Alternative to powerflex E53 subframe bushings?

[Ricky Bobby]

Stumbled across these on eBay yesterday, looks like a clone of the Powerflex bushings for our E53 subframe.



Although they are still double the price of Meyle HD or oem lemfoerder bushings, which begs the question, are the poly subframe bushings really double as good as the stock bushings?

I was probably going to do mine within the next 12 months, but I'll prob do just Meyle HD. Just didn't know if anyone knows anything about this "powerflex clone" company making bushings, or if anyone can let me know why the powerflex subframe bushings are so ridiculously priced (4x more than oem) for our cars.

[TerminatorX5]

at $82.24 these are priced about the 1/3 less as the powerflex bushes... 4 x $85= $340... powerflex is about $500, give or take for a complete set of 4 bushes, which is 8 halfs and 4 metal rods...

[stabmasterflex]

Why not just get the usual rubber ones? Not like youll be changing them again during your ownership. I got all 4 for $100

[dkl]

Stupid question...How does one knows when these need replacing? And what are the advantages/disadvantages of choosing these over OE bushing?

[Ricky Bobby]

True on both counts.

I was going to get Meyle HD since I like the sounds of a solid rubber bushing as opposed to fluid filled stock bushings, but you're right, with about the 100k miles you get out of a stock set, not like I'd be servicing them again anytime soon.

This may be totally different, but on my vws, replacing the sloppy motor mount voids with polyurethane inserts (of the right durometer of course), extremely increased the "solid shifting feel" of a manual trans car, as well as made the front end more planted while driving, no increase in NVH.

Besides being somewhat stiffer, I was just posting this to beg the question of whether these "powerflex clones" could still be 2x a better bushing than the oem? I can't see any advantage to using them, unless buying a set gave you a specialty tool rental. Someone correct me if I'm wrong but you still need the specialty tool to extract the original bushings right?

[Isambard]

Originally Posted by dkl

Stupid question...How does one knows when these need replacing? And what are the advantages/disadvantages of choosing these over OE bushing?

See http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...me-bushes.html

...and http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...me-bushes.html RB, see post #9 re needing the tool or not.

For clarity it's just a loud bang from the rear when coming to a stop. I had mine replaced about 20k miles ago. Although I am a proponent for powerflex as I have changed my entire front end to powerflex, I replaced the rear subframe bushes with OEM and they are still doing the job nicely.

Look here for the full monty on getting the job done: http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...tempt-2-a.html

[Ricky Bobby]

Well I think I answered my own question a year ago, looks like I forgot that a member bought 4 new Meyle HD bushings, and filled the voids with a pourable polyurethane kit.

He spent about $200 on the kit, including the poly, and basically got the same thing as poly bushings. The price tag on the poly bushings really is a joke considering you need the special tool to remove them anyway. If you could remove the bushings without the tool (and a big hassle), I could see spending the extra $120 for the "powerflex clones", but if you need the tool anyway, just go with OEM's or fill Meyle HD's up with poly like this guy

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

[admranger]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

Well I think I answered my own question a year ago, looks like I forgot that a member bought 4 new Meyle HD bushings, and filled the voids with a pourable polyurethane kit.

He spent about $200 on the kit, including the poly, and basically got the same thing as poly bushings. The price tag on the poly bushings really is a joke considering you need the special tool to remove them anyway. If you could remove the bushings without the tool (and a big hassle), I could see spending the extra $120 for the "powerflex clones", but if you need the tool anyway, just go with OEM's or fill Meyle HD's up with poly like this guy

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

You can remove them w/o the special tool. Drill. Sawzall. Chisel. Hammer. Blood. Sweat. Tears. Discouraging words. Easy peasy. Done it on an E30 or two, an E34, and an E36.

[Ricky Bobby]

Originally Posted by admranger

You can remove them w/o the special tool. Drill. Sawzall. Chisel. Hammer. Blood. Sweat. Tears. Discouraging words. Easy peasy. Done it on an E30 or two, an E34, and an E36.

I'll keep it in mind, was thinking about getting a rotary hammer with a chisel attachment and use that if i decided to go that route.

Considering I have Meyle HD bushings sourced right now for $92 a set, I'll prob just rent the tool from someone though and make my life easier.

[imalabil]

I replaced mine with Febis last week. Rented the tool from Bimmer Tool Rental and it worked great. Metal inserts fell out of all 4 old bushings, which explains why the rear was so noisy going over bumps or on accel/decel. The X had 124K, and they were shot at 110K at least.
Bill