2003 x5 torn left outer cv boot
 

Has anyone had success just replacing the torn boot even though grinding noise is present? Can the cv joint be cleaned of dirt and re-used or once its making noise does everything need to be replaced? thx in advance.

Yeah, depends on how bad the noise is. If it sounds like an old front wheel drive car with original axles making a hard turn then I'd change the whole shaft. If it is just starting to clack a bit when turning you'd probably be ok with just the boots with some fresh grease in them. And the outer boot kits from the dealer has a pack of grease with them ;)

thanks for the advice, I hope to just do the boot kit as it is much cheaper!

My passenger front outer boot just busted spewing thick axle grease all over my chrome wheel (UGH!!!)

Took to my indie to replace the boot. When I got back to the shop, he'd simply replaced the entire axle $140 installed.

Not sure how much the kit it and the time involved with doing it yourself but I thought that was a fair price.

You got a real good deal..... had mine done a couple months ago and it was $350 a side parts and labor.

Well for anyone in the Tri-Sate area that looking for a deal, my mechanic's name is Hung and the shop is at 635 East 28 street, Flatbush, Brooklyn, NY 11210 and the phone # is 718-434-8995.

Tell him Lance sent you. He may be a little difficult to understand, but he does great work and is super-reasonable.

Hey, lance...just went for a car inspection and my 2001 X5 failed because front left boot was broken broken..the gas station told me he cannot replace just the boot, if i wanted that done i would have to deal with someone else. he said he can replace entire left axel for $350 installed which he recommended because he said depending on how long boot has been broken there could be problems...is this what u got done for under $200? If so seems really cheap since the part itself i believe runs like $225 or so?

If the CV boot is broken and the joint has failed, BMW doesn't even replace the complete output shaft assembly anymore. The outer front CV joint can be replaced as a separate component (along with the bellows kit). I believe there is an SIB ( SIB 310108) on it. The entire axle from BMW runs over $500 so I don't know what the guy did for $140 or what parts he used, but something doesn't sound quite right.

Non OEM from Advanced Auto B&M was $70 per axle drop shipped to my door.
Over 10 000 miles on them. No problems.

So $70 for shaft and $70 labor is very reasonable.

Are you sure you got a whole new axle for $70? That price sounds more like just the CV joint.