Change Car Shock Absorbers BMW 5-Series

Change Car Shock Absorbers

Easy 2h00–5h00 ~200–500£
Estimated time 2h00–5h00
Estimated labour cost ~200–500£
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 29
  • 520d Diesel (M47D20T2)
  • 520d Diesel (N47D20A)
  • 520d Diesel (N47D20C)
  • 520i (120/125 kW) Petrol (N43B20A)
  • 520i Petrol (M54B22)
  • 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 33
  • 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)
  • M550d xDrive Diesel (N57D30C)
5-Series 2017-2025 30
  • 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)
  • 520i M Performance Petrol (B48B20A)
  • 520i mHev 48V (MHEV),Petrol (B48B20A)
  • 520i Petrol (B48B16A)
  • 520i Petrol (B48B20A)
  • 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)
Renew both front shock absorbers 2h00–5h00
Renew both rear shock absorbers 2h00–5h00
Renew both front shock absorbers Rear-wheel drive 3h00–5h00
Renew both rear shock absorbers Saloon 3h00
Renew both rear shock absorbers Estate 2h00
Renew both front shock absorbers 4WD 4h00–5h00
Renew both rear shock absorbers (07/2020 - ) 4h00
Renew both rear shock absorbers (11/2016 - 06/2020) 4h00

What is the function of BMW 5-Series shock absorbers?

The shock absorber controls the relative movement between the wheel and the vehicle body. This control is essential for good road holding, preventing loss of grip between the tyres and the road surface, and ensuring passenger comfort.

When should you change the BMW 5-Series shock absorbers?

Shock absorber wear is gradual. Warning symptoms include: vehicle sensitive to crosswinds, increased braking distance, difficulty maintaining trajectory in curves, vehicle bouncing excessively over bumps, uneven tyre wear. Replace between 80,000 and 150,000 km. Always replace in pairs.

Is it difficult to change BMW 5-Series shock absorbers?

Difficulty level 2/5: technically easy but requires specific tools (spring compressors for McPherson struts, torque wrench). A wheel alignment is recommended after the work.

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View your 5-Series maintenance plan (keep the 5-Series token) →

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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