John, The dealer is either lazy or mis-informed:
You can buy the bushings separately, for something like $100 per side (list price). Labor to install shouldn't be more than a couple hours per side, plus alignment. I have a hard time seeing this job over $500-$600, even at the dealership. They need to pull the control arms, with the spring compressor, but it's not THAT difficult or time consuming. The ball joints are replaceable separately, if they are good, you do NOT have to change them. Now, for cars with an M104 or M119 engine, the control arms are different. The bushings are still replaceable separately, however the ball joints are NOT... they are welded into the arm, requiring complete replacement of the arm. The whole new arm is bloody expensive at ~$400/each, list. If so inclined, you can choose to have Sportline bushings installed, intead of the squishy stock bushings. The price is almost the same. :-) -Dave M. > ------------------------------ > Date: Thu, 17 Nov 2005 09:20:17 -0500 > From: "John Peterson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: [MBZ] 124 Control Arm Bushings > > > I brought my '91 300D 2.5 74k miles in to the dealer to diagnose a slight > clunking sound in the front end over uneven pavement. They say the noise is > the control arm bushings, which sounds reasonable, but they say that they > have to change the ball joints, that it is "all one piece". Total price for > job, $900 including 4 wheel alignment. I didn't want to let them do the > work until I had a second opinion. > > Is this true that they have to change the ball joints along with the control > arm bushings? They said the ball joints had no play at all in them. > > John Peterson > Kingston RI 1991 300D 2.5 74k
