Can anyone point me in the right direction on how to install springs on the f56? Anyone done it who have any tips?

I called a local bmw performance shop and got a quote for like $480 to have them installed there (no way im paying that)

I have some basic knowledge of suspension. I installed coil overs on my old s2000 without issue but I did have a detailed how to guide in front of me.Do you need to drop the axles or unbolt the swingarm end links?

 

quite simple...

Rears, 20-30 mnts for both sides.
- Unbolt sway bar link at sway bar (easier than at trailing arm)
- Unbolt lower shock bolt
- If you have LED lights, unbolt the sensor lever on passenger side
- Pull or push hub down low enough so you can snake out the springs out of the seat. You may need a crow bar or a fat *** friend to help you push the suspension down as the trailing arm bushing has a bit of preload.
- Reverse step for installation

 

Front 30-45 mnts/side:

Removing Shock/Spring Assembly:
- undo sway bar link at shock
- undo anything else that are attached to the shock
- remove pinch bolt at the back of the hub
- use spreader tool or fat flat screw driver to spread the shock hub
- push hub down low enough so the shock can slip out
- undo the three upper mount bolts from inside engine compartment
- take assembly out

Removing Spring
- before anything, use marker/white-out to mark top hat/rubber spring seats/lower spring perch for clocking, this ensure everything puts together the same way.
- having air gun around helps a lot in removing and reinstalling the top nut.
- point the shock body away from you and undo the top nut with the air gun
- the shock's going to jump off once the nut is completely off. Don't be alarm, it'll only shoot out about a foot away.
- do reverse to assemble. Use marking you made earlier to make sure everything lined up properly.

 

Not sure on torque specs tho

 

sorry, forgot to mention, My car doesn't have active damper. I don't know the procedure if your car is equipped with one.

Good luck! Let me know if you have any question.

 

Can you elaborate on the marking the front strut with sharpie/white out, what exactly am I trying to keep lined up, just eh rubber spring perch?

 

By the way thanks for the detailed write up, seems pretty straight farward

 

Yep, the rubber seats and the perches mainly. The springs will automatically align the top hat to the bottom spring perch.

 

A little off-topic- is there a shop manual for this car? What's the deal with BMW / Mini in general? I'm coming from Honda land, where we had these nice Helm's manuals with step-by-step illustrations... anything like that here or coming? =)

 

Thread revival....

Where can I find torque specs?

 

You can always look up the approximate torque specs for whatever size fastener you're working with. Something like this as a rough guide.

 

Has anyone done the install themselves?

 

Is that what you're trying to do? Are you hung up on something?

The F56's suspension is very similar to prior MINI's with the exception of the location of the rear spring, which is BMW-ish in location. It wouldn't be out of line to look up an R53 or R56 suspension how-to and the details will be *really* close.

 

I'm interested in springs and I want to do them myself but I want to avoid messing something up. I'm trying to learn more about my car and do my own work.

 

Were can I find the torque specs specific for the f56? Nobody seems to have them and I need a new place to look.

Also, do the nm springs require camber plates? I don't want to ruin my geometry or anything

 

I found torque specs for the suspension components and I'll update this tonight

 

I'm about to install springs and rear sway bar tomorrow. Not sure I'll have the time or patience to document every step of the way, but I'll try.

 

Were you able to get the exact torque specs?

 

+/- 10%. They should be pretty close. I forgot to add them. I'll do it tonight.


Edit: Here you go


front
11ft lbs+ quarter turn top bolt
44ft lbs main nut assemble everything top hat to strut shaft
48lbs sway bar links and shock
52ft lbs+quarter turn pinch bolt


rear
48 lbs sway bar links
133 ft lbs shock bottom trailing arm (lower shock bolt)
66ft lbs carrier disconnect with lower control arm-

 

Thanks. That rear damper bottom bolt; 133 lbft seems unnecessarily tight given the bolt size. The previous gen MINI's only needed something like 70 LbFt for the same location.

 

Yeah, of course! Have you done the install yet? I'm waiting on the springs right now and I'm excited ))

 

I'm looking to install coilovers myself as well. I was looking at the upper mount bolts in the front of my f56 and noticed one of them is under the window rain tray. Did you guys have to remove it? I didn't see anyone mention that.

 

For the strut mount? Yes. Send a pic of the bolt and I can confirm.

 

Thanks, this is a shot from the driver's side.

 

Yes those three need to be removed to release the strut from the car