How To R&R Drivers Side Front Bumper Shock? 1994 E-34 530i

[SW530]

I've got my 1994 BMW 530i in the garage for planned maintenance.

Fog lights: Last summer I bought a set of replacement fog lights on ebay that came with new brackets, bulbs, etc.. and bolted right in. By the beginning of this summer they were both broken. I bought new mounts for my old lights (genuine Hella OEM), transferred the bulbs and seals from the new lights onto the old set, and bolted them in. At the same time I found where the broken fog light bracket ate through my ambient temp sensor wire so I built a new loom/connector for that. The bumper is ready to go back on.

However, the drivers side front bumper shock is compressed where the Original Owner smacked something. I found a new used one in good shape. It took two sessions of Kroil to work the torx head bolts loose but I got them off and then whacked it back an inch with a mallet and now it's unbolted and off the alignment studs.

I can't push it all the way back and I can't pull it out the front. My question is how do I get the old one out and the new one in.. what do I have to remove? The easiest route? It's right next to the radiator mount so I could raise the radiator up an inch or two without draining it. Anyone does this before?

When this is done I'll change the backing plate on the passenger side front, to replace the rattling broken backing place I yanked off earlier this summer.

I was able to score some parts from a forum member (Thanks Ross1) so I have a new used backing plate. I already replaced the center console wood trip.. WOW, what a difference.. makes the interior look so much better. Thanks for the OE fuses Ross, my fuse block now has all OE fuses.

I also have a new grill and chrome inserts.. should look a lot better with the OE fog lights, straight, and grill/inserts.

Finally I'll change the motor oil/filter, rear dif oil, steam clean the carpet, a coat of wax and we're good for the winter. I've put nearly 14,000 on this car since the front end change in rebuild.. I think in May. So far the cheap front end kit from ebay si working out well. It's been a great car to drive. I don't baby it, probably drive it too hard.. and the computer says I'm averaging 19.4mpg (haven't reset it in months). I did the manual math on several hwy trips and got from 27-29.5mpg.. Pretty good for a rather heavy 4 door with a V8.

Question/observation: I've used my wipers a lot but didn't notice till recently that when on the slow but steady settings.. it goes back and forth as it should. But when I come to a stop it becomes intermittent. Are they speed sensitive?

Thanks to anyone who can offer some insight on getting that bumper shock out..

[SW530]

I couldn't find a thing anywhere so maybe I didn't do this the best way.. but it got done. First, the replacement bumper shock Barvarian Parts sent me must have been for another car, I'm guessing a later model. It had a small 10mm nut on the rear of it that when unscrewed allowed the shock to come apart in two pieces which would have allowed the part needing replacement to slide right out of the front making it a five minute job. The 94's don't have this. Or my 94 didn't.

Getting it out of the channel was easiest done by removing thr shroud/radiator/fan clutch.. removing the torx bolts at the front of the shock, removing the small bolt holding the bracket straddling the shock about 6-8 inches into the channel and rotating it barely out of the way.. more and you'd have to disconnect more stuff in very tight quarters. Next, remove the front plate of the shock that has the two studs the bumper nuts go on. It's held on with another torx. With all that removed, tap/whack with a hammer so the rear mount slides off the mounting studs, lifting it up about an inch, and then rotating the rear of the shock towards where the radiator/shroud normally is.. and taking it out that way, putting the correct new one back inn the way it came out.

Be careful, there are many small parts and corroded fasteners to cause you grief. I went out the night before with some Kroil and soaking the bolts.. especially the torx and small kone.

An alternative to replacing the bumpershock.. assuming the reason you're removing it is because it collapsed and you have a lopsided bumper.. the alternative is to simply drill a 1/4 hole in the good shock which releases the pressure allowing you to push that end inwards.. matching the broken side. This was a common fix in the 80's-90's for the ugly bumpers many cars were saddled with. Though usually it as just a bumper, not the entire lower front end like on the 530i..

You learn so much with these cars.. :)