MOT failure clarification

[Green]

Put my E30 through an MOT today to see what it would fail on and have this list back, before I start buying parts willy nilly was wondering what's the best efficient and economical ways of resolving these issues.

1. NSF Rear wheel steering ball joint has excessive play
2. OSR suspension arm has excessive play (New bushes assuming for the pair of them)
3. NSF Tie bar/rod ball joint dust cover deteriorated
4. OSF Tie bar/rod ball joint dust cover deteriorated
5. NSF Tie bar/rod ball joint has excessive play in ball joint
6. OSF Tie bar/rod ball joint has excessive play in ball joint

I replaced both lower arms about 2 years ago, I'm guessing as they was from ECP that they was the cheaper ones at the time.
I am thinking it may be best to replace the whole arm with Lemforder parts instead (And new bushes for them).

Is that all it's really failed on?

I have to investigate the rear trailing arm bushes as I was led to believe that they were replaced by a garage that did my rear beam conversion last January...

[rich318i]

thats shit. they should show you the play get a pre MOT check and then they take it to the MOT for the test

[Green]

£35 MOT, a week to sort if I cba or not I'm not too fussed. I just want to check I know what parts are needed and I'll order them online tomorrow ready for my day off in the week.

To be honest I was expecting a lot worse!

[HairyScreech]

3456 are easy, and i would just stick a new pair of complete tie rods on, do the bits that join to the rack and the outer tie rods. It will need tracking etc after anyway so may as well just do all 4 bits and have done with it.

2 could be RTAB or beam bushes, best to ask the tester.

1 could be anything, doesn't make sense to me. Near side front rear wheel? WTF?

[Motorhole]

I can only assume 1 refers to the rear balljoint, I.e. wishbone/subframe ball joint. The others refer to the tie rod ball joints.

[mcbonio]

All easy parts to change yourself, not sure what "OSR suspension arm has excessive play" is, there are only rear trailing arm bushes or anti-roll bar bushes at the back.

I'd jack the car, grab the wheel at 9 and 3 o'clock and give it a wiggle, start investigating from there.

[DanThe]

Sounds like 1 is the track rod end ball joint and 3456 are either the drop links or the wishbone ball joints

[HairyScreech]

Best thing to do is go ask the tester as anything we say is mere speculation, only guy that can tell/show you for sure is the guy that did the test.

[Green]

Just checked under the car and seen that the ball joints that connect the bottom of the strut rubber has perished which I assume covers 3, 4, 5, 6.

The tie rod ends were replaced about last March when the coilovers went on with Lemforder parts.

1 must be the subframe balljoint then. I will call the tester tomorrow to clarify exactly.. what a confusing sheet though.. as I wouldn't have thought them to be classed as "Tie bar" or whatever

[Green]

Ok confused now as been told by tester its the steering rack.

[Motorhole]

Ok confused now as been told by tester its the steering rack.

There is a ball joint at each end of the rack, it forms part of the inner track rod. Perhaps this is what is meant...

[HairyScreech]

As i said initially, Part 14 here.
http://bmwfans.info/parts/catalog/E30/2 ... ie_rods-2/

The inner joint is replaceable and just unscrews from the rack.

[Green]

Thanks for making that clear, doesn't look cheap to replace either

They seem to think the rack is shot though cause it has play in the steering, even after explaining about the inner balljoints. I'm wondering if the rubber guibo is also in need of replacing.

I've been told that the other issue is the actual rear subframe bushes which I requested to be changed (And think I've been charged for) last year so I need to get on that and investigate. Apparently #1 there is addressing the bushes

Thanks for all the help so far otherwise I'd have ended up replacing the rack... I was looking to replace it with a faster rack and might take that opportunity now.