E46 Bushes

Sanchez · 16 Mar 2013 at 20:31

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 · 16 Mar 2013 at 20:52

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.

Sanchez · 16 Mar 2013 at 21:52

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.

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.

Sanchez · 16 Mar 2013 at 22:27

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....)

I looked at the Lemforder bushes. Which would be the better ones to go for?

Sanchez · 16 Mar 2013 at 23:20

rare said:
I can check for you when I get back in to work if you aren't in a rush to order them this weekend.

Yeah that would be good, I'm not booking the car in until next Saturday anyway.

Sanchez · 17 Mar 2013 at 15:34

mattyprice4004 said:
Your town is the reason it takes me an hour to get to my new job, I live in Southport and have to drive through Ormskirk lol.

I think you're part of the reason it takes an age to get through Ormskirk!

it's a bit of a nightmare isn't it.

[TW]Fox;23954076 said:
It's amazing how much per hour some of these guys charge now. You can get BMW main dealer rates for not much more on older cars and benefit from nicer places to wait, better coffee and brand new loan cars

Well this is my thinking. By the looks of it BMW charge £100 an hour for labour. Still I need to think over the poly bushes and decide what to do. I would be better spending the savings on other suspension parts too perhaps.