Watch those CV boots

[NJ04e53]

I just got a quote from a local Indy here in NJ. He quoted me $130 per boot including labor.. So is $260 for both boot a good price or am I paying too much? Thanks...

[mrBrigante]

wow thats steep just for boots

[m5james]

They're a bitch to get to (at least my drivers side was), I'd almost pay that if I didn't do the work myself. I only charge $35 per hour, but most dealerships charge in the $90-$100 range, the boots are $15 and it takes over an hour to do each side. That's not a bad price.

[JBF]

I just had both of my front outer boots changed after the RH one went. It wasn't making any noticeable noise but the mechanic said the joint doesn't look good - apparently one of the bearings dropped out when they were replacing the boot which shouldn't happen.

Just driven it home and noticed a horrible grinding noise at around 40mph. Can only hear it with the window open and it's not always there. We've had a lot of cold weather recently so lots of grit and salt on the roads; sounds like the joint is shot?

Is this something I need to have done right away? What happens if the joint fails? Do BMW sell new joints or will I have to go after-market like this? I would have had the axles replaced but am reluctant to put more non-standard parts in than necessary and it will also mean having to wait until after xmas for parts (need to make a long trip away over xmas).

Originally Posted by TriX5

I caught my LH one as it had just failed. Replaced L & R only to find a manufacturing fault on the LH, so I got to repeat that one 6 months later.....

18 months later the RH CV joint failed......aargh!

Oh well, I can now do this job almost with my eyes closed.... :-)

Not to mention that I have lost count of the number of disks and pads I have gone through in the 45,000 miles since I bought the 4.4i 4 years ago.

[JBF]

Posted some videos here:

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...minutes-3.html

Does this sound like the CV joint?