Front End Vibration
 

1997 328is

I seem to have an intermittent issue with front end wobble or vibration. This is not a constant, & is variable to my speed.

At around 40mph, it feels like my front end is vibrating from side to side. This can not be seen by looking at the hood. The steering wheel also seems to wobble from side to side slightly. When it's happening speeding up doesn't seem to stop it, but slowing down does. It doesn't happen every time, just intermittently.

I'm guessing either alignment, or tire balancing. I thought I'd start with having the tires rotated & balanced. I had the alignment done last summer, so I wouldn't think it would need it again so soon; however with this brutal Chicago winter, there have been a multitude of potholes that have been tough to avoid. It's almost been like street acne up here.

Thoughts?

Make sure that the tires are properly balanced and inflated first. These will be the easiest and cheapest thing to do.

Try swapping tires F-R.

If swapping the tires doesn't help, see if the rubber is cracked on your control arm bushings.
How many miles on the car? and have you had any front end work done?
May need front control arms and bushings. I just did my 93 and what a difference.
It's like I attached a new car to an old steering wheel.

Had a tire rotation & alignment done. Helps, but not completely gone. Shop that did the alignment said the front ball joints were bad & needed replacing.

Does this sound right? Quoted price of $200 each for ball joints or $450 for control arm that would come with both ball joints.

Car has a tad over 100k on it.

Does that include labor?

Does it include labor and is the price for both side or each side?

Check out the control arm prices on Pelican for comparison.

No labor.
Price of $200 each ball joint. Something seems wierd, Real OEM shows ball joints @ $47 each. Is that right, or am I looking at the wrong thing?

It does sound excessive. I would check to see what Pelican and other internet auto part companies charge for the same parts first.

Seems very high. I didnt check but I think ball joints are in the $50 range and arms are 150-250 each.

I would replace the whole arm and CAB. Consider DIY.

I can't find the control arms on Real OEM. It's not the 'wishbone' is it? The only ball joints I find are $47+ each.

I was told that the control arm comes with the ball joint. Correct or false?

Yes, it's the wishbone.

I believe the arm comes with both balls.

Don't forget the control arm bushings, You have to replace them when you do the control arm.
If you only have around 100,000 miles, you may only need the bushings. Did you see if the rubber was cracked on them? Do you have any play in your ball joints when you you check them??
I have changed the bushings without removing the control arms. You can even buy the bushings already loaded into new brackets(eliminates the press out and in of the bushings).
I think I paid less than $20 for both bushings a few months ago. I think the pre-loaded ones where over a hundred.