Suspension damage questions

[mryakan]

I had an unfortunate incident over the weekend, both wheels on the left (driver) side hit a curb going around 40-45mph. The initial assessment is that the front looks ok (aside from needing alignment), but the rear is in bad shape.
The minimum I am looking at is lower and upper control arms (at $320 and $270 each parts and labor). I was advised that the bearing may also be damaged (750$), and that the carrier and knuckle ($1200, $950 p&l :eek:) may also need replacement but they cannot tell till after the control arms are replaced and alignment is done.

I had a few questions:

1st of all, I am not familiar with the carrier and knuckle, I will attempt a few google searches, but if anyone can explain them a bit it would be appreciated.

2nd, I am thinking of skipping the bearing for now. I was told it could show up in a month or less, but I guess there is no downside to not replacing it now. It will become noisy eventually, so it will be easy to tell when it needs replacement. Does it make sense to wait and see (I hope so).

Lastly, I am not sure if the quoted prices sound reasonable or not. Some of these are not common things that get replaced on new cars, but maybe someone can chime in. I am not sure if the majority of the cost is in parts or labor. Any input is appreciated.

It seems at least I am looking at 700$ between control arms and alignment + another ~$300 for wheel refinishing (rear one may be slightly bent, front only scraped). However the worst case scenario could be much more worse, in the neighbourhood of $4K :mad. Wish me luck, I am depressed :(.

[Clammy]

Wow... Honestly, hitting a curb at that speed, I would have expected more damage than what you've mentioned. They sure do build these cars solidly!

I think the "carrier" is referring to the rear differential carrier, which is a sub frame (I expected some kind of frame damage with an impact like that). The knuckle is the part that is connected between the upper and lower control arms.

$750.00 for a wheel bearing seems very excessive... or is it another bearing?

You're lucky the impact didn't shove the axle into the differential...

Having no experience with BMW repairs, I can't help you on whether or not those prices are normal or not (except that the wheel bearing price seems way too high).

I hope the repairs come in on the low side for you, man.

Cheers!
:buttrock:buttrock:buttrock

[mryakan]

Wow... Honestly, hitting a curb at that speed, I would have expected more damage than what you've mentioned. They sure do build these cars solidly!

I think the "carrier" is referring to the rear differential carrier, which is a sub frame (I expected some kind of frame damage with an impact like that). The knuckle is the part that is connected between the upper and lower control arms.

$750.00 for a wheel bearing seems very excessive... or is it another bearing?

You're lucky the impact didn't shove the axle into the differential...

Having no experience with BMW repairs, I can't help you on whether or not those prices are normal or not (except that the wheel bearing price seems way too high).

I hope the repairs come in on the low side for you, man.

Cheers!
:buttrock:buttrock:buttrock

Thanks for the comments, I appreciate it.
Honestly, when I looked at the wheels, I was hoping for the best. It was more like scraping the curb than hitting it, but I remember hearing a loud bang that scared me. I was surprised the car drove almost normal but with a bit of wobble and off center steering wheel Heck it would even go straight for the most part.
The speed at impact is an estimated, I was accelerating and just got in 2nd if I recall correctly, but trying to merge into an onramp. Worst thing is I do not recall much other than hitting it, kinda like losing focus or (scary enough) blanking out for a sec. I am very disappointed with myself.

[Clammy]

Thanks for the comments, I appreciate it.
Honestly, when I looked at the wheels, I was hoping for the best. It was more like scraping the curb than hitting it, but I remember hearing a loud bang that scared me. I was surprised the car drove almost normal but with a bit of wobble and off center steering wheel Heck it would even go straight for the most part.
The speed at impact is an estimated, I was accelerating and just got in 2nd if I recall correctly, but trying to merge into an onramp. Worst thing is I do not recall much other than hitting it, kinda like losing focus or (scary enough) blanking out for a sec. I am very disappointed with myself.

Sometimes shit happens, man. Where did it happen?

Cheers!
:buttrock:buttrock:buttrock

[mryakan]

Sometimes shit happens, man. Where did it happen?

Cheers!
:buttrock:buttrock:buttrock
Just before the Kirkwood/Carling onramp, right next to the Fire station. I stopped right away and pulled into the parking on the right (that toy store) to inspect the damage, but it was night and all I could see were the scraped wheels.
Thanks again, it is just anxiety. I have not had anything like this happen since my college days, so takes a while to get over. I had people hit me, but never me causing the damage since then.

[raceyBMW]

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=WB73&mospid=49514&btnr=33_1230&hg=33&fg=30

I expect the carrier they are referring to is #4 there because that is where the spring seat is, and the knuckle is #1. Hard to damage a bearing like that, usually those other parts will fail first.

[Clammy]

Just before the Kirkwood/Carling onramp, right next to the Fire station. I stopped right away and pulled into the parking on the right (that toy store) to inspect the damage, but it was night and all I could see were the scraped wheels.
Thanks again, it is just anxiety. I have not had anything like this happen since my college days, so takes a while to get over. I had people hit me, but never me causing the damage since then.

I know exactly where that is. It's about 2 minutes away from my house.

Cheers!
:buttrock:buttrock:buttrock

[mryakan]

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=WB73&mospid=49514&btnr=33_1230&hg=33&fg=30

I expect the carrier they are referring to is #4 there because that is where the spring seat is, and the knuckle is #1. Hard to damage a bearing like that, usually those other parts will fail first.

Thanks. I was checking realoem earlier, and I assumed that it is the wheel carrier, but was not sure since there is also the axle carrier (http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=PH77&mospid=51051&btnr=33_1229&hg=33&fg=30) (although I suspect that cannot be easily bent, but who knows).
I still do not see which one is the knuckle! It seems most of the cost is in labor?

[ElRedOne]

Is it worth filing an insurance claim? My wife nailed a curb with her XC70 and caused ~$1,200 worth of wheel and suspension damage in addition to ~$4,800 for body work. Insurance covered all.

[mryakan]

Just got the call that is seems the damage was limited to one upper control arm and the lower one, so less than 600$ in damage (not counting the damage to the wheels). I am relieved to say the least. I will pick it up tomorrow morning and hopefully it will drive like new again, although one of the wheels may need straightening.
Not worth getting insurance involved at this price point.
Thanks to everyone who responded. I will post some pics if I get a chance.

[Clammy]

Just got the call that is seems the damage was limited to one upper control arm and the lower one, so less than 600$ in damage (not counting the damage to the wheels). I am relieved to say the least. I will pick it up tomorrow morning and hopefully it will drive like new again, although one of the wheels may need straightening.
Not worth getting insurance involved at this price point.
Thanks to everyone who responded. I will post some pics if I get a chance.

Glad to hear it's not going to cost you a fortune!

Cheers!
:buttrock:buttrock:buttrock

[mryakan]

Glad to hear it's not going to cost you a fortune!

Cheers!
:buttrock:buttrock:buttrock
Thanks man. Got it back this morning. Drive normal, not even any vibration from the wheels (did not even need rebalancing). Now to decide what to do about the cosmetic damage on the wheels :ponder.

[mryakan]

Here are pics of the alignment before and after, the replaced control arms (very very slightly bent but enough to cause a 2-3" gap) and the damage to the wheels.
I am surprised how the front alignment was unharmed although the steering wheel was a good 30 degrees off.
As for the wheels, they seem to drive fine at all speeds, so it is also cosmetic. Although the rear looks pretty awful, I am thinking of just leaving them like this. The cost to repair is not worth it (same as price brand new) and since there is no damage impacting driveability, I will probably just live with it (maybe see if it can be touched up slightly).
http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/7646/alignmentb4.jpg

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/5817/alignmentafter.jpg
http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/599/controlarmsa.jpghttp://img507.imageshack.us/img507/2729/frontds.jpg
http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/2259/reards.jpg

[Pyewacket69]

Here are pics of the alignment before and after, the replaced control arms (very very slightly bent but enough to cause a 2-3" gap) and the damage to the wheels.
I am surprised how the front alignment was unharmed although the steering wheel was a good 30 degrees off.
As for the wheels, they seem to drive fine at all speeds, so it is also cosmetic. Although the rear looks pretty awful, I am thinking of just leaving them like this. The cost to repair is not worth it (same as price brand new) and since there is no damage impacting driveability, I will probably just live with it (maybe see if it can be touched up slightly).



Personally, if the car is in excellent condition, I'd have to get the wheels repaired. I'm surprised the cost of repair where you're located is equal to new wheel cost. There's a local shop here in SC that does wheel repair considerably cheaper than replacement cost.

Ask me how I know...

[domyalex]

mryakan,

I could be wrong, but didn't you have the RFT warranty? If so, it should cover wheels as well (that's what the dealer told me when they convinced me to get it).

All the best.

[mryakan]

mryakan,

I could be wrong, but didn't you have the RFT warranty? If so, it should cover wheels as well (that's what the dealer told me when they convinced me to get it).

All the best.
Not on this car. In any case, I believe the warranty only covers wheel damage as a result of a blowout, not if you curb them.
Thanks for the tip anyway.
Cheers

[Pyewacket69]

Not on this car. In any case, I believe the warranty only covers wheel damage as a result of a blowout, not if you curb them.
Thanks for the tip anyway.
Cheers

Maybe it depends on the coverage... I have a friend that owns a 2010 M3 with wheel & tire coverage, and it has repaired a wheel he curbed, and also replaced the tire, due to a torn sidewall.