Wheel bearings E39 540

[B10BRW]

Both the rear wheel bearings on my 2002 E39 540 are on their last legs.
I have been informed by my indie that it is an 8 hour job to replace both bearings.
Is this reasonable, or can the job be done quicker, at £96 per hour, I am looking at nearly £800 for labour

[sparks_E39]

You are paying someone £96 an hour to look after a 15 year old BMW? My excellent BMW qualified indie charges £50 an hour. Go elsewhere. I think IIRC the bill is something like £450 for both rears.

[helix402]

I don't think your Indy wants the job,

https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?...

[Chicane-UK]

helix402 said:

I don't think your Indy wants the job,

https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?...

The generosity of some people never fails to amaze me. That is such a comprehensive, well detailed DIY guide. Awesome!

[Depthhoar]

B10BRW said:

Both the rear wheel bearings on my 2002 E39 540 are on their last legs.
I have been informed by my indie that it is an 8 hour job to replace both bearings.
Is this reasonable, or can the job be done quicker, at £96 per hour, I am looking at nearly £800 for labour

Had this job done on my 530d. Your indie is going to pull your pants down. 3 hour total job, tops.

Save some money on parts, too. The bearings BMW fitted to your E39 at the factory were sourced from FAG. Here's a picture of the original front wheel bearings that came off my E39 M5 with the FAG ID markings:



A FAG rear wheel bearing axle set kit is available (includes the bolts & collar nut) from these people for about £62 inc postage:

www.autodoc.co.uk/fag/2332342?search=FAG%20Wheel%2...

BMW will charge an awful lot more! Just bought a kit (below):



(The rear wheel bearings are the same across the whole E39 model range. Front wheel bearings/hub assembly is slightly different on the M5 to the rest of the range.)

[bedonde]

Yep, still trying to find front wheel bearings for my E39 M5 - they are £500 ish for the pair from BMW.

Tried autodoc but they sent me 540 bearings despite having given them a chassis no.

[Depthhoar]

bedonde said:

Yep, still trying to find front wheel bearings for my E39 M5 - they are £500 ish for the pair from BMW.

Tried autodoc but they sent me 540 bearings despite having given them a chassis no.

Have a look at the Schaeffler (the group who own FAG, INA, Ruville & LUK) web catalogue entry for the E39 M5, here:

http://webcat.schaeffler-aftermarket.com/web/schae...

That bearing is listed by Autodoc here:

www.autodoc.co.uk/fag/2332122

£202 for the pair inc free delivery.

Fill yer boots!

[B10BRW]

Thanks for all the very useful info, the write up is brilliant, way beyond my spannering ability.
Also I think buying all the tools required would cost more than the job

Could anyone recommend an Indie in the West Kent area.

[kiethton]

I use Crago's for my E39, even though I'm in beckenham I run it over to dartford for them to sort.

Otherwise if you think it's ok for a non-specialist also use DMG Autocare, a 1 man band mobile mechanic so comes to you but ex-BMW tech...a lot cheaper!

http://www.dmgautocare.co.uk/about-us.html