Have they fixed the issues between the black and purple bushings, and started supplying better washers?

There were never any issues and they have never made black bushings for the X5. What washers? There are none on the X5 install. I think you are a bit confused!

No, I'm referring to their use in the E38 and E39 cars where both bushing colors and washers included had high failure rates...within 6 months to a year at most. After that, they started to detoriorate and/or break apart. It's not a direct question for X5 use, but more at the company itself since they're still the same supplier.

The color is supposed to represent the hardness level, w/ the blacks being the hardest.

The failures you mention were on the thrust arm bushes BEHIND the track control arm overheating from the exhaust downpipe. The washers were fine but this only occurred on a small number of cars and only ever on the exhaust downpipe side. Powerflex were naturally unable to check if the affected cars still had the heat shields in place.

The X5 thrust arms are forward of the track control arms, away from the heat and are a completely different design to the saloon bushes. There are no washers either side and the bush is conical either side of the arm, not flat and sandwiched between washers. I know for a fact, that the X5 bushes are not, and never were available in the race spec, special order, harder black material.

I can only say that my Powerflex bushes have transformed the feel and handling of my car and are performing without any issues at all, both thrust arms and subframe.

X5girl, how is the ride compared to stock? I'm typically a big fan of poly bushings everywhere possible, but the X is so comfortable on the highway, I really don't care about stiffening it up any over where it is now.
Thoughts?

I find the ride quality unchanged but the car steers and handles with more precision. Almost like stiffening up without hardening it up.

The thrust arm bushes make the brakes feel far more responsive and I have lost that feel of looseness in the front end when tapping the brakes or coming to a stop.

I suspect there is little or no real seat-of-the-pants improvement with the roll bar bushes but again these make everything feel more precise.

X5Girl, xxx

Well it seems you're the only one who's on these boards and has PF's on their E53. A few other members will be installing them as well, so once it gets to the time where I need to redo the X5, I'll have to double check and see everyone progress.

I'm still on the fence about them in the 5/7 since it seems hit or miss.

m5james... I had them on my E39 540iT. They felt great but didn't put enough miles on that car after it was completed to comment on longevity. that E39 was a complete and total pos. It was always in the shop for something. Glad that car is gone - I still have nightmares about it though...

Dinan_E39 has the exact same car and he liked the PF's on his car. I think he's going to bite the bullet along w/ you and get the PF's for the X as well.

Which motor do you have in your X? If you've got the V8, it's the same engine, so you should prepare for the same problems.

oh yeah, glutton for punishment with the 4.4i. Luckily still CPO. Hoping the entire cooling system blows up before June and BMW's forced to replace it. Same with that mega-expensive alternator (and just why does it need to be water cooled? really? grrr)

Anyhow, been emailing phoenix motorsport, looks like I can get most of the bushings in poly, and will probably order them next week.

At least I like the X5 more than the E39, and the E53 has been infinitely more reliable.