New Control Arms!

OnlyGerman · 04-01-2020, 02:54 PM

Had a horrible noise up front. Shop replaced both control arms under my extended warranty and wow it drives much much better. Actually shocked how much improvement it made but more shocked that they failed in just 20k. Total cost was just over 1k, not including the covered alignment. So if you have any noises, check those control arms out!

turboawd · 04-01-2020, 04:51 PM

Only 20k miles? Where your driving? Lol

Honda · 04-01-2020, 06:06 PM

20k miles only?? How is that possible?

Chicane_S54 · 04-01-2020, 06:18 PM

Mine went out at 42K. I replaced the bushings myself. It's the bushings that go bad not the control arms themselves. But no shop is going to waste their time pressing out the old bushings and pressing in new ones hence the entire control arm replacement.

OEM control arms are $350 to $400 A PIECE!!!

OEM bushings can be had for far less.

skoold2003 · 04-01-2020, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chicane_S54

Mine went out at 42K. I replaced the bushings myself. It's the bushings that go bad not the control arms themselves. But no shop is going to waste their time pressing out the old bushings and pressing in new ones hence the entire control arm replacement.

OEM control arms are $350 to $400 A PIECE!!!

OEM bushings can be had for far less.

Ya they aren't too bad as a DIY.. I just changed mine with some arms that I bought at FCP euro. They have a lifetime warranty so if they ever go bad it's a free replacement. I think they cost just under $300 for both.

MizikeTSK · 04-01-2020, 07:38 PM

Had mine replaced around the 40k mark. I wonder if replacements out there now are same as original or improved arm/bushing.

OnlyGerman · 04-01-2020, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Honda

20k miles only?? How is that possible?

Quote:

Originally Posted by turboawd

Only 20k miles? Where your driving? Lol

Quote:

Originally Posted by Honda

20k miles only?? How is that possible?

No idea how. Maybe it's the FL heat of 6 years that made the bushing wear premature?

P1 · 04-01-2020, 08:40 PM

I'm on my third control arm on one side, and my second control arm on the other side. All luckily repaired under warranty or good will!

X5Guy · 04-01-2020, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P1et

I'm on my third control arm on one side, and my second control arm on the other side. All luckily repaired under warranty or good will!

Did you get it replaced with oem or aftermarket?

Honda · 04-01-2020, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P1et

I'm on my third control arm on one side, and my second control arm on the other side. All luckily repaired under warranty or good will!

Wow. If this is happening with alot of owners then definitely there is quality issue here.

ponytuning · 04-01-2020, 10:57 PM

How do you tell when they go bad? We drive on unpaved roads (3 miles daily) and uneven surfaces quite often since we live in the country side. Almost two years into ownership and didn't notice any issues (the x5 or with the x6)..one is 32k miles the other is 41k miles.

P1 · 04-01-2020, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by X5Guy

Did you get it replaced with oem or aftermarket?

Oh, all OEM at the dealership. Everything on my vehicles is always OEM.

P1 · 04-01-2020, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ponytuning

How do you tell when they go bad? We drive on unpaved roads (3 miles daily) and uneven surfaces quite often since we live in the country side. Almost two years into ownership and didn't notice any issues (the x5 or with the x6)..one is 32k miles the other is 41k miles.

Mine went right around 45K or 50K miles the first time.

Chicane_S54 · 04-02-2020, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ponytuning

How do you tell when they go bad? We drive on unpaved roads (3 miles daily) and uneven surfaces quite often since we live in the country side. Almost two years into ownership and didn't notice any issues (the x5 or with the x6)..one is 32k miles the other is 41k miles.

You'll get a distinct squeaking sound when going over bumps and braking. Also the truck feels a little looser up front. When you take them them off there are cracks on the surface going all the way around, giving you an indication of what is going on underneath. The bushing has essentially lost it's structure and there is too much movement allowed by the suspension.

ponytuning · 04-02-2020, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chicane_S54

You'll get a distinct squeaking sound when going over bumps and braking. Also the truck feels a little looser up front. When you take them them off there are cracks on the surface going all the way around, giving you an indication of what is going on underneath. The bushing has essentially lost it's structure and there is too much movement allowed by the suspension.

I see, thank you so much!

wmr71 · 04-02-2020, 09:53 AM

skoold2003 - could you please post the part numbers for the control arms you purchased from FCP Euro?

thanks in advance!

smyles · 04-02-2020, 09:59 AM

Ugh, compare all this to my ancient 250k+ miles 4runner that required new bushings only because the camber bolts seized and wouldn't adjust for the lift.

turboawd · 04-02-2020, 10:29 AM

This is one of those things bmw does on purpose, Use cheap rubber. Also they design the bushing with a lot of space to create movement in the bushing. I'll take a stiffer ride versus the fraction of smoothness the bmw bushing offers.

skoold2003 · 04-02-2020, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wmr71

skoold2003 - could you please post the part numbers for the control arms you purchased from FCP Euro?

thanks in advance!

Sure, the part # for the left side is 31126851691 and the right side is 31126851692. These are for active steering so you need to double check that.

Chicane_S54 · 04-02-2020, 02:09 PM

Non active control arms (mine) 31126864821, 31126864822.

Looks like the price dropped $195 a piece which is reasonable.

skoold2003 · 04-02-2020, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chicane_S54

Non active control arms (mine) 31126864821, 31126864822.

Looks like the price dropped $195 a piece which is reasonable.

Those are the rear control arms.. the ones I linked are the forward (thrust) arms. Not sure which ones the OP was referring to.

Chicane_S54 · 04-02-2020, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skoold2003

Those are the rear control arms.. the ones I linked are the forward (thrust) arms. Not sure which ones the OP was referring to.

These are for the front axle also, I think we are talking about two different control arms, that are sitting right next to each other, but the ones I am showing you these are the ones that have the bushings that frequently go bad:

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...59#31126864821

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...er-31126864821

04-01-2020, 02:54 PM	#1
OnlyGerman Major 362 Rep 1,261 Posts Drives: F15, F13, F10, E60 Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Sunshine State iTrader: (0)	Had a horrible noise up front. Shop replaced both control arms under my extended warranty and wow it drives much much better. Actually shocked how much improvement it made but more shocked that they failed in just 20k. Total cost was just over 1k, not including the covered alignment. So if you have any noises, check those control arms out!
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04-01-2020, 04:51 PM	#2
turboawd Banned 1636 Rep 2,995 Posts Drives: 2015 X5 35i Join Date: May 2015 Location: United States iTrader: (0)	Only 20k miles? Where your driving? Lol
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04-01-2020, 06:18 PM	#4
Chicane_S54 Private First Class 34 Rep 159 Posts Drives: F15 X5 Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Mine went out at 42K. I replaced the bushings myself. It's the bushings that go bad not the control arms themselves. But no shop is going to waste their time pressing out the old bushings and pressing in new ones hence the entire control arm replacement. OEM control arms are $350 to $400 A PIECE!!! OEM bushings can be had for far less.
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04-01-2020, 07:38 PM	#6
MizikeTSK Second Lieutenant 144 Rep 264 Posts Drives: 2015 XDrive 50i MSport Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: San Diego iTrader: (0)	Had mine replaced around the 40k mark. I wonder if replacements out there now are same as original or improved arm/bushing. __________________ 2015 F15 XDrive 50i MSport
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04-01-2020, 08:40 PM	#8
P1 Lieutenant General 11569 Rep 11,136 Posts Drives: 2004 3/4 ton Duramax Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: United States iTrader: (1)	I'm on my third control arm on one side, and my second control arm on the other side. All luckily repaired under warranty or good will!
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		BMW X5 and X6 Forum (F15/F16) > BMW X5 (F15) and BMW X6 (F16) Forum > BMW X5 and X6 (F15/F16) Forum
New Control Arms!

04-01-2020, 06:06 PM	#3
Honda Lieutenant Colonel 289 Rep 1,535 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: US iTrader: (25)	20k miles only?? How is that possible?
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04-01-2020, 10:57 PM	#11
ponytuning First Lieutenant 121 Rep 359 Posts Drives: '16 F16 50i, 15' F15 50i Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Gliese-6143-C iTrader: (0)	How do you tell when they go bad? We drive on unpaved roads (3 miles daily) and uneven surfaces quite often since we live in the country side. Almost two years into ownership and didn't notice any issues (the x5 or with the x6)..one is 32k miles the other is 41k miles.
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04-02-2020, 09:53 AM	#16
wmr71 Private First Class 26 Rep 100 Posts Drives: 2016 X5 Msport 50 Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (2)	skoold2003 - could you please post the part numbers for the control arms you purchased from FCP Euro? thanks in advance!
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04-02-2020, 09:59 AM	#17
smyles Major 1023 Rep 1,168 Posts Drives: '21 X5 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: DC iTrader: (0)	Ugh, compare all this to my ancient 250k+ miles 4runner that required new bushings only because the camber bolts seized and wouldn't adjust for the lift.
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04-02-2020, 10:29 AM	#18
turboawd Banned 1636 Rep 2,995 Posts Drives: 2015 X5 35i Join Date: May 2015 Location: United States iTrader: (0)	This is one of those things bmw does on purpose, Use cheap rubber. Also they design the bushing with a lot of space to create movement in the bushing. I'll take a stiffer ride versus the fraction of smoothness the bmw bushing offers.
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04-02-2020, 02:09 PM	#20
Chicane_S54 Private First Class 34 Rep 159 Posts Drives: F15 X5 Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Non active control arms (mine) 31126864821, 31126864822. Looks like the price dropped $195 a piece which is reasonable.
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