Need to replace thrust rods.
 

My X5 has over 90000 miles on it, just had INSP 1 done it. Thanks to the previous owner for extending the maintenance warrantee, didn't cost me a dime. However, the local BMW dealer wants to charge $1100 to have the front suspension thrust rods replaced. Bump that!!! Anyways, want to do them myself. Just to be cautious, which ones are the thrust rods, the upper control arm or the lower control arm? Sorry if this is a repeat post, I'm a E53 Newbie but a E46 Fanatic, I own both.

Thanks.

Replacing the tension strut bushings is easy. You need to either push the balljoint out of the strut or remove the ball joint from the hub carrier. Getting the balljoints out of the hub carrier is a bit a of a chore. They tend to be quite rusty and hard to remove.

On my 4.8iS I decided to simply tackle a whole bunch of stuff at the same time. Bushings, ball-joints, wheel bearings and CV boots. To do this I got myself a 20Ton press. I took the hubcarrier off the car and got it all done in one go.

If you have access to a press this is not too difficult.

Good luck.