2003 Fails Inspection

[Eileen]

My 45,000 mile mini dream car just failed state inspection due to "bad" control arm bushings. Cost at dealr#1 is $650.00.
Cost at dealer#2 is $329.00.

But the problem now is that the bolt,(1 of 2) which hold the bushing to the control arm is rusted, stuck, frozen???? and to drill it out is another $550.00@#$#%?!
As a reward for putting out $880.00 I get two new $99.00 bushings which are bad, by whose standards?
Does anyone know what scientific method is used to determine "bad bushings"?
And why would Mini use a bolt that would "FREEZE" AT 45,000 miles and prevent removal to replace a part?

Help!!

[Bogo]

Hi Im a tech at a UK MINI dealership. we regulary replace the control arm bushes. That i belive you are talking about. The reason we replace these bushes are that they usually split and because they are filled with fluid this bad as it makes the front wheel move around. sometimes there is no splitting but the bush does not provide enough support and again allows the wheel to move around causing the car to wander a feel skittish to drive. we charge around 300GBP to replace them at our dealer. The bushes are about 60GBP for the pair. but because they are bolted to the subframe it is a big job.

I have never had a securing bolt seaze solid, but they do seaze and can be a pain to remove.

Sorry you had a rough time of it.

[healey67]

And I'm sorry to say but I'm a Tech here in South Florida and we don't really see siezed bolts... but what bolt siezed?? I mean we pull the bushings out and push them in with a special tool. Only have to take off 3 bolts maybe 2 to get the arm out (depending on if you take the arm off the outter ball joint or the outter ball joint off the knuckle). We charge about 148dollars an hour labor and 3hrs customer pay to install ($444) plus the cost of the bushings.
Hope it helped..

[DannyCop]

Hello Healy, let me ask you a question. I have one free oil change from the dealership (due next month) for my 07. When I start doing my own oil changes I was looking at using Castrol Edge, I know its new. My question is would this oil be good for the mini. I know it calls for certain oils.

Thanks,
Danny

[samby.anis]

Did your problem get solved? I have the same problem.