[sam_c]

Hi guys,

I've got a 2001 325ti, which I think the suspension bushes have finally gone on (although I'm not 100% (especially on rough surfaces), I know it will tramline because it has 18 inch wheels, but if you try and push on, it doesn't really instill much confidence (especially compared to the BMW Mini's that I had before).

The rear end had started to squeak as well - if you rock the car from side to side with or without the handbrake on. There is also a rattle coming from the drivers side when you go over a speed bump of pothole - you can only hear it though when the window is down. Not sure if this is linked to dody bushings or something worse....

There is also a 'dead' spot on the straight ahead position on the steering wheel - which feels loose, if you slightly from side to side, nothing happens until you turn it a bit further. Again, not sure if this is relaed to the bushings - I did have Hughes Brothers in Derby look at it and the said that it was just natural play (I'm not so convinced....so another specialist is looking at it tomorrow).

Any idea how much I may be looking at (best and worse case). I was wondering about maybe trying to source the parts myself to save some cash - its due an MOT and Service in April / May !!!

Aside from that, it seems to be fine (other than going through a bit of oil every now and then!).

Cheers for any help / tips you can offer (sorry for the essay!)

 

[sam_c]

Took the car to Burton Motor Workshop today who advised it needing the following work:

Front discs and pads (soonish, discs aren't in great nick and a spring has been lost so one of the pads rattles)

Rear discs and pads (fairly urgent as it won't be long until its metal on metal)

Off side wishbone (ball joint gone, hence the wobble)

New rear shocks as one is misting - not too urgent though.

4 wheel alignment

And new rear tyres (expected as I knew they were getting a wee bit low).

So all in all, a bloody expensive outcome having gone in for some wobbly steeting and a rattle - now trying to find some ways to knock some money off the overall quote (so far worked out that supplying the discs and pads myself from Motormec will save £120).

Any other tips on how to save a bit of cash? Its all come at once...

 

[Egon]

How good are you with the spanners? Save cash might involve doing the disks and pads yourself.
Wishbone isnt the hardest job in the world but not if youre a novice.

 

[sam_c]

Bit of a novice really, never really dabbled with car mechanics - also I don't have any form of ramp etc, which I'm guessing you need. It is something that I've thought about - it's save £120 or so in labour.

 

[Egon]

If you trust them then its gotta be worth it, i know its all money at the end of the day.
Mines pretty much the same, i'm gonna put it in to an indie to get it done cos i'm bored with spanner rash..
18" wheels tend to exaggerate the tramlines but mines the same. I've done the track control arm bushes with poly and it still wanders like stevie wonder. arms are next to be done, then antiroll bar bushes (mine are deffo shot, you can see the arb moving..).

 

[sam_c]

Think I will - so much for me thinking it was just time for some bushes...

Don't suppose anyone has had any experience fitting 2nd hand parts? Quarry motors in Sheffield will supply a 2nd hand wishbone for £35, which is a whole load cheaper than the £195 I was quoted plus £92 for bushes and brackets. Am I right in thinking that a dodgy ball joint = MOT failure (along with the shot rear discs, pads and tyres)?

 

[Egon]

GS&F sell wishbones, looked for mine the other day, £52+vat each.
Is that a fitted price, £195?
youre right, a ball joint is a fail, sorry. If its noticeable anyway. The guy missed mine..

 

[sam_c]

No labour is on top of the £195 (to the tune of £75 on top!), hence why I was thinking going down the 2nd hand route.

Its been one thing after another this month - the windscreen cracked last week, some a***hole clipped the back of it in a car park, so the rear bumper needs repairing and respraying and I noticed two parking dings above the wheel arch when I last washed it as well!

 

[Slacker-ray]

No labour is on top of the £195 (to the tune of £75 on top!), hence why I was thinking going down the 2nd hand route.

Its been one thing after another this month - the windscreen cracked last week, some a***hole clipped the back of it in a car park, so the rear bumper needs repairing and respraying and I noticed two parking dings above the wheel arch when I last washed it as well!

I personally would not go down the 2nd route, wishbones on the E46 are pretty notorious anyway.........2nd hand ones are gonna be no good.

United carparts will do you a Febi-Bilstein wishbone complete with the rear bush for £75 each- now that is not bad dude. We usually use the lemforder ones but have used quite a few sets of the Febi's with no problems what so ever.

The wishbones are pretty straight forward to change, you don't need a ramp. Jack and axel stands is all that's needed. A ball joint seperator, universal jont with sockets and rachet and a big-ass hammer- you could do this job yourself mate.

As for the rear shock, that's a doddle and so are the brakes.

 

[sam_c]

Cheers for that - I've ruled out teh 2nd ones and will go down the route of the Febi ones.

Does anyone have any experience with their brake parts? Having done some research I can save a bundle of cash by supplying the parts myself. The labour in itself isn't too outrageous, its getting the parts from the garage.

Having never fiddled with cars myself, I'm a tad nervous about starting to do stuff on the BM - especially brakes etc.

 

[p4paco]

GLAD YOU RULED OUT SECOND HAND PARTS
coz the parts you mentioned have the bushes built into them. (which is why your changing them in the 1st place)

i changed all my bushes, and both wishbones. it made a gud differerence, my DD is a High miler 183k so i'm gonna be changing the Sway bar bushes for polys next.

 

[p4paco]

actuually, i was in your situ and i bought full grooved set of discs from ebay. (also availible in pairs)
fitted 500miles ago, almost fully bed in, with no squeeling at all.
Dint cost that much either. CRN Performance on ebay.
it not magic, but, it does aid cooling.

 

[Egon]

Cheers for that - I've ruled out teh 2nd ones and will go down the route of the Febi ones.

Does anyone have any experience with their brake parts? Having done some research I can save a bundle of cash by supplying the parts myself. The labour in itself isn't too outrageous, its getting the parts from the garage.

Having never fiddled with cars myself, I'm a tad nervous about starting to do stuff on the BM - especially brakes etc.

Some garages will get funny with parts supplied by customers. Unless you have a good relationship with them, they can get picky. Its a liability thing.
If youre not confident enough, then please dont fiddle with your brakes. I would hate to see a bm on the news...
I know it sucks, but might be worth getting it done this time and buy yourself a haynes manual, grab a friend who knows a bit about cars and watch/learn.
Theres nothing worse that it all going wrong half way through cos of a bolt or what have you....
I'd offer to help, but west midlands is a bit far from me! (sorry!)

 

[sam_c]

actuually, i was in your situ and i bought full grooved set of discs from ebay. (also availible in pairs)
fitted 500miles ago, almost fully bed in, with no squeeling at all.
Dint cost that much either. CRN Performance on ebay.
it not magic, but, it does aid cooling.

I was thinking about buying some better discs / pads as I've never been particularly inspired in the OEM brakes, but some garages have mentioned they've had issues with the likes of EBC's squealing like pigs.

As for supplying my own parts, the place that will be doing the work is more than happy for customers to do so - they just won't offer any come back on the actual parts, just the labour. Doing so is going to save me £300 plus, so I'l definitely be going down that route.

Thanks for all the advise etc from everyone.

 

[sam_c]

Forgot to ask, have you noticed any difference in performance / noise? Which pads are your running with the discs?

Cheers

Sam