front lower control arm, but hub us stuck to shock.

[Chedley]

That pinch bolt looks too short because you are installing it the wrong way (see pic above).
Reverse it, the nut goes from the other inside...and it will fit just right, with about an inch to spare for the nut.

[JimLev]

How will it get longer by changing the direction?
Dykaar, sure you didn't pick up the wrong bolt?

Eibach14.JPG

[dykaar]

I think I musta switched the bushing and pinch bolts. Doh. No harm, no foul. I'm tempted to see if its longer the other way though...

[rdl]

Next question: Rather than have my entire family sit in the car while I torque the bushing bolt, there is a measurement of fender to wheel lip that can be used (as per Bentley). Can someone give me that number for a 17" rim on a 540? Here is a link where they list it for sixes.

Attached images are from TIS with the front right height data for a 540/m62
I wouldn't worry too much about loading to "normal position" For my 530 M54, the difference in front ride height "weighted" vs unloaded car with driver only is 9 mm difference, which makes only a tiny difference in the angle of my thrust link wrt the bushing end. I doubt your 540 would be much different.
Rear ride height is another case though - 26 mm difference weighted vs not

540_RideHeight_P2.jpg

540_RideHeight_P1.jpg

[seagreen323i]

I just cranked a jack under the hub until the weight of the car started to come off the jack stands. 20k miles later no issues.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

[dykaar]

Next question: Which nut goes on the hub pinch bolt, and which goes on the control arm bushing bolt?

Front suspension nuts.jpg

[JimLev]

Without crawling under my car to look I say the one on the right is fore the pinch bolt.

[dykaar]

I agree, but the picture above from Jim Lev looks like the other one...

[JimLev]

I just looked at my pic, your correct.

[dykaar]

And Real OEM agrees: Self locking collar nut on the control arm bushing clamp bolt.