Anyone handy with subframe bushes?

[BlackX5]

Hi All,

Forum has been invaluable for me in seeing all the things that I need to put right on the X5.

I had the oil service done this week and now onto the loud knocking noise at the rear! From another post the advice has been that the culprit of these symptoms:-

- Loud bang when going over humps slowly
- snaking rear when over speeds of 40mph
- slight thud when accelerating off standstill

is the rear subframe bushes. I understand there are 4 of them, and with the right tools it isn't the hardest job. I was wondering whether there is anyone on the forum that would know how to do the work and willing to carry it out (paid ofcourse ). I have spoken to a few places who are quoting around the £250 mark for labour which sounds a lot of money!!

[bullethead]

If you use the superflex bushes you won't need the tool cos you can hack out the old ones and the new ones are in sections. If your replacing with oem then you'll need the tool. Lez did have the tool available for rent and there was a pretty detailed post with pics on how to do it, on here somewhere..

[Sanj]

This post - x555 sort your pics out!

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=143&p=1281&hilit=rear+subframe+bushes#p1281

[phill]

[quote=""bullethead""]If you use the superflex bushes you won't need the tool cos you can hack out the old ones and the new ones are in sections. If your replacing with oem then you'll need the tool. Lez did have the tool available for rent and there was a pretty detailed post with pics on how to do it, on here somewhere..[/quote]

Powerflex I think you mean


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[X5Sport]

Nah go Superflex"........you'll get a ride that makes you think you're smoking something..

[BlackX5]

Thanks guys but even from looking at the pics it seems too big a job for me. Do you know of anyone on the forum that can do them at a price?

[x555]

Just edited op above and now the pics are back i must have lost them when tidying up my photobucket piccy's......if there are any more on other threads i will re do them as and when

[pvw10]

[quote=""BlackX5""]Hi All,

Forum has been invaluable for me in seeing all the things that I need to put right on the X5.

I had the oil service done this week and now onto the loud knocking noise at the rear! From another post the advice has been that the culprit of these symptoms:-

- Loud bang when going over humps slowly
- snaking rear when over speeds of 40mph
- slight thud when accelerating off standstill

is the rear subframe bushes. I understand there are 4 of them, and with the right tools it isn't the hardest job. I was wondering whether there is anyone on the forum that would know how to do the work and willing to carry it out (paid ofcourse ). I have spoken to a few places who are quoting around the £250 mark for labour which sounds a lot of money!![/quote]

I recently paid my Indy circa £380.00 so £250.00 sounds ace to me

[BlackX5]

I think with the labour and parts it comes in at just over £400. I think the bushes are circa £40-50 each.

There is a flebay seller who sells a set of 4x Febi bushes for £90-odd quid so probably go with them. If everyone else on the forum is paying similar sort of money then I guess I will bite the bullet and get the work done.

A few garages that I called for quotes did say to me that it is never all 4 that need doing, and typically it will be 2 that are gone (the ones closer to the front of the car). What have you guys done when getting this work done, just the 2 or all 4 while the subframe was down?

[pvw10]

All 4 deffo as was told others would follow for sure unless you know for sure when the others were replaced. I had two bad and other two unsure so had all four done, much better afterwards.

[BlackX5]

Thanks guys. Ok, decision made I will get all four bushes replaced.

I have found these on fleabay, and the guy said it is the set of all 4 and they fit all models upto 2007 and are manufactured by FEBI.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-X5-E53-SET-4- ... 518a1f6579

Better check the old paypal account and hit the buy it now!

[bullethead]

Taking the michael with the postage. Standard 48hrs insured only a £5, £4 for packaging ? Good price on the bushes though.

[x555]

[quote=""BlackX5""]I think with the labour and parts it comes in at just over £400. I think the bushes are circa £40-50 each.

There is a flebay seller who sells a set of 4x Febi bushes for £90-odd quid so probably go with them. If everyone else on the forum is paying similar sort of money then I guess I will bite the bullet and get the work done.

A few garages that I called for quotes did say to me that it is never all 4 that need doing, and typically it will be 2 that are gone (the ones closer to the front of the car). What have you guys done when getting this work done, just the 2 or all 4 while the subframe was down?[/quote]

That price seems reasonable if you can't do it yourself.
It's a relativley easy job to do even with limited skills but you do have to get your hands dirty though
I borrowed Lezmtaylors bush removal tool and it took me a couple of hours to do so i saved a few hundred £££s but then i like doing my own maintenance myself (as much as my limited skills allow me anyway )
I would defo change all 4 as you don't want to be paying out in the near future to replace the others aswell
The ones in the link will be fine....i'm not sure if they are the same ones i used...they may be an they have been fine
Good luck and let us know how you get on.

[BlackX5]

Before hitting that Buy It Now button I took it to the garage that will do the work and they said they wanted to check over the car to ensure it is infact the subframe bushes that are gone. He took the car for a test drive and the thud was present when accelerating off standstill, and also when going over ditches and bumps, and the mechanic commented on how the rear felt very unstable (to which i agree!!)

He popped the car on a ramp and basically said he wasn't entirely convinced it was the subframe bushes as they looked pretty solid. He wants the car for a day and wants to strip down the parts before I go out and buy anything, so will book it in with him next week. There was comment about the rose joint bush too, and potential issues with the Diff or driveshafts??

X555 - if you don't mind me asking how much does it cost to rent the tool from Lezmtaylor? I have asked a friend of mine who is quite handy with this sort of stuff to check out your guide he will get back to me on whether he can attempt it. I may just do it to freshen up the back end even if the problem may lay elsewhere.

I will keep you all posted on updates on how I get on.

[x555]

[quote=""BlackX5""]Before hitting that Buy It Now button I took it to the garage that will do the work and they said they wanted to check over the car to ensure it is infact the subframe bushes that are gone. He took the car for a test drive and the thud was present when accelerating off standstill, and also when going over ditches and bumps, and the mechanic commented on how the rear felt very unstable (to which i agree!!)

He popped the car on a ramp and basically said he wasn't entirely convinced it was the subframe bushes as they looked pretty solid. He wants the car for a day and wants to strip down the parts before I go out and buy anything, so will book it in with him next week. There was comment about the rose joint bush too, and potential issues with the Diff or driveshafts??

X555 - if you don't mind me asking how much does it cost to rent the tool from Lezmtaylor? I have asked a friend of mine who is quite handy with this sort of stuff to check out your guide he will get back to me on whether he can attempt it. I may just do it to freshen up the back end even if the problem may lay elsewhere.

I will keep you all posted on updates on how I get on.[/quote]
I can't remember off hand mate but send Lez a pm and i'm sure he will accomodate you if needed (top bloke ) as for the guide i didn't do much of a how too but check out the one in the link on my thread that x5girl did it's very comprehensive and the one i followed to help me do mine