[cortez08]

Has anyone replaced front axles lately. I see 2 offerings with a massive price difference.

Remanufactured BMW is $750

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...31607558949kt/

This one is $115

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-feq-part...607558949~feq/

Anyone know the difference? My shop says stay away from the cheap one. They send them to be rebuilt for $180 a piece.

[dpaul]

There are certainly different opinions about this.

I've read quite a few complaints about inexpensive axle replacements failing. But of course, the OEM axles fail too, which is why people are replacing them with aftermarket in the first place.

So, every story is an anecdote - there is no statistical study concerning longevity.

My anecdote is that I replaced one 335xi front axle at 45K and the other at 60K with FEQ parts. Now at 80K miles with no problems.

I did the replacement myself with the car on jackstands - it is not a difficult job unless the axle shaft is a close fit, sometimes an issue with aftermarket parts. I recommend this inexpensive tool for safe, simple assembly: https://www.ebay.com/itm/7Pc-Drive-S...97.m4902.l9144. Also, save the C-clip on the transmission side of the OEM shaft and replace the aftermarket clip with it - better fit.

If you are having a shop do the work, you are stuck taking their recommendation about replacement parts if you expect them to stand behind their work.

[matteblue3er]

All axles are re-manufactured, even from BMW.

The bearings are typically ok on the "aftermarket" ones; it's the boots that fail, which neglected over time will result in premature failure of the bearings.

If you go with the "aftermarket" axles, save yourself a headache and reboot them with the OEM boot kit.

My Cardone re-man'd axle has been fine with OEM boots for 10-15k miles. First pair, the boots torn within 200 miles lol

[fredcase]

Just get an oem c-clip for the end

[eetadik]

Just picked up a left front FEQ for the wifey's E53. Heres hoping it holds up....

[wrrush]

A1 cardone used to do a core rebate on theirs making it 40 dollars. just checked and i dont see the rebate but they are the best off the recomendation on e90post and are the same company that makes the original ones for our cars

[nsjames]

if the shop has a place they trust that will rebuild your OE axles, that's probably what I would do.

I've had far better luck with local driveline places rebuilding stuff than any of the parts store garbage reman shafts from china.

at this point I'd probably just rebuild them myself with new joints, simply so I could put the car back together that day.

[matteblue3er]

Originally Posted by wrrush

A1 cardone used to do a core rebate on theirs making it 40 dollars. just checked and i dont see the rebate but they are the best off the recomendation on e90post and are the same company that makes the original ones for our cars

Well my A1 cardone boot torn within 200 miles lol

Re-boot with the OEM kit to be safe

[torrque]

I changed my GTI axles with Napa axles (remanufactured); 4 years later and about 30k miles, still going strong... Never did the BMW axles.