MOT advises?

[bascule]

So I put my new x5 in for an early MOT for peace of mind (there was only a couple of months left on it anyway)

Failed on:
- Offside Front Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint rear arm (2.5.B.1a)

Got that fixed, and the handbrake adjusted (drums needed cleaning out etc) and she now has a new MOT.

However, I have three advises:

- Nearside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush front arm outer bush (2.4.G.2)
- Offside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush front arm outer bush (2.4.G.2)
- rear differential oil leaking from drive shaft seals

Looking at the past MOT history, the oil seepage from the rear drive shaft seals was an advise over the last couple of years too.

So..  Is this a common issue? Do I need to worry? She's only done 88k now, and has only been doing about 5k a year for the last few.  Any thoughts on predicted costs would be great.

Also, since having the balljoint done today, there's a slight drift to the left now, so I'm assuming an alignment is required - should that be all four, or will just the fronts be sufficient?

Thanks!

Ben

[Horizon]

[quote="bascule"]
So I put my new x5 in for an early MOT for peace of mind (there was only a couple of months left on it anyway)

Failed on:
- Offside Front Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint rear arm (2.5.B.1a)

Got that fixed, and the handbrake adjusted (drums needed cleaning out etc) and she now has a new MOT.

However, I have three advises:

- Nearside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush front arm outer bush (2.4.G.2)
- Offside Front Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush front arm outer bush (2.4.G.2)
- rear differential oil leaking from drive shaft seals

Looking at the past MOT history, the oil seepage from the rear drive shaft seals was an advise over the last couple of years too.

So..  Is this a common issue? Do I need to worry? She's only done 88k now, and has only been doing about 5k a year for the last few.  Any thoughts on predicted costs would be great.

Also, since having the balljoint done today, there's a slight drift to the left now, so I'm assuming an alignment is required - should that be all four, or will just the fronts be sufficient?

Thanks!

Ben
[/quote]
X5's are hard on the suspension ball joints and linkages, they are heavy cars and getting on in years.
Everything mechanical  has a lifetime, so wear and tear has to be expected.
They are great cars, but keeping them up to good working order can be time consuming and expensive.
The flip side is they have lost most of there depreciation  so instead of losing 5-10k a year in depreciation you find you need to put 1-2 K back in in maintenance costs in instead.
I bought my X3  a few months ago and have done the swirlflaps, glowplugs,  4 new tyres, thermostat, wiperblades, rear wiper arm and blade, air filter, new brake pads all around, gearbox service, glow plug controller, ( the towbar was optional ) but I like my cars to be right.
Too many people buy cars, run them on a shoe string for a couple of years and when the problems start pass them on to someone else. ( usually me

[Alan Gunn]

I had some play in a ball joint and one of the drop links.
All looked to be getting on in years so i bought new parts fro both sides and got my m8 with a garage to change the lot job done.
Didn't go for top notch parts as i don't do a lot of miles but got the lot from Germany for not a lot and delivered in 3 days.
I think the total inc fitting was around £200.
Car drives so much better now as well.

[henrym3]

You would definitely be wasting your money getting an alignment done before getting those jobs done on the suspension.