BMW 320D E46 - Front Bushes & Ball joints, rear coil spring/torsion bar

CitizenKeane

Hi,

I put my 05 BMW 320D E46 through the NCT at the weekend at it failed on the following:
- Worn bushes on front suspension (offside and nearside)
- Worn balljoints on front suspension (offside and nearside)
- Damaged/broken Coil Spring/Torsion bar on rear suspension (offside)

I've had a bit of a search and the worn bushes seems to be a common enough problem on the E46, with parts no more than €100.
I presume the ball joints wouldn't be a big deal either?

Is the rear torsion bar an expensive part, and what would the labour be like?
One other question - should I go to a BMW specialist (like AC Cars) or would any mechanic be able to do this (presume I would need to get the parts myself in that case).

Would appreciate any info lads. Cheers

listermint

CitizenKeane wrote: »

Hi,

I put my 05 BMW 320D E46 through the NCT at the weekend at it failed on the following:
- Worn bushes on front suspension (offside and nearside)
- Worn balljoints on front suspension (offside and nearside)
- Damaged/broken Coil Spring/Torsion bar on rear suspension (offside)

I've had a bit of a search and the worn bushes seems to be a common enough problem on the E46, with parts no more than €100.
I presume the ball joints wouldn't be a big deal either?

Is the rear torsion bar an expensive part, and what would the labour be like?
One other question - should I go to a BMW specialist (like AC Cars) or would any mechanic be able to do this (presume I would need to get the parts myself in that case).

Would appreciate any info lads. Cheers

Any mechanic can do that for you, easy job.

for parts guides use - http://bmwfans.info/

its the most up to date site with regard pricing etc.

CitizenKeane

Great stuff, cheers for the link

Nissan doctor

Its coil spring/torsion bar.....as in coil spring OR torsion bar.

In the case of your car its a broken coil spring...also very common on 3 series.


All parts are easily available after market and any decent mechanic can change them, no specialist knowalage or equipment is needed.

bmstuff

CitizenKeane wrote: »

Hi,

I put my 05 BMW 320D E46 through the NCT at the weekend at it failed on the following:
- Worn bushes on front suspension (offside and nearside)
- Worn balljoints on front suspension (offside and nearside)
- Damaged/broken Coil Spring/Torsion bar on rear suspension (offside)

I've had a bit of a search and the worn bushes seems to be a common enough problem on the E46, with parts no more than €100.
I presume the ball joints wouldn't be a big deal either?

Is the rear torsion bar an expensive part, and what would the labour be like?
One other question - should I go to a BMW specialist (like AC Cars) or would any mechanic be able to do this (presume I would need to get the parts myself in that case).

Would appreciate any info lads. Cheers

Get the parts from Otto and go see your mechanic.
AC Cars does not exist anymore, the previous owners are now operating off the street, unregistered, uninsured.

listermint

bmstuff wrote: »

Get the parts from Otto and go see your mechanic.
AC Cars does not exist anymore, the previous owners are now operating off the street, unregistered, uninsured.

First part is correct but

I was under the impression that they moved back to their old premises off rathgar. not sure where you got the rest of the info from...

bmstuff

listermint wrote: »

First part is correct but
I was under the impression that they moved back to their old premises off rathgar. not sure where you got the rest of the info from...

They are on 57 Bloomfield avenue
Was there recently, seen that myself. Not gonna into details. You can find out by yourself.

Elessar

OP,

My BMW 320ci E46 also failed its NCT recently with a broken rear coil spring and worn front ball joint (nearside). I got them replaced in Scully autocare on the Howth road. €475 it cost me - dear enough and €80 more than they quoted me but they got the job done asap with no hassle.

If it's the coil spring, both will have to be replaced. The ball joints are the most expensive - they are attached to the wishbones in the E46 so you are looking at both wishbones to be replaced. You could be looking at 2-300 more than what I paid in total.

listermint

bmstuff wrote: »

They are on 57 Bloomfield avenue
Was there recently, seen that myself. Not gonna into details. You can find out by yourself.

Already have, its their old shop that they were in before the move to Naas Road.


http://maps.google.ie/maps?hl=en&ll=53.332065,-6.271836&spn=0.000659,0.001742&t=h&z=20&layer=c&cbll=53.331888,-6.271819&panoid=u10bm-JQKHOZrgwl1GJqYw&cbp=12,249.27,,0,7.62

new/old location on Bloomfield Avenue D8, 01/6750692 or 0872511500

So its hardly the side of the road now is it.....

bmstuff

listermint wrote: »

Already have, its their old shop that they were in before the move to Naas Road.


http://maps.google.ie/maps?hl=en&ll=53.332065,-6.271836&spn=0.000659,0.001742&t=h&z=20&layer=c&cbll=53.331888,-6.271819&panoid=u10bm-JQKHOZrgwl1GJqYw&cbp=12,249.27,,0,7.62

new/old location on Bloomfield Avenue D8, 01/6750692 or 0872511500

So its hardly the side of the road now is it.....

You know by whom the building is personally owned...but behind it, there is nothing as I said.
Just go there, get your car serviced and ask for an invoice. You will see.

listermint

bmstuff wrote: »

You know by whom the building is personally owned...but behind it, there is nothing as I said.
Just go there, get your car serviced and ask for an invoice. You will see.

i service my own car, so no need to

ciarsd

AC worked in Bloomfield - SCR, later White Swan - off SCR, then Naas road and now back at Bloomfield - SCR.

OP, broken springs common place - have a look on adverts/donedeal for a set from someone who's upgraded to Eibach or similar. Save you a few quid.

Gophur

Elessar wrote: »

OP,
.......
If it's the coil spring, both will have to be replaced..........l.

No they do not.


I got a spring for approx €60 and replaced it myself. One side was broken, the other was perfectly fine and did not need replacing.

Gophur

LIGHTNING wrote: »

Arent you recommened to replace both side to ensure consistant handling?

Shocks, yes, springs no.

A spring will not deteriorate with age. It either works, or it doesn't (breaks). A shock absorber can function at some varying degree of efficiency between 0 and 100%

PaulKK

Elessar wrote: »

The ball joints are the most expensive - they are attached to the wishbones in the E46 so you are looking at both wishbones to be replaced. You could be looking at 2-300 more than what I paid in total.

You can change out all the bushings themselves in the wishbones so you shouldn't have to replace the full wishbone. Should be a lot cheaper.

Nissan doctor

Gophur wrote: »

Shocks, yes, springs no.

A spring will not deteriorate with age. It either works, or it doesn't (breaks). A shock absorber can function at some varying degree of efficiency between 0 and 100%

Springs can loose tension and sag with age, thermal effects and impact damage.

They should be replaced as a pair especially when they are prone to breaking like on the 3 series. If one has broken, the other won't be far behind it..

HJL

PaulKK wrote: »

You can change out all the bushings themselves in the wishbones so you shouldn't have to replace the full wishbone. Should be a lot cheaper.

Unfortunately in the e46 the ball joints are pressed into the wishbones and cant be bought separately, so you do have to get the wishbones along with the bushes/ball joints.

They are a common fault, my last bushes/ball joints only lasted 24k miles. Id get the droplinks done at the same time, they are cheap and if they go after you get the above done your alignment will be put off.

Also factor in an alignment after doing the wishbones, otherwise it could wear your front tyres to one side.

CitizenKeane

HJL wrote: »

Unfortunately in the e46 the ball joints are pressed into the wishbones and cant be bought separately, so you do have to get the wishbones along with the bushes/ball joints.

They are a common fault, my last bushes/ball joints only lasted 24k miles. Id get the droplinks done at the same time, they are cheap and if they go after you get the above done your alignment will be put off.

Also factor in an alignment after doing the wishbones, otherwise it could wear your front tyres to one side.

Jesus, this is beginning to look very expensive. So I am looking at needing:

- Front wishbones (with ball joints) x 2
- Front wishbone bushes x 2
- Coil Springs x 2

From micksgarage, that has me at €566 already, that's before labour.
It will be bread and water for me if that's the case

challengemaster

Upgrade to Eibach springs - if there's issues with the standard ones why would you just replace them with the same?

Nissan doctor

challengemaster wrote: »

Upgrade to Eibach springs - if there's issues with the standard ones why would you just replace them with the same?

Its unlikey that any aftermarket replacement springs will be made by the same company that makes the factory fitted springs so the fault would be unlikely to re-appear I'd say.

HJL

Try the likes of http://www.eurocarparts.com/ http://www.c3bmw.co.uk or http://www.unitedautoparts.co.uk/, even with the postage to ireland they still usually work out cheaper than buying here.

Or try your local motor factor, they might be cheaper that mick garage, i dont know ive never used that website.

Gophur

Nissan doctor wrote: »

Gophur wrote: »

Shocks, yes, springs no.

A spring will not deteriorate with age. It either works, or it doesn't (breaks). A shock absorber can function at some varying degree of efficiency between 0 and 100%

Springs can loose tension and sag with age, thermal effects and impact damage.

They should be replaced as a pair especially when they are prone to breaking like on the 3 series. If one has broken, the other won't be far behind it..

Not at all. Why replace a perfectly functioning spring? An unnecessary extra €70 or so expense.

One could break due to an impact with a pothole, or such like, it's no indication the other one is on its way out.

The old adage applies, 'if it ain't broken, don't fix it!'

PaulKK

HJL wrote: »

Try the likes of http://www.eurocarparts.com/ http://www.c3bmw.co.uk

Agree on these at least, have used both before with no issues.

Nissan doctor

Gophur wrote: »

Not at all. Why replace a perfectly functioning spring? An unnecessary extra €70 or so expense.

One could break due to an impact with a pothole, or such like, it's no indication the other one is on its way out.

The old adage applies, 'if it ain't broken, don't fix it!'

:rolleyes:

New springs have to settle for a few miles after they have been fitted, why would that be the case if they just work 100% all the time unless they break?

As we're on about adages, how about 'preventative maintenance'?
People must be mad changing timing belts so, sure they are functioning perfectly when they are removed from the car.

There is a proper way of doing things, unfortunately the 'ah sure I'll be grand' attitude still prevails in this country especially in relation to car maintenance.

HJL

PaulKK wrote: »

Agree on these at least, have used both before with no issues.

Ive used United Auto Parts before, actually think i got my last wishbones/bushes off them, let me check as it will probably help OP . . .

. . . ok, in April of this year i bought two wishbones with bushes (with balljoint) for £139.00, postage was £15.00. My car is standard suspension, so non M-Tech.

Brand i got were FAI, not overly rated from what i gathered and i never normally buy the cheapest, however my last set were Febi which are suppose to be decent and like i said in an earlier post they only lasted 24k, so out of curiosity i went with FAI to see how they compare, i was told by United Auto Parts that they are manufactured to the German TUV standards.

Best one to buy are Meyle HD but are pretty expensive.

As Euro Car Parts ive got brakes pads/disc and rear shocks of them and was issue free. However i also got rear top mounts off them and they lasted less than a week, top of the shock came through them and was poking into the boot off the car :eek: , tried emailing them numerous times but to no avail. Because i was happy with the majority of what i bought off them i mentioned them here, but i have to say i was less than happy with the top mounts, the customer service [lack of it] and also being left with no option but to buy two more locally and paying for labour for re-fitting. Buying car parts online can be a gamble, sometimes you get stung. However alot of the BM sites ask for you the last 7 digits of your VIN so they can match exact parts for your car.