New ball joint cost????

[evalha007]

I took the ti in to get it aligned and rotated and was informed that I need two new ball joints. How much do you think this would cost total, for installation + parts (original BMW) ???

Just trying to get a ball park figure.

[DustenT]

Originally Posted by evalha007

I took the ti in to get it aligned and rotated and was informed that I need two new ball joints. How much do you think this would cost total, for installation + pats (original BMW) ???

Just trying to get a ball park figure.

You can buy the balljoints for $15 from the dealership. It usually cost about $100 in labor, so maybe and hour and halfs worth of labor.

You could upgrade to the Meyle metal centered ball joints, they are supposed to last a long time and they feel great. Availabe at bavauto.com

[Etienne]

Just a thought. If you are changing your control arms, you should probably replace the bushings on the control arms as well. Meyle ball joints are like 30/piece from Bavauto, and the bushings are like 15/pair (1 for each side). I don't know what this will do to your labor charge to have the dealer replace the Ball Joint and the bushing...

That said, if you have some time on your hands you can pick up the control arms with the meyle ball joints already pressed from bavauto for around $100/piece, then the bushings are another 15 or so for the pair (1 for each side).

Getting the bushings off the control arm (edit: just reread what I wrote. the hard part is getting them out of this little piece of metal that bolts to the car--no idea what it would be called. The bushings are pressed into it see here) is kinda tough, but the job isn too bad besides that. When I did mine the shop I go to all the time pulled the bushings off and pushed the new ones on for free... only takes a minute with a good press.

[evalha007]

Here's the kicker... They guy I went to today said that they will cost 400$ to do both. I guess they are trying to screw me? The thing is I am planning on doing a 12 hour round trip this weekend, so I am all paranoid about driving that far on them now.

The mech said they were "pretty bad"... I know I can get it done much cheaper if I wait, so I will either wait and take another car this weekend, or should I just go ahead and take the ti?

[dodj]

hi,

i have been quoted to get outer ball joints and control arm busings replaced
for about $580 australian $420 US is that a decent price???

[needle332rur]

80 bucks each from www.bavauto.com and its a complete control arm and ball joint. Then i think the bushing is around 15 bucks each. I would never replace a balljoint any other way than raplacing the whole control arm, it will save you tons of money and you will not have the risk of bending the old control arm pressing out and in the ball joint.

I used to change the balljonts on my Ti in about an hour per side.

[cali-ti]

Originally Posted by dodj

hi,

i have been quoted to get outer ball joints and control arm busings replaced
for about $580 australian $420 US is that a decent price???

what all does that include?

[dodj]

these are australian dollars multiply by about .73 to get us i think.
120 for ball joints
68 for bushings
300 labour
7.5 delivery of parts
30 for alignments
and like 55 GST which is goods and services tax

I can't find a supplier for the meyle control arms in australia, And by the time i shipped it over i reckon i wouldn't be much better off.

The dealer wanted freakin 313 dollars for control arm with the ball joint already in.

[cali-ti]

are those stock ball joints? meyle solid metal ball joints shouldn't be ungodly expensive to ship from the US and shouldn't add to the labor cost. that would at least give you more durable ball joints. how many hours of labor is that? and which bushings are those? stock control arm bushings? how much would e36 m3 centered (96+) or offset (95) or e30 m3 (offset) control arm bushings be? those are solid/harder rubber bushings than stock ti. if they're not much more, might be worth getting as well.

[dodj]

all stock, which bushings should i ask for? my car is not lowered.
i will ask if he can get the solid metal ball joints.

and they want to keep the car for 2 days.

[cali-ti]

any of the above (imho) would be good choices. the offset bushings (either e30 m3 or 95 e36 m3) could give a little more caster (push the wheels forward a bit). the 96+ e36 m3 centered bushings would be an equivalent replacement for stock ti bushings (but firmer rubber and solid rather than with open spaces in the bushing).

why 2 days? should only take a couple hours. the bushings do need to sit for a half hour or so after they apply the lube/glue during the install, but i can't see why that would require they keep it that long.

[dodj]

I think it is only because it is a pretty busy shop. That is the only explanation, not that it is an excuse. I have heard good things from them and i trust them because i dealt directly with the owner.

thanks for the advice i will ring him now and have a chat.

[cali-ti]

i've certainly had to leave my longer at the shop than required because other tasks get in the way of working on mine, so i understand that if you need someone to post some meyle ball joints to you, let me know.

[dodj]

Well i called him
he quoted me 3 hours of labour, i didn't ask why it needed to be 2 days lol, i didn't want to sound rude it is obvious they are pretty busy.

he is getting the centered m3 bushings, he can't get the meyle ball joints. Thanks for the offer, but i might just go with stock for now. only because i don't want to wait!!

anyway i am booked in for monday. i am looking forward to feeling the difference from my sloppy shopping trolley i have at the moment.

he also confirmed that there is no problem with the steering rack when he did the inspection. but said i might have to get the fotors machined if the shake when braking persists after i replace the ball joints and bushines.

[cali-ti]

cool. offer stands if ever you want to get a set. let us know how it feels once you get it back. when i had the metal ball joints and offset bushings put on, the change was not subtle, felt a LOT better.