DIY: How to Remove the Struts in a BMW E36

1. Raise the front of your car by positioning the floor jack underneath the jack points under your car behind each of the front wheels. Loosen, but do not remove, the lug nuts on your front wheels.
2. Raise a corner of the car and position a jack stand underneath the subframe to support that corner of your E36. Repeat the process on the other side to raise the front of the car.
3. Loosen the lug nuts and remove both front wheels.
4. Disconnect the ABS brake wear sensor that is connected to the brake wear housings on both sides of the car.
5. Remove the sway bar link from the bottom of the strut housing. Repeat on the other side of the car.
6. Unscrew the two screws that mount the strut assembly to the wheel hub on each side of the car.
7. Remove the two bolts that connect the lower shock mounting bracket and the wheel hub assembly on both sides of the E36.
8. Open your BMW's hood and loosen and remove the three nuts on top of both strut towers to drop the strut assemblies.
9. Pull the strut assemblies directly down and out of the wheel wells on both sides of your E36 to complete the removal.