hello, my son's car needs the rear wheel bearings replaced. Is this difficult ? is there somewhere to go for instructions on this job.
thanks
George

I am just replacing the rear trailing arm on my 316 compact, which includes a new wheel bearing. I have done a few of these on Vauxhall (General Motors/Opel??) cars and the method adopted accross the model range was the same. I am assuming that BMW's will be the same.

The following link gives a very good pictorial run through, although the guy uses a couple of "specialist" tools which cost a few $$'s i'd recommend you buy them. They may cost you initially, but get a quote from your local BMW dealer for the works. This will be more than enough to justify the cost of buying these tools.

With your new found skills and new tools, you can maybe recoup some of the the costs by fixing your son's friends cars. (and you'll feel better about not lining the pockets of that evil BMW dealer)

http://www.teamdfl.com/bmw/e30/rear_wheel_bearings/Page1.html

your putting a BMW in the same class as a General Motors ???? Just take you car to the dealer, it will cost about $225.. the bearing has to be pressed out...

The reference to "general motors" was merely to illustrate the fact that manufacturers tend to adopt the same method of construction over an entire range. This would lead me to believe that the wheel bearings on my 1.6 litre compact will have wheel bearings of a similar construction to say a 2.5 litre coupe.

I did also refer to the "specialist" tools, i.e. bearing puller. Which I think costs around $100 in the US.

This is just the kind of "can't do "attitude that makes these $tealers think they can justify the costs, $225 for a replacement bearing?? The new bearing only costs £19 (around $36).

Even buying the "specialist" tools you'd spend around the same amount as getting it done at the dealer. The saving comes when doing more than one, ie. both wheels on the same axle. ($225+$225=$500). You should replace both sides at the same.

you can't use a bearing puller, you have to take the axel out and press it in, to come out the back side.. so you could spend about $200 for a portable press and $36 for the part and all the headacks that go with it..... and GM is not the same as a BMW in anyway, don't even go there..

Quote: "The reference to "general motors" was merely to illustrate the fact that manufacturers tend to adopt the same method of construction over an entire range. This would lead me to believe that the wheel bearings on my 1.6 litre compact will have wheel bearings of a similar construction to say a 2.5 litre coupe."
--- Didn't you read the post ? ---

Remember even if you do have to spend $200 on a portable press, you'll still save money co's you'll have to do BOTH sides.

And the headaches - well I for one enjoy finding out how my car works. At least I know my car safe to drive. I've heard many stories about work-shy people leaving all the maintenance on their cars to others, only to find out some dumb mechanic has not tightened the wheel nuts.

I do all the work myself, I have replacesed the wheel bearing about 4 years ago and the other side doesn't not even make a nose yet, 125,000 mi... is you car rear wheel drive??? I'm finished with this, you have a good day...

BM's dont come in FWD.

bye!

I know that the BMW is rear wheel drive is your GM?? no I don't think so...

umm... alot of GM's are rear wheel drive...