W126 Rear Subframe Mount Replacement Time Estimate?
 

Hey everyone,

I'm just trying to see how much I will end up owing my mechanic for this.. I am low on time these days and I really didnt want to DIY this anyway..it sounds like maybe 2-3 hours? A guess? Anyone have a more solid number?

I assume the shop has the proper tools or can at least come up with a reasonable facsimile.

alldata says 6.5 hours. i'd estimate it 7-8 because of age and rust. good luck, chuck.

Thats seems awfully high. The write ups I've read didn't seem to indicate it would take that long. I think AllData said the same for R&R'ing the rear lower control arm. I think AllData has you drop the entire subframe and work like that..which isnt necessary for either job.

I'd say that that depends on the rust (I agree with porkface).

When I took my W123 sub frame off the car for the first time I had one heck of a time trying to get the mounts off - I don't think I could have done it on the car.

This picture shows the middle part of the mount fused to the support stay and the bolt

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...gone-wrong.jpg

Trying to hammer out the rubber part remaining

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...ing-stayed.jpg

Go bolt cutters!!!!

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...ut-housing.jpg

Go claw hammer!!!!

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...im-bushing.jpg

(taken from this thread => http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/276507-rear-subframe-removal-bushing-replacement.html)

Compared to my bushings...those look new!

There is very little left of these...when I took out that bolt..there was nothing around it. It had plenty of space to move about. Could have probably fit another bolt up there with it..

http://i.imgur.com/Uyk6cfel.jpg

Well maybe the AllData estimates are too low then.

Heh this should be a fun job for the shop! Glad I am not doing it!

reply to stretch--

alldata gets info from the factory info everyone supplies, before the advent of diagnosis with the factory tool only, ie, sds, bmw icom, etc. this also was info when the car was new, not adjusted for age, rust, etc. and so it goes, chuck.

Good to know - thanks

I did mine 15 years ago, took no more than 30 min to replace both..

At the time the car (and me) weren in a bit better condition, may take a bit longer now.

Rob

Well..its in the shops hands now. I'll let you know what they say about the job and charge for it.

I found that i must not have bent the brake shield back enough as there was some scraping sounds. Easy fix.

I also found that the exhaust had broke at the end of the down pipe. Right where it connects to the horizontal piece of the exhaust system. Turbo was quite audible.

Got the car back.

$175 for the labor to install the rear subframe mounts. Not bad at all.

Now on to replace the down pipe from the turbo->resonators..

http://i.imgur.com/LJPNQ8Ll.jpg

175 - Bargain!

reply to jamesdean-my fault-I saw subframe, not subframe bushings. 6.5 was the subframe itself, the BUSHINGS are 3.0 for all 4. my apologies. sorry, chuck.