Rear lower wishbone bush
 

Car failed its MOT yesterday on one of the front ball joints, which I've now replaced and booked in for a retest later today.

However, one of the advisories was that a rear bush was deteriorated but not causing play and hence not a fail. I've just had a look and it's totally shot. I don't understand how it's not causing play, and even so it ought to be a failure anyway as it's clearly not holding the arm in place properly ! The arm is about 1cm away from where it should be. Bush circled in this diagram:

http://www.sundayjumper.com/e53_rear_bush.jpg

The bush is not listed in the ETK as separate part. Just the whole arm for £350 :wow:

Any ideas ? If the bushes were available I'd do both no problem but spending 10% of the car's value on something that's not even an MOT item is pretty hard to swallow.

I guess all I can do is try to track down a low-mileage second hand one. Not exactly ideal.

4 REAR WISHBONE BUSH SET FOR BMW E53 X5 | eBay

BMW E53 X5 Passenger N/S Rear Swing Arm Wishbone | eBay

Are either of the above any good?

You can also try partsgateway.co.uk. Came up trumps for me for every time.

Also, are you 100% sure the bush is bad? I had a look at mine the other week while I was in the vicinity for something else, and thought they were shot. But upon closer inspection (using a lever to try and move things) I realised it was the outside portion of the rubber that had deteriorated and not the bush itself.

I think those bushes are for the upper wishbones - the inner end of parts 6 & 11 in the diagram. I'll try and get a pic of the bush on my car, it's definitely not looking healthy. The arm is noticeably displaced compared to the other side.

The other link is the right thing though, not sure how I didn't spot it yesterday !

What do you reckon ?

http://www.sundayjumper.com/e53_rear_bush_2.jpg

That is a mess! Even a used item would be better. Your alignment must be completely off and you are probably eating rear tires?

will you be doing these yourself i think mine might need replaced let us know how you on

I was told the Swing Arm,not a Wish Bone,needs to be replaced since bushing aren't serviceable.
I don't really understand it myself,how they designed such a thing.
One thing is a superior handling,but other is treating customers as a milking cow,as usual its over engineered IMO
From russian BMW forums I know that apparently guys have some way to change those bushings...but given we have no part #,how do we look for a replacement part.
So,about the upper link,I would say they look like the ones I found on eBay.
But I doubt it's gonna be what you need.

Them bushing are just pressed in so i wouldnt be buying the arm but i would change both bushings while the arm is out


quick update
i think in wrong on this i have done a search for the bushes and cant find them

That's the thing.
I just checked out the russian bimmer forum and guys are saying that 5 series bushings fit,but the inner diameter needs to be increased in order to
insert the bolt through the bushing itself.

Ok check this link they are in russia and they make bushings

Bushings - Arms Pluss
hope it helps