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Thread: E60 suspension rebuild: Arms or bushings?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
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    2004 525i

    E60 suspension rebuild: Arms or bushings?

    Hi! New BMW owner here! I just bought a 2004 525i with 218000 miles from a buddy for really cheap and it needs suspension work. The ride reminds me of my old 2000 Civic and I know it could be much better. I've turned wrenches on mostly Japanese cars and am just learning on BMWs.

    So I know it needs new shocks and struts but I've been reading that the control arms may need replacing too. It's not making any weird noises so far but at this age and mileage I should do this work while I'm tearing into the suspension. So my question is it better to get new arms with bushings or get a bushing kit and have them pressed in? Should I just replace some of the arms and do bushings for the rest? I'm kind of leaning toward replacing the arms with ball joints (front tension arm and rear guide arms) and do bushings for the rest. I can get TRW control arms for about half the price of Lemforder but if I don't need to replace every arm I won't bother. I appreciate any opinions you may have!
    Last edited by Cannedcreamcorn; 03-11-2019 at 06:31 PM.

  2. #2
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    At that mileage, I would just replace the complete arms. If you do the bushings only, you'll have to have them pressed in and out, and the original ball joint with 218k miles will still remain.

    Just don't forget to load the suspension when you tighten down the bushing end of the "thrust rods" and "wishbones" as BMW refers to them. You're vehicle should be at ride height when you tighten them.
    ASE and BMW Master Certified Technician

  3. #3
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    Thanks for the info! I thought that might be the case. So can I leave the other parts, like the tie rods and the other control arm (or whatever it's called...BMWs have weird names for these). I am convinced that the thrust rods will be replaced, but should I replace some other front end parts? I want another 30k out of this car.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
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    2008 535i
    Bare minimum replace both the lower control arm and the thrust arm.

    TRW is a good lower priced alternative that still has quality.

    Thrust Arms

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    Lower Control Arms

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
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    Seattle
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    2004 525i
    Thanks for the info! I will plan on at least the thrust arms and control arms. I'll look at the tie rods and swing arms and see how they look.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
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    auburn ga
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    2004 545I
    Soon I’ll be doing all this..... 1CE399ED-515F-4BC8-A093-7ADC5B8968F8.jpeg so we are both gonna have fun lol

  7. #7
    Join Date
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    ^^ That'll be a nice improvement in ride quality.
    Quote Originally Posted by B4SH View Post
    If anyone knows, it's this guy who knows literally nothing about everything.
    Quote Originally Posted by fcvapor05 View Post
    Do you even OT? The mean 401k around here is probably about $6, what with all the shiny cars and $1,000 watches and donations to get other members' Volvos running.


  8. #8
    Join Date
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    If I wasn’t on the other side of the country I would help ya do the work, for a cold Mountain Dew!

  9. #9
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    Mar 2019
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    Quote Originally Posted by Robert Carew View Post
    Soon I’ll be doing all this.....so we are both gonna have fun lol
    Now that I've been collecting parts I'm going to get sway bars and tie rod ends too. They're pretty cheap and might as well do them while everything is in pieces.

    Quote Originally Posted by Robert Carew View Post
    If I wasn’t on the other side of the country I would help ya do the work, for a cold Mountain Dew!
    Hell, I'd buy you a couple 2 liters!
    Last edited by Cannedcreamcorn; 03-26-2019 at 04:32 PM.

  10. #10
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    Lol Hell if my front seal on my transmission wasn’t out I would make that drive! Can’t pass up a couple of 2 liters! ��

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