E46 Bushes

Sanchez

Sanchez

Sanchez

Soldato
Joined
20 Oct 2002
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I had a trip to BMW today as the car was due it's oil service. On the rather long and expensive list of repairs they noted that the front bushes are worn and need to be replaced. I suspect that they've never been replaced in the 11 years the car has been on the road (at least I have no paper work to show this). Anyway, they came in at around £240 for the work which probably isn't too much more than a decent indie, I expect. Is there any other associated suspension work that might as well be done at the same time? I know people always talk about a suspension 'refresh' with E46s at about the age of mine.

Other items on the long list were a corroded break pipe (£400 in total as apparently they need to remove the fuel tank to replace this), a new rear tyre and warped front disks/pads. BMW have said they would replace these FOC under warranty as they replaced them less than 2 years ago.

I have to say that Halliwell Jones of Southport have given me a really great customer service, providing taxis too and from dealer as I didn't have a lift there and back. They also discounted both the oil service and the work on the bushes if it's carries out as well as offer the breaks warranty work without me having to ask (as to be honest I didn't know it was covered).
 
Sanchez said:
Anyway, they came in at around £240 for the work which probably isn't too much more than a decent indie, I expect. Is there any other associated suspension work that might as well be done at the same time? I know people always talk about a suspension 'refresh' with E46s at about the age of mine.
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http://www.gsfcarparts.com/423bm0260

£40 for the bushes
£50 for 1 hour work..

Total around £90.....

I'd rather do that and also spend savings on a new pair of control arms and drop links, oh ARB bushes aswell.
 
That's surprising. Although from what little I've read on E46 fanatics I should stay away from cheap or non OEM parts? The other things you mentioned, is that the work I should think about getting done at the same time then? I'll be honest, obviously I know little/nothing about the work needed.
 
I'd avoid cheap bushes on the E46, they seem to eat through them. A decent set of Meyle HD or Lemforder ones should last a decent amount of time. You could even potentially go down the poly route and get a set of Powerflex or similar which are easy as pie to fit but you do get a slightly harsher ride.
 
correct me if im wrong, but the only bushes at the front are the lolly pop bushes.

you could do those in an hour with an arm behind your back
 
Atari said:
I'd avoid cheap bushes on the E46, they seem to eat through them. A decent set of Meyle HD or Lemforder ones should last a decent amount of time. You could even potentially go down the poly route and get a set of Powerflex or similar which are easy as pie to fit but you do get a slightly harsher ride.
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I'd like to avoid polly bushes as the car is a Sport and the ride is quite firm already. I'd always advocate buying better quality parts though. Perhaps I'll price up some quality bushes (BMW quoted £100) and ring my local indie but they charge £65 an hour so not really much cheaper than the BMW dealer.
 
[TW]Fox;23951902 said:
One hour to rebush the front of an E46?

That's almost as lol as the £50 gearbox rebuild you got a few years ago.
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How long does it take to replace the lolipop bushes? Once the under tray is off, it's 2 bolts off, smack with the mallet and it come off. New bush on and done. Seriously? You don't even do your own maintenance.

I don't remember rebuilding a gearbox for £50? Certainly not a few years ago. Your memory is extremely sketchy.
 
The better quality bushes from GSF will be lemforder. I am a bit confused by their online listing though, the better quality part number was always 423BM0181 and they came pre pressed in to the brackets. (I work for them....)
 
rare said:
The better quality bushes from GSF will be lemforder. I am a bit confused by their online listing though, the better quality part number was always 423BM0181 and they came pre pressed in to the brackets. (I work for them....)
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I looked at the Lemforder bushes. Which would be the better ones to go for?
 
Lemforder are OE to BMW, they are part of the ZF group, so you wont find a better quality OE bush.

Like I say though, little confused by the current online listing. 423BM0181 was always the part number for these and had been for years. 423BM0260 is an odd number and doesn't seem to come pre pressed. I can check for you when I get back in to work if you aren't in a rush to order them this weekend.

I wouldn't really bother with the cheaper bushes, they are perfectly acceptable, but I always advise to get the OE bushes, especially if you plan on keeping the car. The price difference isn't huge and they are an important part of the suspension, which I would always advise on sticking to OE.

Also might well be worth thinking about replacing ball joints at the same time. The E46 has a tendency to eat through these as well, especially with the terrible roads.
 
I had my E46 330i in for an MoT in August, and it failed on the O/S front bushes. Had them replaced and sailed then it through the MoT.

I'm in the process of selling the car now and thought it prudent to stick it in for an MoT at the same place it went in August, so she went in last week. Guess what it failed on? That's right, O/S front bushes. Said that'll be £150+ please. I asked them politely to check their records and confirm that it was that part they changed 9 months and 5,000 miles ago. Turns out the parts were duff, and replaced for free.
 
I know but like I say, seems weird. They always came in the brackets and they have never been that part number. For like 6+ years! The picture must be wrong.
 
Matt82 said:
correct me if im wrong, but the only bushes at the front are the lolly pop bushes.

you could do those in an hour with an arm behind your back
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I thought the front was similar to the E39 which has more than that and for which most recommend just doing the entire arms as its easier than just the bushes.
 
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