I also spent two day getting mine out. I am very decent with an angle grinder but even still I would advise EXTREME CAUTION with my method.

Okay, so you use your big grinder to cut the ball out of its socket from underneath, then the boot will smell a bit as you cut through. Start by opening cuts front and back (in line withe the trust arm) of the joint so its easy then to remove the ball from the housing. Then there is a plastic gasket inside the joint to remove. Once that is done and you are down to bare metal inside the joint you can use a dremel with a disc cutter for extra precision and cut a grove from the inside of the disc left to right careful not to go more than the width of the ball joint housing (4-5mm). The Dremel will be good enough to do the job, it takes time so cover your eyes and face and wrap up warm if your on a cold floor. Once you have a grove, I then use a impact wrench on the top of the ball joint and a 9lb short handle hammer 3 large wacks and it came off.

Lots of swearing, time and patients for this job unless you want to dismantle the entire show and get easier access.

On install I used some copper grease to the new ball joints but I figure that when I need to replace again they will be still an absolute pig to remove.

Hope that helps

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BMW X5 E53 3.0 Diesel Sport | Sapphire Black Dakota Beige Leather interior | Year 2004

What I had updated
Carbon Effect Steering Wheel
Panoramic Sunroof Fix
PVC Replacement
All glowplugs and glowplug regulator
New discs and pads all round
All new front suspension links, bushes and rods