oh sorry.. i haven't started the work yet... just took pics of the damage so far...

i'm going to crevier today to pick up the repair kit. i'll do both inner and outer boots anyways...

Looking at the TIS instructions, in order to do this correctly you will need to do the following:

Remove the front wheel
Remove the reinforcement plate and engine underguard
Remove the ABS pulse generator
Remove brake caliper and rotor
Force steering tie rod off swivel bearing (hub)
Remove tension strut with guide joint from swivel bearing
Remove control arm from swivel bearing
Release collar nut on the output shaft and press output shaft out of drive flange

That gets the shaft out of the car. Now for the actual service of the cv boots, wheel side first:

Release the retainers and pull back the gaiters
Press off the joint
Lever out the retaining clip
Pull off gaiter.

Installation is reverse.
Put on gaiter
Put in new retaining clip
Press on joint
Put in new grease
Secure the gaiters in place

Differential side:

Release retainers and pull back gaiter
Detach tulip element
Remove retaining ring
Detach tripod star joint
Pull off gaiter

Installation is the reverse
Assemble 2 part gaiters and put on the shaft
Put the tripod star joint in with flat side to retaining ring
Clip in retaining ring
Apply new grease
Attach the tulip element
Secure the gaiter retainers in place.

Then its time to reinstall the shaft and put in a new radial seal in the differential.

TIS lists several special tools:
Radial Seal Driver (part number 31 5 130)
Output shaft pry bar (part number 31 5 110)
Tie Rod Press (part number 32 3 090)
Control Arm Press (part number 31 2 240)
Special Hub removal tools (part numbers: 33 2 111, 33 2 115, 33 2 116, 33 2 117, 33 2 118, 33 2 150)
Slide Hammer (part number 33 4 200)

You may or may not need the special tools... I know that Drex and JV were able to change their control arms without the special control arm press as an example.

The gaiter repair kit should only have grease, new rubber boots, and clips. There is a specific kit for each end. You will need a new radial seal if you are changing the upper gaiter as well.

now I can see how this is an 4-5 hr job...

BAV Auto Output shafts
 

Sorry to pull up an old thread. Has anyone ever installed the outputshaft from BAV Auto? They are much less expensive than the BMW OEM ones. Thinking of giving them a shot since I can put entire new shafts in versus just repairing the boots on the old ones.

Thanks!!

I didn't get the BAV Auto.
If I had to replace the axle shafts today(12/14/09) I would order online from Advanced Auto the GSP ones($69.99 for left, $74.99 - right) and use the coupon code HOLIDAY10 to get $10 off the order and choose instore pickup.
CV and Axle Parts - Advance Auto Parts

The $10 coupon code is valid for today only until 11:59 PM PST.
$10 off orders of $50 or more - Advance Auto Parts

Thanks. I ordered these, but I gotta say I am nervous about putting $70 shaft on the x5. Has anyone actually used these before? What is the experience? Any vibration or noise?

Had my outter CV boot replaced a month ago on passenger side by indep. mechanic parts and labor much cheaper then dealer.

replaced the boots on the right side arm about a month ago and this was the process I used:

Removed the 36mm nut, rotor, caliper, carrier, abs sensor and disengaged the rear control arm from the hub. I used the 75.00 ebay hub removal tool to push the halfshaft out of the hub and then undid the two strut bolts that held the strut to the carrier. This allowed the hub/carrier to move(swing) out of the way and I was able to pull the halfshaft out from there.

I did not have to pull the halfshaft with the carrier off the car. Nor disengage the lower control arm, idler (steering) arm, or sway bar from the hub/carrier.

Used the Empi boots from Autohaus then took the car on a 1200 mile trip with no issues. Just waiting for the driver side to go next.

+1
I have a torn boot, and I wonder if I should just replace instead of doing a boot repair at this price? Anyway, how did these work out for you?


How much did you pay?

I went the route of having a rebuilt shaft put in...all new insides...by independent mechanic. Paid around $300 total, and definitely worth it. Havent had issues since and the work was done about 1 1/2 yrs ago.

lennox...where is your indy shop in nj??

thanks