CV Boot Replacement
 

So the outer drivers side boot finally went a week a go and needed replacing. The local indy quoted $400 for replacement including parts, you gotta be kidding right!. So after mulling over buying the bmw specialty tools, hammering out, or pressing out the stub axle with a makeshift press, I finally decided to follow this diy. Spent $50 bucks on the tools and bought the oem boot kits from getbmwparts.com....While I was in there I replaced front rotors and pads since the "check linings" message was on...got them from getbmwparts.com also...
A couple of notes...when I got the hub assy off the car and started hammering off the inner trianglular bearings(which were obviously loctited on), much to my surprise, the outer splined axle and snap ring popped right out of the outer bearing assy(no loctite)...no need to hammer off the inner bearing. Cleaned everything up, installed inner and outer boots with bands in place and new snap rings, pushed splined axle back into outer bearing till loud "snap" was heard, crimped the bands on the outer cv joint, greased the inner cavity and hoisted the hub assy back in place. Once it was bolted on I crimped the bands on the inner cv boot and finished the assy....
Had it done in less than two hours!
Tools: $50, boots w/shipping: $90 total $140
cheers
RJM

I wish I would have read this a few days ago. I just paid $365 to have the driver side outer boot replaced. Question for you. Something is burning under my car (oil or grease) and smells really bad. I discovered that the driver side boot was completely broken. I'm thinking that the grease spun out and made it to the exhaust and is burning off.

Did you experience something similar. Burning smell after your boot broke

Unrelated in my opinion. I doubt that the grease from the CV joint got to the exhaust line. I would bet on the valve cover gaskets.

Damn! I just spent $230 at an off-the-wall place down the street from me to do my passenger side outer CV boot. Plus the $15 or so for the part off of eBay.

3 hours labor is what most shops are charging. On a brighter note, all that's left to repair are the rear brakes, fan clutch, coolant tank, and Inspection II (which by the time I gather the funds it'll be time for Inspection I).

If it wasn't for my damn alternator dying last month I could've been well on my way to doing the mods.

Alpac

I think that you are correct. Did some investigation this morning and I can hear a vac leak, so either the value cover gasket is bad or there is an exhaust leak in the manifold. THanks for the suggestion.

I'm getting near the end of my patience with the X5. But with 55,000 on my 2004, I'm beginning to see too many issue surface. Might be time to unload this one and go back to my a Nissan Pathfinder.

great work!

:wow: just got my Lt Frt Outer CV boot replaced. I would have paid $700 if it wasn't for the extended warranty. Labor was the killer(4 hrs).

Turned out to be the valve cover gasket.

how much did the valve cover gasket end up running you?

Just replaced a cracked CV boot. Parts (German, but not BMW) plus labor, it costs only 90 USD at a local shop... that's really cheap!! when i read people quoted 400-500 USD, i almost fainted.. but the labor here turned out to be really cheap: an average salary for a technician for example is 1000USD per month, so after working for 2.5 hours, getting a 50 USD labor was a good pay for my mechanic! plus around 40USD for the parts...

I'm so delighted!

Average salary for a tech is not 1000 USD a month....you have to be kidding me.

No I'm not! a fresh graduate engineer in Lebanon takes 1000-1200USD...

I am an engineer with 7 years experience and an MBA and take 3000 USD package!

But again, we have no taxes, and living costs are not that high (but not that low as well)

my ex-pathfinder had a new transmission and labor cost for 1000USD for example...

I got my front outer boot passenger side for $150 during my inspection. At first I thought it was really expensive until i read this thread :wow:

i paid bmw dealer £175 to replace front right outer boot
slight issue though because none of the listed parts would fit so dealer fitted a boot that would normally fit inner cv , neither the dealer nor bmw can say why that is the case even though the old factory boot does not resemble the new part fitted .

I neglected to read your location....Now its believable.:D

Yup. There's something to be said about living in So. California. I was quoted $485 by an independant BMW shop and would have to wait 6 days until my car could be brought in for an appointment.