Don't know what all the fuss is about. I did not even know there was a special tool for removing the ball joint. When I changed mine I just soaked the joint in WD40 for a few hours, removed the two bolts holding it in place and then beat it out using a 2lb lump hammer on the end of the control arm as close to the ball joint as possible whilst holding on to the other end of the control arm in my other hand. I replaced the control arm as well as the ball joint so it did not matter that I beat it to death. As far as I remember the ball joint came loose fairly easily, maybe 10 or 12 blows with the lump hammer?

__________________
E90 318i 2007 N46 2.0 Manual
E53 X5 2004 M54 3.0 Sport Auto
E83 X3 2004 M54 2.5 Auto