X5 E53 (2005) rear wheel camber

[stevex5e53]

I've noticed my rear tyres have started to wear on the insides due to the wheel camber, can anyone advise if this is adjustable or if its a complete re-bushing thing and if a DIY or dealership job, any advise appreciated. ???

[Greydog]

Rear wheel alignment is adjustable in Camber and Toe there are 2 eccentric bolts to make the adjustment. However I would be inclined to check and replace all rear bushes and links before taking the car for 4 wheel alignment.
The bushes only last about 80k but also soften deteriorate with age (bit like me) buying a full replacement set of rear suspension parts cost about the same as 1 decent tyre. There are plenty of videos on you tube to guide you and apart from the rose bush which needs a puller its all straight forward and a DIY job.
The difference is really noticeable.

[stevex5e53]

Vary helpful, many thanks for your help.

[Smeeagain]

But ...... you will almost definitely need to do the wheel alignment anyway as it doesnt stay aligned forever. Unless youre capable of checking and replacing the bushes yourself, id take it to a garage and get them to check the wheel alignment and the bush condition. You need a garage that can do four wheel drive alignment. Most places only charge to adjust, not to check it.

I wouldnt go down the route of "just replace then anyway". Ive replaced my first set of rear bushes at 220k (yes, seriously). They were checked regularly and did not need replacing before then. On the basis of the previous advice Id be on my fourth set by now. Its the front bushes that take a hammering and on the fronts I am on my third set now.

Check what needs done ie alignemnt or bushes, and adjust ir replace as required.

[stevex5e53]

Again, very helpful and your advise appreciated, definitely sounds like garage job & not one for the driveway. Mines done 120K so I'll get them to check the front end as well !

[Smeeagain]

It does also depend very much on your driving style>if you throw it around then the back will take a hammering as well as the front. I don't, I do lots of long motorway miles so the back end get it easy

[Pat 68]

hi, i had the same problem with my 4.6. they checked out ok but lots of negative camber @ 80k.

the problem, i found, is usually with the upper ball joint and the lower rose bush. when these are checked for play in the usual way, jack up the car and check for side-to-side and up-down movement, all seems ok but the way the suspension geometry is designed there is still loading on these joints when the car's weight is removed from the wheel so any play/wear isn't always apparent.

to check properly you need to remove the tension/load on these points and then check for play, please check the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_guTE2ANcIg&t=212s

diy on the top arm is easy, lower rose joint can be a pig, if you don't have the correct puller, but is possible if you're handy with the 'nut sticks'.

hope this helps

Pat

[Greydog]

Camber on its own isn't the culprit toe in is also a big part of the equation, perhaps the biggest. Odd toe at the rear can also cause front tyre wear.
When you get the rear re-bushed don't forget the inner swing arm bushes BMW will try to sell you a new swing arm £300 + . Not required as they can be re-bushed, when I rebuilt the rear suspension I did the lot the difference is marked. Then get it a full 4 wheel alignment don't assume that just because they have the equipment they know how to use it, get some recommendations.