Alternative to powerflex E53 subframe bushings?
 

Stumbled across these on eBay yesterday, looks like a clone of the Powerflex bushings for our E53 subframe.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/01/13/gezy6ure.jpg

Although they are still double the price of Meyle HD or oem lemfoerder bushings, which begs the question, are the poly subframe bushings really double as good as the stock bushings?

I was probably going to do mine within the next 12 months, but I'll prob do just Meyle HD. Just didn't know if anyone knows anything about this "powerflex clone" company making bushings, or if anyone can let me know why the powerflex subframe bushings are so ridiculously priced (4x more than oem) for our cars.

at $82.24 these are priced about the 1/3 less as the powerflex bushes... 4 x $85= $340... powerflex is about $500, give or take for a complete set of 4 bushes, which is 8 halfs and 4 metal rods...

Why not just get the usual rubber ones? Not like youll be changing them again during your ownership. I got all 4 for $100

Stupid question...How does one knows when these need replacing? And what are the advantages/disadvantages of choosing these over OE bushing?

True on both counts.

I was going to get Meyle HD since I like the sounds of a solid rubber bushing as opposed to fluid filled stock bushings, but you're right, with about the 100k miles you get out of a stock set, not like I'd be servicing them again anytime soon.

This may be totally different, but on my vws, replacing the sloppy motor mount voids with polyurethane inserts (of the right durometer of course), extremely increased the "solid shifting feel" of a manual trans car, as well as made the front end more planted while driving, no increase in NVH.

Besides being somewhat stiffer, I was just posting this to beg the question of whether these "powerflex clones" could still be 2x a better bushing than the oem? I can't see any advantage to using them, unless buying a set gave you a specialty tool rental. Someone correct me if I'm wrong but you still need the specialty tool to extract the original bushings right?

See http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...me-bushes.html

...and http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...me-bushes.html RB, see post #9 re needing the tool or not.

For clarity it's just a loud bang from the rear when coming to a stop. I had mine replaced about 20k miles ago. Although I am a proponent for powerflex as I have changed my entire front end to powerflex, I replaced the rear subframe bushes with OEM and they are still doing the job nicely.

Look here for the full monty on getting the job done: http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...tempt-2-a.html

Well I think I answered my own question a year ago, looks like I forgot that a member bought 4 new Meyle HD bushings, and filled the voids with a pourable polyurethane kit.

He spent about $200 on the kit, including the poly, and basically got the same thing as poly bushings. The price tag on the poly bushings really is a joke considering you need the special tool to remove them anyway. If you could remove the bushings without the tool (and a big hassle), I could see spending the extra $120 for the "powerflex clones", but if you need the tool anyway, just go with OEM's or fill Meyle HD's up with poly like this guy

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...-bushings.html

You can remove them w/o the special tool. Drill. Sawzall. Chisel. Hammer. Blood. Sweat. Tears. Discouraging words. Easy peasy. Done it on an E30 or two, an E34, and an E36.

I'll keep it in mind, was thinking about getting a rotary hammer with a chisel attachment and use that if i decided to go that route.

Considering I have Meyle HD bushings sourced right now for $92 a set, I'll prob just rent the tool from someone though and make my life easier.

I replaced mine with Febis last week. Rented the tool from Bimmer Tool Rental and it worked great. Metal inserts fell out of all 4 old bushings, which explains why the rear was so noisy going over bumps or on accel/decel. The X had 124K, and they were shot at 110K at least.
Bill

Just drill a couple of holes in the rubber bits, then cut the aluminum center shaft out. Only then should you apply the chisel.

i emailed the seller of these on ebay, basically asking him why hes showing only 2 bushings available (the powerflex clones) when you need 4 for a complete car. Told him if he wanted to sell me a set of 4 for cheap I'd be the guinea pig as I've never heard of these bushings.

i bought the powerflex from a Denmark seller (well known tuner) who had 4 pieces advertised and received 2 complete bushes, as the PF makes them in halves - 4 half-bushes make 2 complete bushes... and you need 8 half-bushes to make 4 complete bushes... i have returned the package, as i was not going to "double" pay - the price would have been good for a "complete" set of 4 bushes but was not good for a set of 4 half-bushes...

so, you have to be very carefull with the sellers and need to ask them about that bush/half bush deal...

Yeah I think these Armstrong Distributors who make the "powerflex clone" bushings do sell 2 halfs as one, if their photo is correct. Like I said earlier in the thread their price of $82 per bushing still makes them $50 cheaper per bushing than Powerflex ($520 per set for those 4!), I found they are made in South Africa.

If the company will cut me a deal on a set in order to get positive reviews on this forum I would definitely install them and give my impressions, but I'm talking like a deal at $50 per bushing. Meyle HD bushings are easily sourced for $140 per set, I'm not paying much more than that just to say I have poly bushings in the subframe lol!

Ricky I'd recommend just doing a set of febi's or meyle HD's. IMO the polys are only going to increase the likelyhood of road noise/vibes transmitted to the vehicle. Unless you change ALL your bushings over to poly I can't see these making any noticeable improvent on their own over the solid rubber versions. Sure, you may never have to change them again...but I'm not sure Id be willing to take that gamble at the expense of creature comfort!

Yeah, Meyle HD is the way I'm going.

Guy emailed me back and said they have sold tons of sets over the world, they are made in South Africa of the highest quality apartheid polyurethane, etc etc

But still at almost triple the price of Meyle HD's (set of 4 = $130, Powerflex clones set of 4 $370), I know I won't be getting bushings that are triple as good as the solid rubber of Meyle HD. Gonna pick up a set of 4 of those and make it one of my spring/summer to do's on the X5.

Sorry to bump an old thread...but I may be doing these as well...

I did Meyle HD's last year, at 1/3 the price of the Powerflex clones at 1/5 the price of Powerflex. They are serving me well. It will make a difference because I think the bushings get worn a bit faster with an MT, I was at 75k last year and noticed right away (part of it is also age of the bushings contributing to deterioriation IMO)

Anyone considering going the Powerflex route needs to be aware ECS Tuning sells the full kit (ALL subframe and suspension bushings produced by Powerflex) at a big discount (over 30% off). ECS usually runs the special twice a year.

RB, did you pour polyurethane into the voids of the Meyle HD bushings after all? OR just install the HD Bushings as they came?

Installed as they came, no complaints!

RM European has them as for 17.91 each. Part number 33 31 6 770 454. 71.64 for all 4.

I have only found a few people that I have used these. Anyone have any recent experience? I was going to drop the 500+ on the powerflex but changed my mind when I realized that was a bit much for a "truck lol" that will only get 1k-5k miles per year max.

I think I wrote this a page or two up. Are the Powerflex going to give you 3-4x the improvement over new OE, or Meyle HD bushings?

I don't think so. Just do OE or Meyle HD. Some have said the benefit to Powerflex is you can install by hand, but you still need the special tool to remove the OE bushings, so its a moot point.

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...le-33316770454


BTW! Just saw you looked up the Febi Bilstein bushings on RM European, personally I wouldn't install those. Those are a step down from the OE (Lemforder) and the Meyle HD (oem improved) bushings.

I'll be due for new bushings in the control arms, at least, soon, and am still conflicted on whether to install powerflex or Meyle HDs there. Subframes still looking/riding pretty good....

Me too Rig;)

But most probably I will go with a new thrust arm lemforder pressed with meyle hd bushing and meyle ball joint.

Harsh environment conditions here in chi-town and 11 years later the vehicle is still on the original thrust arm.

Resurrecting an old thread but see these PSB bushings currently on eBay

BMW X5 (E53) Rear Sub Frame Polyurethane Bushing Kit (Yellow) (01-06) - PSB 648 | eBay

Thinking rear suspension makeover but not sure these PU bushings provide added value over Meyle or other quality rubber design????

Mike

I just bought these a few weeks ago but haven't installed them yet. They are a little cheaper direct from Armstrong distributors website directly: https://www.armstrongdistributors.co...-bushing-01-06

It may not be the most value for money. However, the reason I went with poly is that I really object to subframe/carrier bushings being a wear item that lasts 100k. I just replaced everything else in the rear of my X5 and I don't want to have to think about back there for as long as possible. I've got VERY loud clunks from the subframe bushings now.

I also don't want to go back there again because I had to put a helicoil in for the integral link bolt on one side that stripped out. On the other side the long lower bolt rusted to the integral link and needed 2 days with heat/a copper drift/a sledgehammer to come out. Anything that means I don't have to look at the rear end of this car for a longer time is worth it. :banghead:

-Carter

I hear you Carter! That sounds like PTSD - Post Traumatic Suspension Disorder :rofl:

I'm also of the "Touch It Once" school of DIY maintenance. Yeah there was a watch out on that integral link bolt which goes into aluminum! Yikes, I'm going to be watching for that really closely.

Still on the fence regarding PU or Meyle. Will see.....

I just put PU on the front tension strut and have them on my sway bar bushings. Good firm stuff that makes my bars "feel" bigger.

Mike

The poly ones you can push in by hand so that's a bonus. They are also stiffer, so another bonus.

Oh one note about the PSB poly subframe bushings, I had a fitment issue.

On the forward two bushings of the rear subframe, the bushing goes around two locator nubs (one per bushing) to center the subframe. The inner diameter of the metal insert for the poly bushing was a fraction of a mm smaller than the nub. This required me to ream out two of the inserts (the rear two bushings don't use locators). Not a major deal in the end of the day, but a PITA not knowing going in. I am not sure if it was just my set or my car (03), but it's something to be aware of.

Here is a link to another post of mine that has pictures

https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/...mpt-2-a-8.html

I'm doing Powerflex ones, have them sitting in the back of the truck as I write this. I have them in my E39 wagon and they made a huge difference in driveability with no noticable increase in NVH.

I'm doing the lower control arm bushings as well from Powerflex as I think one of them is slightly mangled from a previous accident. Have to get in there and replace all the upper arms on that side (already did the passenger side arms) and do balljoints as well. As previously stated I want to go in there once and forget about it for another 8 years. The truck sees 10-15k miles a year at this point so its gotta be reliable.

thread bump for current cheap options
 

Ebay now has cheaper poly and rubber subframe bushings available. I'm not familiar with either brand (the poly brand is literally sus) and their significantly lower prices do not inspire confidence.

$149- 4 pcs Rear Axle Subframe Control Arm Mounts Polyurethane Bushings for BMW E53 X5
https://www.ebay.com/itm/284085972538

$32 each- REAR Axle Subframe Control Arm Mount Bushing for BMW E53 X5 33316770454 Single
https://www.ebay.com/itm/151586511703

If anyone's had experience with the more recent bushings please chime in. I am about to tackle this job.

I couldn't think of a less confidence-inspiring name for my brand than "susthane" if I tried. Whoever thought of that name should be shot.

I'll be replacing mine, but I just want to use oem so suspension is nice and soft..

These bushes do little for the compliancy of the rear suspension. They merely isolate the rear sub-frame from the main chassis/body.

OE are fine - Lemforder or Meyle are also good choices. I used Meyle.

Thanks, I might try DELPHI TD1060W from rockauto.
They're more expensive than lemforder.
Powerflex are kinda expensive anyways.
Found this tool for the job :)
https://a.co/d/3EFuJ9p

Yep - you need that tool! I have the Kommen version.

I did rear polys ab 2 years ago. I forget the brand, so I will comment only on the experience. If you ever wanted your 'big ass' SAV to betray its size in the twisties, poly made the difference for me. It is night and day. No 'squat' on accel- just go. Watch that a$$ on the Tail of the Dragon- use those 315's out back. It's tight. But man, it really holds and you can feel everything.

So- yeah. Feel everything. My wife's 4.4 E53 is a completely different thing. It is so different that she really thought something was wrong with her OE setup after driving mine for a week. Of course, my 4.8is has Eibach sways, urethane rear and solid core front bits. It's a very different ride. (also, if I do say, the stereo kicks @$$). Those poly bits in the rear completely change the wandering ass you get at 7/10. You're planted in the curves. But the real difference for me was straight line. No squat. Just 'Go'. The transfer of all that weight to the rear power delivery just happens right now- and especially when both 315's are planted.

The old people (my dad and my mother in law) LOVE the E38 compared to the harsh ride of my 4.8is. Welp. I suppose that's why I have 'em both.

As an aside, I did the same poly subframe to my 2020 M2C. It's part of why the idiots that stole it wrecked it a half mile in. You gotta know what you're doing on a little thing like that. It snapped back and they wrapped it around a pole. My passion project was dead.

I love it on the E53. If we weren't gonna sell the '04 4.4 after we do the seals, I would dress it the same.

I just realized that my avatar is with the polys on the Tail of the Dragon. I am at 8/10 there and look at that squat. A lot of that is Eibach, but I have (somewhere) pics of the same curves. The polys make WAY less lean.

Anybody have a set of subframe tools they want to rent me for this job? Or sell outright?

Blown away how well this tool worked and how cheap it is.

BTSHUB Rear Suspension Subframe Bushing Removal Installation Tool Set 6PCS Fit for BMW X5 E53 1999-2007 https://a.co/d/fLuRkFb