How to replace bad tensioner control arm on BMW E60 / DIY

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This video is about how to replace worn out tensioner control arm on BMW E60 2004-2010 on your own. If ball joint on tensioner strut is bad you can hear knocking sound from your front suspension.
Over the years, the road takes a serious toll on your suspension. Pot holes, speed bumps, and road hazards all contribute to a sloppy, weak suspension. To give a better feel to your driving experience, change components as they wear to improve safety and ride comfort.
One item to replace is the control arm. After years of service, the non-serviceable ball joints and other components can begin to wear out causing the steering to not feel as tight, as well as steering wobble and clunking when turning.
If replacing any part of your front or rear suspension, it is best to either do it in pairs (both left and right sides), or examine parts that are prone to failure. This will provide the most service life out of replacement parts and assure they are all performing properly.
DISCLAIMER:
All the information provided in this video as accurate as possible, it makes no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or applicability of the content. No information contained in this video shall create any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. All DIY projects entail some risk. It is the sole responsibility of the viewer to assume this risk. I'm is not responsible or liable for any loss damage (including, but not limited to, actual, consequential, or punitive), liability, claim, or any other injury or cause related to or resulting from any information posted in this video.
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[@bilbobagins1653]

Looks easy but we will see, going to change both arms. Thx for video!

[@mikes.garage]

Thank you for watching!

[@lennybasaj1649]

Thanks for posting. Did both of mine this weekend. Had to crack the nuts to remove the ball joints, the threads were rusted so badly. On the driver's side I had to loosen the strut for clearance, on the passenger's side I did not. 545i with the sport package and stock replacement Bilstein dampers.

[@sefarian9355]

Nice ! Going to change mine soon thanks

[@mikes.garage]

Thank you and good luck!

[@x5-visuals]

Thanks for this

[@mikes.garage]

Thank you for watching 😊

[@19211265]

Excellent work! I subscribed 👍🏻

[@mikes.garage]

Thank you for watching!

[@19211265]

@@mikes.garagemy pleasure

[@bardhiseni1301]

thank you for video. I will test next week control arm and tensioner control arm. Because one of them or both are defect. I ordered from Ridex, I hope they will last long.

[@mikes.garage]

Thank you for watching!

[@michaelfenton1887]

I gotta do this tomorrow morning, was there a reason to do the thrust arm torque under load and the knuckle separately?

[@mikes.garage]

You can do it at the same time

[@user-ur5do2ye8r]

Crazy

[@edva135]

How do they sound like when they goes bad, does it clunk over potholes like its strut top mount is loose ?

[@mikes.garage]

When you brake it’s making clunking noise

[@zxggwrt]

@@mikes.garageyeah mine are definitely gone. I should have done it when I took out the struts.

[@iaimfortheeyes]

Is anti-seize or copper grease necessary? I saw it in something else but I’m not getting a straight answer.

[@mikes.garage]

Not necessarily, you can use water instead

[@daniellewandowski2106]

So you don't always have to tighten the bushings when the car is lowered?

[@mikes.garage]

I jacked up suspension instead as you can see in a video.

[@daniellewandowski2106]

@@mikes.garage Thanks. You help me. :)

[@chadriddle3517]

How are those trw thrust arms holding up? About to buy some tomorrow and are torn over them an meyle hd the price has me wanting trw but I’ve not heard great reviews. Also appreciate the how to video!

[@mikes.garage]

Thank you! TRW is a good brand. They're still in a great condition and I hope they will last me at least 100 000 km. So far no problems.

[@chadriddle3517]

@@mikes.garage that you for the opinion. Also I wanted to ask if all those torque values are the same for a 2007 530i rwd? Thank you for the help

[@mikes.garage]

@@chadriddle3517 yes, all the torque are the same.

[@chadriddle3517]

@@mikes.garage thank you sir .

[@brightsidesuicide]

Torque values same on 630i?🤔

[@konstantine5902]

Друг спасибо за видео. Скоро буду менять. 🤝 Какой был примерно пробег в момент замены?

[@mikes.garage]

Пожалуйста! Пробег был после 160 000 км.

[@milan2230]

im sure it was 120 on the subframe part and 100nm on the other side?

[@mikes.garage]

I followed instruction

[@bardhiseni1301]

in book is 100 nm subframe. other side 165 nm.

[@cosminsperniac5349]

Salut.Nu ai strâns prea tare?Parca la 80nm se strângea...

[@mikes.garage]

I have no idea what you asking for.

[@philipdenner8504]

you shouldn't tension any front end suspension components till the car is on the ground.

[@michaelfenton1887]

Im pretty sure that's why he jacked up the wheel assembly and compressed the shock

[@mikes.garage]

Thank you! 😉

[@philipdenner8504]

yea, sorry. i wrote the comment before seeing you jack up the suspension

[@powerkhe]

OMG!!! you dont need to remove nothing after you unscrew the part. Just pull down the arm and you have enouth place to extract it!

[@mikes.garage]

Yes, that simple :)

[@bardhiseni1301]

No, you don´t. In the book manual is the same procedure.

[@powerkhe]

​@@bardhiseni1301try it if you can and you will see that is more simple.

[@user-ur5do2ye8r]

165 nm , 100nm +90% WTF??????

[@bardhiseni1301]

yes, that is in the book manual.

[@hanynowsky]

Yes. Those bolt joint threads are 14mm steal bolted to a reinforced knuckle. They are subjet to massive stress. The rod of the ball joint must not turn and damage the joint, that is why the torque spec is high. On the Xdrive model it s 80nm.