[kosmokratur]

Hi everyone.

Looking for another reality check on dealer service pricing.
My M550 needs new thrust arms (or at least the bushings) on both sides. A dealer is quoting about $3000. Seems a little steep, since the parts seem to be in the $200 - 300 range online. Am I missing something?

[Warp Ten]

There are a couple of threads on thrust arm bushings so search here and on other forums might be useful. Here is what I said earlier this year on one:

My wife's 2014 328xi has hydraulic thrust arm bushings. I had to have them replaced a few years ago when a mechanic spotted some leak staining on the thrust arm. I guess my Indy just replaced the bushings because several times after that the dealer (not the Indy) said the car needed thrust arm bushings because they still saw the staining on the arms. Everything is fine though.

That was in 2019 and only the bushings were replaced per my invoice. The cost then was $800 total for parts and labor for both sides. Many recommend simply replacing the thrust arms themselves rather than go to the trouble of just replacing the bushings, but my Indy felt otherwise. --Bob

[lnxguy]

Originally Posted by kosmokratur

Hi everyone.

Looking for another reality check on dealer service pricing.
My M550 needs new thrust arms (or at least the bushings) on both sides. A dealer is quoting about $3000. Seems a little steep, since the parts seem to be in the $200 - 300 range online. Am I missing something?

That's a ridiculous price. Grab the tension struts off Bimmerworld and get an Indy to take care of it. It's an easy DIY as well.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by kosmokratur

Hi everyone.

Looking for another reality check on dealer service pricing.
My M550 needs new thrust arms (or at least the bushings) on both sides. A dealer is quoting about $3000. Seems a little steep, since the parts seem to be in the $200 - 300 range online. Am I missing something?

Don't you have Route 66? They cover those. It was one of the things I took note of as it's not common to be covered.

[640ibimmerguy]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

Don't you have Route 66? They cover those. It was one of the things I took note of as it's not common to be covered.

Do you have the Main Street or the easy street Route 66? Are the thrust rods listed specifically? B/c my understanding is thrust rods are also called upper control arms but only upper/lower control arms listed on the Main Street warranty.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by 640ibimmerguy

Do you have the Main Street or the easy street Route 66? Are the thrust rods listed specifically? B/c my understanding is thrust rods are also called upper control arms but only upper/lower control arms listed on the Main Street warranty.

Easy Street and it covers suspension components or rather, they are not excluded. I remember asking and getting confirmation which is kind of unheard of. I think I referenced control arms and bushings (which I guess are not technically suspension) and they said they were covered.

I haven’t had a claim in the space and probably won’t for 50k more miles. So we shall see someday.

[adhrp]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

Easy Street and it covers suspension components or rather, they are not excluded. I remember asking and getting confirmation which is kind of unheard of. I think I referenced control arms and bushings (which I guess are not technically suspension) and they said they were covered.

I haven’t had a claim in the space and probably won’t for 50k more miles. So we shall see someday.

How many miles on your car now?

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by adhrp

How many miles on your car now?

Just hit 60k. These parts on BMW's I have had usually show wear and tear at 100k plus (shimmy, 60-80 mph shake or vibration). Given I drive this car 5k miles a year, my guess is one of the other Route 66 folks will test this coverage out before me. What's our warranty? 120k? They probably won't have many claims in this space.

[adhrp]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

Just hit 60k. These parts on BMW's I have had usually show wear and tear at 100k plus (shimmy, 60-80 mph shake or vibration). Given I drive this car 5k miles a year, my guess is one of the other Route 66 folks will test this coverage out before me. What's our warranty? 120k? They probably won't have many claims in this space.

Mine just turned 60K too. I changed it around 90K on my F30. We'll see how this one holds up.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by adhrp

Mine just turned 60K too. I changed it around 90K on my F30. We'll see how this one holds up.

Yeah, last time I did control arms, bushings, etc. on a BMW was my E32, E38 and E39. F10 was a lease and none of my E65's ever got to the point before I traded them in.

Done the 60k service? I did plugs, coolant, brake fluid and filters at 56k miles and just had the dealer do the xDrive service a few weeks ago.

[adhrp]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

Yeah, last time I did control arms, bushings, etc. on a BMW was my E32, E38 and E39. F10 was a lease and none of my E65's ever got to the point before I traded them in.

Done the 60k service? I did plugs, coolant, brake fluid and filters at 56k miles and just had the dealer do the xDrive service a few weeks ago.

Yup just got some of those services done a couple weeks ago, however my coolant was replaced as part of the water pump leak which was taken care of at the same time as this service. No xDrive service.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by adhrp

Yup just got some of those services done a couple weeks ago, however my coolant was replaced as part of the water pump leak which was taken care of at the same time as this service. No xDrive service.

You probably caught my post on xDrive service (front and rear diff and transfer case). It was only $477. The dealer has some pretty competitive pricing on the 2018's. My indie wanted a grand.

[adhrp]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

You probably caught my post on xDrive service (front and rear diff and transfer case). It was only $477. The dealer has some pretty competitive pricing on the 2018's. My indie wanted a grand.

Not bad. I will see what my dealer charges and might consider it during my next service. This isn't on the Value Service menu so I am guessing this is just your dealer's regular charge?

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by adhrp

Not bad. I will see what my dealer charges and might consider it during my next service. This isn't on the Value Service menu so I am guessing this is just your dealer's regular charge?

I assume it's regular pricing. I was surprised. If you read the description of what they do in my snip, doesn't sound like something that would be $473 bucks at the dealer. I asked my SA last time in if I should be doing the differential service and he said, you "mean x-drive service" which leads me to believe it's a package. He asked about my miles and he said you're exactly due for it.

[adhrp]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

I assume it's regular pricing. I was surprised. If you read the description of what they do in my snip, doesn't sound like something that would be $473 bucks.

Yeah I was surprised too to see the pricing on that one. I doubt my dealer will be that competitive.

[kosmokratur]

Talked with a Route 66 rep. They said they will cover this; they just don't cover shocks/struts. They really are pretty amazing.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by kosmokratur

Talked with a Route 66 rep. They said they will cover this; they just don't cover shocks/struts. They really are pretty amazing.

Yep, thanks for the confirmation, I remember asking or it coming up during my Q&A with the rep. CPO won't even cover these.