BMW Control Arm Bushing Replacement
This video explains how to replace front control arm bushings on your BMW E30, E36, or E46 3-series that is experiencing control arm bushing failure. The vehicle that these are being replaced on is an E46 330ci, but the procedure is the same for the E30 and E36 3-series. This particular E46 had 62000 Miles on it at the time of this replacement.
Tags: Bushing, Control, Replacement
January 29th, 2010 at 1:59 pm
if ya bushes are that far gone , you should really be replacing the whole wishbone set up … everything (they bend)
January 29th, 2010 at 2:24 pm
anyway to get them already pressed in online?
January 29th, 2010 at 2:45 pm
with a press?
January 29th, 2010 at 3:05 pm
i used the plastic tail from a hammer and vaseline
January 29th, 2010 at 3:42 pm
how did u press the new ones in???
January 29th, 2010 at 4:33 pm
Yes, lack of use contributes to this problem. If the car had more miles, it might not have this problem.
January 29th, 2010 at 5:10 pm
i did the same type of job in my e46 and i didn’t use those cain of electric tools …the only problem was the aluminium shield who was a bit stubborn, the bushings came out easy…just by hand, after i removed the bushings i just put the new one with the help of vaseline, after the bushing was in position i used a rust bolt spray WD40 to remove the vaseline from there…wipe the rest of the remaining vaseline and bolt it back in posision and that was it.
January 29th, 2010 at 5:19 pm
I have a 04′ BMW m3 that I just bought. 25k miles. I brought it in to the dealer for an oil change and to check the brakes and they said that my ball joints are loose and need to be replaced. Is this possible with only 25k miles??
January 29th, 2010 at 5:20 pm
would a large fly press work to remove/refit the bushings. thanks for making this video.
January 29th, 2010 at 5:39 pm
Well, as I said a shop can do it with less work and possible damage, normally they charge between $15-$30 to press out a pair of bushings like these and to put the new ones in, but with a large vice and sawzall and safety glasses you can do it yourself and all you would need is what you have plus the new bushings…
January 29th, 2010 at 5:58 pm
OK (and thank you for the response), so I have a large vice and a sawzall…. What more would I need to do it myself or would I need to take them to a shop somewhere to have them pressed in?
January 29th, 2010 at 6:47 pm
Normally that would require you to have the old bushings pressed out with a press and the new ones pressed in, we used an 8 ton press in our shop for ease if doing so, but a lot of people have taken alternative means to getting them out such as cutting them out with a “sawzall” or “hacksaw.” But starting next Monday 10/19/2009 we will be carrying these bushings already pressed into new brackets ready to be simply bolted onto your vehicle.
January 29th, 2010 at 7:12 pm
I have a 2000 e46 with the sport package. How do you get the new busing into the housing and the old one out (that seemed to be the only part that was missing from this DIY (be nice: I am a novice).
January 29th, 2010 at 7:15 pm
great informative video i need to have my bushings replaced and now i know to NOT ask for the factory ones. thanks!
January 29th, 2010 at 7:36 pm
There is no good way to balance or align the wheels and tires without going to a good shop, the balancing machines and laser aligners that they use are extremely accurate and are the only true way to ensure proper alignment specifications. There are some at home kits and track-side kits for alignment, but these are only to be used for a quick alignment and are not always 100% correct
January 29th, 2010 at 8:30 pm
how do i balance out the tires without goin to the shop
January 29th, 2010 at 9:07 pm
Once the Bolts are removed off of the control arm ball joints you will have to hake a large 2-prong fork (fork as in tool, not eating utensil) and pry the arm from the chassis. The control arm has most likely been installed for many years and needs a little help to be removed since it is probably “frozen” to the chassis.
January 29th, 2010 at 9:13 pm
how do i take out the whole control i tried but it seem stuck
January 29th, 2010 at 9:51 pm
My VW New Beetle does the same I think… when I’m at a red light and start to accerlate, my car starts sizzling like a snake and everything shakes, then over 40mph it stops… but its annoying! I cant drive in piece and a local shop wants $250 for labor when the parts are less than $30 each from NAPA auto store.
January 29th, 2010 at 10:10 pm
you should have said how many miles this car had on it ..
January 29th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
Depends. Do a visual inspection of the control arm bushing first to check for cracks and excessive wear.
It took me a good 6 hours to do it on a 97 M3 because it was my first time attempting and I didn’t have the desired tools so I had to kinda macgyver a fell things. I could do it in 1-2 hours now that I know the tricks with my own tools.
Is it worth it? I would change them out anyway as the rubber doesn’t tend to last very long.
January 29th, 2010 at 11:04 pm
my E36 325is has the high speed braking shimmy and also gets a shimmy when i hit a bump if i am cornering above 60mph… i suspect the control arm bushings. is it worth it to buy one of the ebay kits that includes new control arms, tie rods, bushings, everything? or just do the bushings? i would say im a novice/intermediate home mechanic. what tools do i need?
January 29th, 2010 at 11:14 pm
I don’t have a BMW, but I think my Audi has this problem. My car does that back and forth motion when stopping but it also makes a clunking noise when I am stopping and taking off. Do some cars make that noise when these go bad? Or do I have a whole other problem?
January 29th, 2010 at 11:25 pm
I would check your rear anti-roll bars and or Pittman arms! As they are all RWD, power pushing the weight forward from the back will push the steering from side to side if the anti-roll bars have wear or are broken! If you cant feel a slight knocking under your feet when driving or hear a slight knocking, then the bushes are ok! These are available in the U.K from German swedish and french car parts for £60 inc VAT on trade prices or around £70 plus any garage can fit these for 2 hours + VAT!
January 29th, 2010 at 11:28 pm
The Bushing would seem to be the problem that is what you described, but the ball joints are also a factor that must be examined.