[driverseven]

I'm not as mechanically oriented as many on this forum, so I'm a little freaked out and hoping to get some learned opinions.

My 2006 325 xi has 130K miles and is running great. But yesterday I was on a highway and heard a thump-thump-thump-thump-thump come from the front right wheel. It went away and it came back 10 minutes later and then again when I was turning.

I thought it could be the shocks. I took it to a mechanic I trust and he said the shocks looked fine but when he was driving it in circles (to identify the problem) the axle broke.

He's done great work for me over the years, so I think he did the right thing. Better to have it collapse in a parking lot then on a highway.

But what else should I be worried about? Any reason to think the other axles will go? Any suggestions as to what may have caused it?

I was hoping to keep this car another 20 or 30K but now I'm not so sure. I don't want the other axle to go at 75 mph.

[JaysBlueE92]

yikes. Not unheard of though however. I believe its recommended to do both axles at the same time however if you are repairing. Hope it works out

[driverseven]

Originally Posted by JaysBlueE92

I believe its recommended to do both axles at the same time however if you are repairing. Hope it works out

The bill for one axle was $1,400 -- I only did one.

So far -- 400 miles later its worked out

[Loogah]

Originally Posted by driverseven

The bill for one axle was $1,400 -- I only did one.

So far -- 400 miles later its worked out

WTF. That seems a bit steep.. and by bit, I mean a lot... Arent they like $300 from BMW for the part..?

[driverseven]

The part is $799

[waldo2014]

Do you happen the BMW part number of the part that broke?

[ajsalida]

For a 335xi the front driveshafts are listed @ $413/each on realoem.com, remanuf. They also say replace both same time. OP, maybe you had both replaced?

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...19&hg=31&fg=20

[driverseven]

Sorry guys - I'm no mechanic. I trust my mechanic who called it the axle. He does BMW's only and has a very busy shop. He's been operating for over 10 years and has a great location, so I just trust him. He said it was the right front axle and he always gets parts directly from BMW -- I didn't get the part number

[JaysBlueE92]

so just to confirm:

1. You arrive at mechanic because you think the shocks are bad
2. He takes it for a spin and the axle breaks
3. He replaces only one axle instead of 2, even though posters here know not to do just the one
4. He overcharged you
5. You have no idea the part number, perhaps didn't even get an invoice?
6. You still trust him, since he's been in business over 10 years and gets parts directly from BMW

Sorry to be so blunt but you should have held off on the repairs and checked this thread a few days after you let your car sit on his lot. Better yet, should've contacted insurance since he was the one driving when it broke, on his property.

[driverseven]

As long as we're being blunt: I'll trust a man I've known for 10 years who has been fixing BMW's 5 days a week, and taken care of 2 of my BMW in that time -- over the advice I receive on an Internet chat room.

And the idea of suing this man -- who was trying to fix my car and probably saved me from driving it at 65 MPH when it broke -- well, that's just absolutely the most obnoxious thing I've ever heard. I am damned sure I wouldn't be taking advice from a thread where that kind of advice is being offered.

[ajsalida]

It would be easy to find out if he replaced both axles, just ask him. If he didn't he probably should have, and it would worth asking why not.

[JaysBlueE92]

Originally Posted by driverseven

As long as we're being blunt: I'll trust a man I've known for 10 years who has been fixing BMW's 5 days a week, and taken care of 2 of my BMW in that time -- over the advice I receive on an Internet chat room.

And the idea of suing this man -- who was trying to fix my car and probably saved me from driving it at 65 MPH when it broke -- well, that's just absolutely the most obnoxious thing I've ever heard. I am damned sure I wouldn't be taking advice from a thread where that kind of advice is being offered.

Who said anything about suing? I meant your insurance could cover the cost of repair possibly, to an extent, under comprehensive. Trust is earned. No need to get upset with me, you posted the thread and more than likely would have been better off trusting complete strangers on the internet rather than this "expert". But hey, it's your money.

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by driverseven

The bill for one axle was $1,400 -- I only did one.

So far -- 400 miles later its worked out

You should ABSOLUTELY replace both front axles, unless you are planning to sell the car over the next few weeks.

Do get an itemized bill from your "trusted" mechanic to better understand how he arrived at the $1.4K price point.

Yes, the axles are not cheap, and it does take 2-3 hours to swap the axle, but that still is a stretch to get to $1.4K.

The fact that he may have over-charged you is not good.
The fact that he did not educated you on the need to do both sides is a second strike.
Do you want to wait for the 3rd?

a