Replace full control arm or just bushing?

KurtYYC · 11-24-2016, 04:12 PM

Hi all,

I have a 2007 328xi. A local auto-shop recently recommended that I have the bushings replaced on my car because there's a little play there, but I was wondering if you guys recommended replacing the whole control arm instead. Thought process being why put a new bushing on a control arm with an old ball joint...

Thoughts? Price for both the right and left front bushings is quoted at $150 with 3hrs of labour on top of that.

feuer · 11-24-2016, 06:16 PM

If labor is $60/65 per hour is OK. If not shop around.

KurtYYC · 11-24-2016, 08:42 PM

Labour is $110/hr.

Manual Transmission · 11-26-2016, 07:04 PM

You can get an M3 control arm upgrade kit for ~300 right now from FCP euro as it's on sale and you'll get improved handling and new arms. I don't know what the stock arms cost. Alternatively if you want to save money I'll sell you my old arms which still drive great and aren't weeping yet, but I don't know how old they are.

hongsc · 11-28-2016, 12:57 AM

Shop around. That's pretty expensive just for labor. Cost wise for parts just go M3 control arms.

Hpirx · 12-02-2016, 06:41 AM

M3 control arms on an xi ?
I don't think so?
Xi experts care to comment?

skier_du · 12-02-2016, 08:38 AM

Unless your tension arms are bent or otherwise damaged, there's really no reason to replace them. But you can get them cheap from rockauto. However, either way I suggest looking into the Stronglex bushings. They make a huge difference.
Control Arm Bushing Upgrade for XI? http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1108425

whyzee125 · 12-05-2016, 10:50 PM

It's usually cheaper to just buy the whole arms. FCP euro has the stock ones for dirt cheap and even the full M3 kit for under $300 now.

hongsc · 12-05-2016, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hpirx

M3 control arms on an xi ?
I don't think so?
Xi experts care to comment?

My bad. I missed the xi part. That wouldn't work then.

djgandy · 12-07-2016, 12:07 PM

Over the other side of the pond you can pick up genuine arms for most the range from around £30 each. It's even cheaper in Germany, and I expect similar pricing in the US.

By the time you've bought bushings, had them pressed and put back in its almost definitely cheaper to just replace arms and sell the old ones if you can. Ball joints wear too so bushings wont cure that.

The labour is the cost in this job, and the alignment afterwards. Any monkey can change the arms tbh, so I'd not pay over the odds for such a simple job.

Cfme92 · 12-08-2016, 11:33 PM

When you say the full kit do you mean front and rear or just front ? I went to fcp euro and full kit Is 675$

gowensgone · 12-08-2016, 11:53 PM

Just did this myself. shop recommended that my bushings needed changed but I changed the control arms, myself, in about four hours (not too difficult w a helping hand). If the arms have near 100k or over on them I bet the ball joints are also worn as mine were in very bad condition.

matteblue3er · 12-10-2016, 11:11 AM

For xDrive, replace the bushing with poly and be done with it. The poly will outlast the life of the car. The outer ball joint connected to the knuckle is mounted on the knuckle itself so it won't necessitate control arm replacement if it fails later.

For RWD models, its the opposite with the ball joint being integrated with the control arm. So for RWD, it makes sense to replace the control arm because if the ball joint fails, you would need to replace the inner bushing a second time.

11-24-2016, 04:12 PM	#1
KurtYYC New Member 6 Rep 10 Posts Drives: 2007 328xi Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Calgary iTrader: (0)	Replace full control arm or just bushing? Hi all, I have a 2007 328xi. A local auto-shop recently recommended that I have the bushings replaced on my car because there's a little play there, but I was wondering if you guys recommended replacing the whole control arm instead. Thought process being why put a new bushing on a control arm with an old ball joint... Thoughts? Price for both the right and left front bushings is quoted at $150 with 3hrs of labour on top of that.
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11-24-2016, 06:16 PM	#2
feuer Major General 4307 Rep 9,230 Posts Drives: wife crazy! Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (5)	If labor is $60/65 per hour is OK. If not shop around.
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11-24-2016, 08:42 PM	#3
KurtYYC New Member 6 Rep 10 Posts Drives: 2007 328xi Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Calgary iTrader: (0)	Labour is $110/hr.
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11-26-2016, 07:04 PM	#4
Manual Transmission Private First Class 32 Rep 162 Posts Drives: E90 Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: California iTrader: (0)	You can get an M3 control arm upgrade kit for ~300 right now from FCP euro as it's on sale and you'll get improved handling and new arms. I don't know what the stock arms cost. Alternatively if you want to save money I'll sell you my old arms which still drive great and aren't weeping yet, but I don't know how old they are.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-28-2016, 12:57 AM	#5
hongsc Captain 155 Rep 982 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW 328i Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Amazon Prime iTrader: (1)	Shop around. That's pretty expensive just for labor. Cost wise for parts just go M3 control arms. __________________ 2011 BMW 328i Space Grey\|18" Avant Garde m359\|Michelin Pilot Sport A/S2\|Eibach Pro-Kit Springs\|Koni FSD\|M3 U+L Control Arms\|Lux Angel Eyes\|Stoptech\|Hawk 5.0\|aFe Race Pipes\|BMW PE
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12-02-2016, 06:41 AM	#6
Hpirx First Lieutenant 258 Rep 326 Posts Drives: 2022 M240 xDrive, BGM Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Long Island iTrader: (0)	M3 control arms on an xi ? I don't think so? Xi experts care to comment?
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12-02-2016, 08:38 AM	#7
skier_du Second Lieutenant 160 Rep 209 Posts Drives: 14 F30 335i xDrive Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Miami iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 BMW 335i xDrive [0.00]	Unless your tension arms are bent or otherwise damaged, there's really no reason to replace them. But you can get them cheap from rockauto. However, either way I suggest looking into the Stronglex bushings. They make a huge difference. Control Arm Bushing Upgrade for XI? http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1108425
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12-05-2016, 10:50 PM	#8
whyzee125 Brigadier General 2075 Rep 4,134 Posts Drives: Dinan stage 2 335i Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Chattanooga Tn iTrader: (0)	It's usually cheaper to just buy the whole arms. FCP euro has the stock ones for dirt cheap and even the full M3 kit for under $300 now.
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12-07-2016, 12:07 PM	#10
djgandy Colonel 145 Rep 2,335 Posts Drives: E93 M3 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: London iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 M3 [0.00]	Over the other side of the pond you can pick up genuine arms for most the range from around £30 each. It's even cheaper in Germany, and I expect similar pricing in the US. By the time you've bought bushings, had them pressed and put back in its almost definitely cheaper to just replace arms and sell the old ones if you can. Ball joints wear too so bushings wont cure that. The labour is the cost in this job, and the alignment afterwards. Any monkey can change the arms tbh, so I'd not pay over the odds for such a simple job.
	Appreciate 1 feuer4306.50 Quote

12-08-2016, 11:33 PM	#11
Cfme92 Registered 0 Rep 3 Posts Drives: 2008 335i coupe Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Marietta, Ga iTrader: (0)	When you say the full kit do you mean front and rear or just front ? I went to fcp euro and full kit Is 675$
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12-08-2016, 11:53 PM	#12
gowensgone New Member 0 Rep 15 Posts Drives: 06 e90 325i Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Lewis Center, OH iTrader: (0)	Just did this myself. shop recommended that my bushings needed changed but I changed the control arms, myself, in about four hours (not too difficult w a helping hand). If the arms have near 100k or over on them I bet the ball joints are also worn as mine were in very bad condition.
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12-10-2016, 11:11 AM	#13
matteblue3er Captain 241 Rep 949 Posts Drives: Racecar Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Philly iTrader: (0)	For xDrive, replace the bushing with poly and be done with it. The poly will outlast the life of the car. The outer ball joint connected to the knuckle is mounted on the knuckle itself so it won't necessitate control arm replacement if it fails later. For RWD models, its the opposite with the ball joint being integrated with the control arm. So for RWD, it makes sense to replace the control arm because if the ball joint fails, you would need to replace the inner bushing a second time.
	Appreciate 0 Quote