive 48V (MHEV),Diesel (B47D20B+JA1), 520d, -xDrive Diesel (B47D20A), 520d, -xDrive Diesel (B47D20B), 520e Electricity,Petrol (B48B20A+GC1), 520i… 48V (MHEV), Diesel, Electricity, Petrol

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