Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
2012 Mini Cooper Base, 2D Convertible, Automatic TransFACTORY OEM SERVICE PROCEDURE
31 12 Control Arms And Struts
WARNING: This page does not describe the selected car, but rather 8 other vehicles, including the 2010 BMW M5, 2009 BMW M5, 2008 BMW M5, 2008 BMW 550i, and 2007 BMW M5. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
TIGHTENING SPECIFICATION - CONTROL ARMS AND STRUTS (31 12)
| Type | Thread | Tightening specification | Measure | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1AZ | Tension strut to front axle support | E12, E24 / until 5.82 | tighten in NORMAL POSITION | 80 Nm | |
| E23 | tighten in NORMAL POSITION | 135 Nm | |||
| E39, E52 | tighten in NORMAL POSITION | 110 Nm | |||
| E53 | Replace screw tighten in NORMAL POSITION |
165 Nm | |||
| E60, E61, E63, E64, E65, E66, E67 | M12 10.9 | Replace screw & nut tighten in NORMAL POSITION |
|||
| Jointing torque | 100 Nm | ||||
| Torque angle | 90 ° | ||||
| E83 | Replace screw tighten in NORMAL POSITION |
||||
| Jointing torque | 165 Nm | ||||
| Torque angle | 90 ° | ||||
| 2AZ | Control arm to front axle support | E24 / from 5.82, E28, E31, E32, E34, E38, E39 / 8 cyl. | tighten in NORMAL POSITION | 77, 5 Nm | |
| E39 / 6 cyl., E52 | tighten in NORMAL POSITION | 110 Nm | |||
| E12, E21, E23, E24 / until 5.82 | tighten in NORMAL POSITION | 85 Nm | |||
| E53, E60, E61, E63, E64, E65, E66, E67, E83 | M12 10.9 | Replace screw & nut tighten in NORMAL POSITION |
|||
| Jointing torque | 100 Nm | ||||
| Torque angle | 90±15 ° | ||||
| 3AZ | Control arm (ball joint) on front axle support | E30 | Replace nut | 85 Nm | |
| E36, E46 | Replace nut | 90 Nm | |||
| E30 / Four Wheel Drive | Replace nut | 100 Nm | |||
| E85, E86 | M14x1.5 | Replace nut | 80 Nm | ||
| 4AZ | Control arm to spring strut | E21, E30 | 65 Nm | ||
| 5AZ | Control arm to pivot mount/spring strut | E30 / Four Wheel Drive | 85 Nm | ||
| E30 / Four Wheel Drive | Polystop nut | 93 Nm | |||
| E34 / Four Wheel Drive | 80 Nm | ||||
| 6AZ | Control arm on steering knuckle/swivel bearing | E36, E46, E85, E86 | Use of impact screwdriver not permitted! Replace nut |
65 Nm | |
| E38 | Replace nut | 93 Nm | |||
| E39, E53, E52, E83, E60 / Four Wheel Drive, E61 / Four Wheel Drive, E67 | Replace nut | 80 Nm | |||
| E60 / REAR END, E61 / REAR END, E63, E64, E65, E66 | Replace nut | 165 Nm | |||
| 7AZ | Bracket for control arm to engine carrier | E30 | 42 Nm | ||
| E36 | 47 Nm | ||||
| E46 | Replace screws | 59 Nm | |||
| E85, E86 | M10 10.9 | Replace screws | 56 Nm | ||
| 8AZ | Ball joint for control arm to front axle carrier | E34 / Four Wheel Drive, E46 / Four Wheel Drive | 77 Nm | ||
| 9AZ | Control arm to ball joint | E34 / Four Wheel Drive, E46 / Four Wheel Drive | 80 Nm | ||
| 10AZ | Control arm holder to front axle support | E34 / Four Wheel Drive | 47 Nm | ||
| E46 / Four Wheel Drive | Replace screws | 59 Nm | |||
| 11AZ | Pressure strut to body | E24 / from 5.82, E28 | tighten in NORMAL POSITION | 130 Nm | |
| 12AZ | Traction strut on tie rod lever/steering knuckle/swivel bearing | E24, E28 / from 5.82, E31, E32, E34, E38 | 93 Nm | ||
| E39 | 80 Nm | ||||
| 13AZ | Pressure strut to connecting pipe/front axle support | E31, E32, E34, E38, E39 | tighten in NORMAL POSITION | 127 Nm | |
| 14AZ | Pressure strut to cruciform reinforcement | E31 | tighten in NORMAL POSITION | 127 Nm | |
| 15AZ | Connecting pipe to body | E31, E32, E34 | 127 Nm | ||
| 16AZ | Connecting pipe support to body | E31, E32, E34 | 59 Nm | ||
| 17AZ | Connecting pipe to trailing spring mount | E24 / from 5.82, E28 | 60 Nm | ||
| 18AZ | Leading strut to tie rod arm | E23 | 85 Nm | ||
| 19AZ | Tension strut on steering knuckle/swivel bearing | E39, E52, E67 | 80 Nm | ||
| E60 / REAR END, E61 / REAR END, E63, E64, E65, E66 | 165 Nm | ||||
| 20AZ | Tension strut to guide joint | E53, E83 | Replace nut | 80 Nm | |
| E60 / Four Wheel Drive, E61 / Four Wheel Drive | Replace nut | 165 Nm | |||
| 21AZ | Guide joint to swivel bearing | E53, E60 / Four Wheel Drive, E61 / Four Wheel Drive, E83 | Replace screws | 60 Nm | |
Factory Service Tools
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.
