Can anyone reccomend a shop that works on bmw's (cars)

[Mike Qube]

I need to get my control arms replaced on my car, the shop I would normally go to is telling me it's a 5 hour job. It's a two hour job at the most. Can anyone recommend a place?

[e30addict]

http://www.nestreetriders.com/forum/...nd-boston.html

[ɹǝʍoןandɹǝʍoן]

might be a hike, but CARS inc. in Salem, NH is a very good shop and they specialize in Euro cars. They have absolutely the best service and customer understandings I have experienced, and continuously have returning customers due to their quality of repair for exotics and normal cars. Might be a hike though, but right off the 93 highway over the NH border.

[Danz19899]

buddy of mine works at http://www.autoengineering.com

not sure on the pricing but they do quality work

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what car are you looking to get it done on?

also which control arms need to be done? Lower arms tend to be really easy but upper arms can be a bitch

[breakdirt916]

http://www.bimmershops.com/

[e30addict]

buddy of mine works at http://www.autoengineering.com

not sure on the pricing but they do quality work

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what car are you looking to get it done on?

also which control arms need to be done? Lower arms tend to be really easy but upper arms can be a bitch

Profile shows 325Ci. Probably E46 so early 2000's vintage.

Front should only have lower arms. If bushings are done at the same time it's realistically 1.5 hr a side straight time, at least that's what it usually takes me.

[RandyO]

I need to get my control arms replaced on my car, the shop I would normally go to is telling me it's a 5 hour job. It's a two hour job at the most. Can anyone recommend a place?

if you know that its only a 2 hour job, you must have the experience, why not do it yourself ?

[Mike Qube]

if you know that its only a 2 hour job, you must have the experience, why not do it yourself ?

I was thinking about it, but it's not something I think I want to do in my driveway.

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I think I might diy it now. I just found a really good tutorial.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wmliu/3740236590/

I just need to get myself some jack stands.

[e30addict]

I was thinking about it, but it's not something I think I want to do in my driveway.

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I think I might diy it now. I just found a really good tutorial.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wmliu/3740236590/

I just need to get myself some jack stands.

It really is as easy as it looks. I do them in my driveway with no special tools. The bushings are the hardest part of the job for me. If you're even just basically mechanically inclined you can do this job.

[Mike Qube]

It really is as easy as it looks. I do them in my driveway with no special tools. The bushings are the hardest part of the job for me. If you're even just basically mechanically inclined you can do this job.

You mean pressing them into the bushings? Like what the DIY guy does with the soap?

[e30addict]

You mean pressing them into the bushings? Like what the DIY guy does with the soap?

On and off on the bushings sounds simple in theory, but in execution can be a bitch. Borrow a puller from Autozone or similar under the loan a tool program to yank them off the arm. Pressing the stock bushing out of the lollipop is harder than it looks unless you have a hydraulic press. I don't, so I burn them out and then cut out the metal support ring.

Pressing the new bushing in is cake on a vice, just lube the metal ring first. I use offset hole bushings to increase caster on the E30's. Applying enough pressure to put them back on the arm is tough because of the angles. Stock one's with the hole in the center are 10X easier.

Use laundry detergent as a lube. Get the weight of the car on the suspension as quickly as possible after pressing the bushings on and bolting everything together. The manuals all recommend final bolt torques after the weight is on the suspension.

Edit: After looking at the size of those bushings, getting them out of the lollipop loos waaaay easier on a E46 than an E30!

[virtualbong]

I have only brought my car here for oil changes but people like these guys. Doesn't hurt to see what they charge.

http://www.villageeuropean.com/services/

[golden chicken]

Village european is where all the techs went when we left auto engineering. I vote for village euro.

[RandyO]

It really is as easy as it looks.

that's what I found with the bimmers I've owned, did struts, new hardware & tower bearings on all 4 corners of the e21 I owned in 1½ hrs

[Mike Qube]

On and off on the bushings sounds simple in theory, but in execution can be a bitch. Borrow a puller from Autozone or similar under the loan a tool program to yank them off the arm. Pressing the stock bushing out of the lollipop is harder than it looks unless you have a hydraulic press. I don't, so I burn them out and then cut out the metal support ring.

Pressing the new bushing in is cake on a vice, just lube the metal ring first. I use offset hole bushings to increase caster on the E30's. Applying enough pressure to put them back on the arm is tough because of the angles. Stock one's with the hole in the center are 10X easier.

Use laundry detergent as a lube. Get the weight of the car on the suspension as quickly as possible after pressing the bushings on and bolting everything together. The manuals all recommend final bolt torques after the weight is on the suspension.

I'm going to get new bushings with the control arms.I just ordered the Meyel HD control arms and bushings from Bav Auto.
Here's the pic of it:


Al I have to do is press the new ones in, I can just toss the old one with the control arm, right?

[golden chicken]

The 21?mm nut on top of the subframe can be a bit of a pain. A ratcheting wrench makes the job easier in lieu of a 21mm flex socket on a really long extension. Having new bushings makes the job 10x easier. Yes, just chuck the old bushings.

[Mike Qube]

The 21?mm nut on top of the subframe can be a bit of a pain. A ratcheting wrench makes the job easier in lieu of a 21mm flex socket on a really long extension. Having new bushings makes the job 10x easier. Yes, just chuck the old bushings.

I think thats the one in the DIY that the guy said is a bitch because you only have a small space to work in.

[noxin]

Mike, I like Smooth Automotive in West Medford, they've treated me well. Additionally, if you want, I have a pair of jack stands and Rhino Ramps you can use if you DIY

[Garandman]

might be a hike, but CARS inc. in Salem, NH is a very good shop and they specialize in Euro cars./

He'd drive past 20 good shops to get there.

We use Fastrack Automotive and Peabody Sunoco, both in Peabody and thus not particularly close to Mefa. But low price and BMW service seem to be mutually exclusive. I'd think the BMWCCA could recommend a place: they're very active in this area.

[Mike Qube]

Mike, I like Smooth Automotive in West Medford, they've treated me well. Additionally, if you want, I have a pair of jack stands and Rhino Ramps you can use if you DIY

I need those jack stands!! I am going to DIY, I have one set but I need another.

[golden chicken]

Be sure to triple check yourself before you mash the thrust bushing onto the control arm, and use lots of lube.

[SSearchVT]

This is a very easy DIY. The first one will take an hour, the second one will take 20 minutes... A pickle fork works fine (you're replacing the arms anyway, you don't need to worry about ripping the boots). The bushings do have a front/back, and a left/right. Do one side at a time. If the bushings come mounted in the holder - lay the old one on the ground, and build one just like it from the new parts.

[noxin]

I need those jack stands!! I am going to DIY, I have one set but I need another.

I need to fetch them from storage, but I can have them at my house in the morning. Once they're here, you are welcome to come and get them at any point.

[Mike Qube]

If I could pick them up at the end of the week or this coming weekend, that would be very awesome.

[Shock3r]

If you're still looking, Import Autowerks in Braintree does great work.