Pain in the wallet...

[Flametail]

well I went to the local alignment shop to see if they could give me a 4-wheel alignment...they called me 30 minutes later saying that I needed to replace my front passenger's side ball joint...and then said they can't do it. Here's the pain in my wallet, after playing phone tag with the lady at the Bimmer shop I finally get a voice mail that says it's gonna cost $190 for the alignment and I didn't even tell them about the ball joint...I just call this my punishment for getting a bimmer...just lube it up and slide it in lol

Anyone know a national NON BMW company that can do it?

[Flametail]

also, my dad was wondering if the ball joints have to be pressed in. He used to be a mechanic and can do pretty much anything.

[DocDuvi]

thats bull!! go somewere else

[DocDuvi]

Originally Posted by Flametail

also, my dad was wondering if the ball joints have to be pressed in. He used to be a mechanic and can do pretty much anything.

yeah u can take on that job it is not to hard to replace them!!

[Flametail]

do they have to be pressed though? the guys at the shop said that they couldn't do it because of some clip under the ball joint. where else can do it?

[CirrusSR22]

Usually people just buy new control arms which include both new middle (inner) and outer ball joints already attached to the arm.

The outer ball joint can be replaced, but I think the middle (inner) can not. Check out this diagram from realoem.com (It's Back!!!!) I'm pretty sure it needs to be pressed in and out.
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...42&hg=31&fg=05

Any-old shop should be able to replace the control arms as a complete unit; it's not very hard at all. One thing to keep in mind is that when you do replace an entire control arm you need to replace the control arm bushing too. It's a pretty cheap part though.

[roadrash]

Was this shop in Dickson by any chance? I was talking to my mechanic today and he said he saw a red 318ti in Dickson a few days ago. I asked if it had a rusty hole in the drivers rear quarter panel and he said it did. Small world, eh? LOL

Anyway... you should check with Konrad... he's very knowledgeable about our cars (he has a silver Active), and is affordable. PM me if you want contact info.

[bullmand]

There is a BMW special tool that allows a tech to change the outer ball joint with them still on the car. I had mine done at a dealership a few years ago. I didn't get a good look at the tool, but it would be nice to get my hands on one. I would probably go ahead and get new arms with the Meyle heavy duty ball joints already in them. It's more money now, but they'll last a lot longer.

[Flametail]

Originally Posted by roadrash

Was this shop in Dickson by any chance? I was talking to my mechanic today and he said he saw a red 318ti in Dickson a few days ago. I asked if it had a rusty hole in the drivers rear quarter panel and he said it did. Small world, eh? LOL

Actually it was Dickson Tire and Oil! Does your mechanic drive a Ti? I saw 2 in dickson around the same place and they were both at the Tater Shack by Autozone. When I pulled in there was a silver one and when I drove back by there was a blue one!

[roadrash]

LOL... yep... that was Konrad in the silver one (which I helped him find when a friend of mine was selling it), and the blue one was Konrad's daughter. Small world, eh?

He's on River Road, which is just off of Charlotte Pike, on the west side of Nashville.

[Flametail]

wow. that's pretty crazy!

[96cali]

Roadrash- ever see my red '96 cali top down there or hear how it's doing? Should have been a solid car for the new owner. Hope she's taking good care of it.

[roadrash]

I know I haven't seen it, but it was mentioned just yesterday when we were talking about northern cars and how different parts of the country affect cars in different ways.

[96cali]

They eat more starchy foods in winter? Nasal whine?

[Flametail]

mine was salt...it was from northern Kentucky and it was wrecked in winter so there's no telling how long it sat in the lot with salt all over it.