It's a lot cheaper to do it yourself so give it a try next time. I think this was one of the first things I learned to do on this car aside from general maintenance.
Thank you for responding so quickly.@@EndlessMoneyPits I also really liked two educational techniques you used: 1) Clearly (with photos !!) listing tools required and 2) Clearly delineating how, what and why you did what you did. Plus, I never thought to use wood boards to rais my e46 up enough to make use of my regular jack and stands!!! Really good stuff...Thank you again.
first i got a estimate from my local mechanic, he wanted 450eur for the job so i did the most sensible thing i spent 500eur in tools and 300 in parts to change the bushings and the control arms. best for 4 i spend in it ahhahahaha
The solid rubber Meyle HD seems to last forever, got my ones on in 2012-2013 something and they are still good. Before that the car had genuine bushings replaced 2 times I believe. (323Ci 11/99 with 210 600 km/131k miles)
I believe it. The ones I pulled off didn't seem that bad but the steering tighted up a little after installation. I think the car mostly just needed an alignment this time. Oh well.
That puller makes this replacement so easy I need to replace these again, last time i changed 2018 and this time i will buy puller. Do you know what size this puller tool is? Inch or centimeters so i can buy correct one from my local auto parts store.
You make this look so easy! Question, you said the wheels don’t need to come off since the only reason is to take load off the suspension. Would using ramps have the same effect?
You wouldn't be able to do this with ramps. The control arms need to move freely which means the weight of the car can't be on the wheels. Taking the wheels off just let's you move them around easier.
I have a bmw 320i 2006 which needs the control arm replaced, my mech guy suggested Lemforder brand which are significantly more expensive than meyle (used in the video) should I go with the more exppensive brand or the meyle are just as good. also at what interval are they changed
Lemforder may be the best available. They make many of the best suspension parts for the e46. I had trouble with getting the shocks into and out if of a set of control arms once because they were designed wrong. I think they were Meyle HD arms but I can't find any records to confirm this. I currently have Rein control arms which fit well but I don't see them for sale anymore. I don't replace arms at regular intervals - I replace them as a set only when damaged or bent from impact.
I hope you make enough to make this channel worth your while, because this is a masterclass!
Getting there...
Thank you
Paid to have it done. However your video made it look like I MIGHT be able to do it with some new tools and a prayer.!!!!!
It's a lot cheaper to do it yourself so give it a try next time. I think this was one of the first things I learned to do on this car aside from general maintenance.
Thank you for responding so quickly.@@EndlessMoneyPits I also really liked two educational techniques you used: 1) Clearly (with photos !!) listing tools required and 2) Clearly delineating how, what and why you did what you did. Plus, I never thought to use wood boards to rais my e46 up enough to make use of my regular jack and stands!!! Really good stuff...Thank you again.
My guy… superb video! Keep them coming!
Thank you! I am working on more e46 videos right now.
first i got a estimate from my local mechanic, he wanted 450eur for the job so i did the most sensible thing
i spent 500eur in tools and 300 in parts to change the bushings and the control arms. best for 4 i spend in it ahhahahaha
Great video, exactly what I was looking for. : ) I'll be attempting this replacement soon!
The solid rubber Meyle HD seems to last forever, got my ones on in 2012-2013 something and they are still good. Before that the car had genuine bushings replaced 2 times I believe. (323Ci 11/99 with 210 600 km/131k miles)
I believe it. The ones I pulled off didn't seem that bad but the steering tighted up a little after installation. I think the car mostly just needed an alignment this time. Oh well.
cheers buddy, best way to get them off...although they are an arse to get off.
16 years in this car and I finally have the right tools for this. Priorities are stupid.
lol who replaces those bolts on that brace
That puller makes this replacement so easy
I need to replace these again, last time i changed 2018 and this time i will buy puller.
Do you know what size this puller tool is? Inch or centimeters so i can buy correct one from my local auto parts store.
I don't remember off hand but I tell you the size in the video. At the beginning where I show the tools used.
@@EndlessMoneyPits Yep maybe i go to autoparts store with new bushing and do measurement there. :)
You make this look so easy! Question, you said the wheels don’t need to come off since the only reason is to take load off the suspension. Would using ramps have the same effect?
You wouldn't be able to do this with ramps. The control arms need to move freely which means the weight of the car can't be on the wheels. Taking the wheels off just let's you move them around easier.
I have a bmw 320i 2006 which needs the control arm replaced, my mech guy suggested Lemforder brand which are significantly more expensive than meyle (used in the video) should I go with the more exppensive brand or the meyle are just as good. also at what interval are they changed
Lemforder may be the best available. They make many of the best suspension parts for the e46. I had trouble with getting the shocks into and out if of a set of control arms once because they were designed wrong. I think they were Meyle HD arms but I can't find any records to confirm this. I currently have Rein control arms which fit well but I don't see them for sale anymore. I don't replace arms at regular intervals - I replace them as a set only when damaged or bent from impact.
Clarification: left is driver side, right is passenger side. Am I correct?
When the steering wheel is on the left side of the car (USA) then yes.