Bent strut tower and left lower control arm (alignment question)

So I need to get an alignment after replacing my rear bushings. When I took my car into BMW for the rear sub frame inspection they listed a couple things that need to be fixed. Should I replace these two things before the alignment or won't it matter at this point? It's been aligned before without issue with this problem, is it worth the money for a car with 111k miles that I'm going to keep until I'm done with college?

Part and # they listed.

Right Front Strut Tower (bent)
mount 31336752735 - $75.03

Left Lower Control Arm (bent) 4R 33326770813 $155.61


IDK what to do.

It's worth it.

For the upper strut tower mount get Meyle HD about 35 a piece and meyle HD CA for 130. I would also suggest getting re-enforcement plates fitted and your towers straightened out as well.

Also, It's not the upper strut tower mounts that bend it's actually the strut tower POS sheet metal. Which is why i suggest fitting re-inforcement plates as they can be used as a template to straighten the strut tower.

Originally Posted by newe46fan

It's worth it.

For the upper strut tower mount get Meyle HD about 35 a piece and meyle HD CA for 130. I would also suggest getting re-enforcement plates fitted and your towers straightened out as well.

Also, It's not the upper strut tower mounts that bend it's actually the strut tower POS sheet metal. Which is why i suggest fitting re-inforcement plates as they can be used as a template to straighten the strut tower.

I've replaced my all struts and springs myself, can I do the rest myself?

Originally Posted by scrace

I've replaced my all struts and springs myself, can I do the rest myself?

I can. idk about you.

Use a 2x4 piece of wood on top of the strut towers and a 3 pound hammer to straighten it out carefully while the re-enforcement plate sits underneath and using it as a benchmark on where the sheet metal should rest.

Then just tighten everything and the remaining damage will be straightened by the plate once you sandwich everything together.

Originally Posted by newe46fan

I can. idk about you.

Use a 2x4 piece of wood on top of the strut towers and a 3 pound hammer to straighten it out carefully while the re-enforcement plate sits underneath and using it as a benchmark on where the sheet metal should rest.

Then just tighten everything and the remaining damage will be straightened by the plate once you sandwich everything together.

the problem is when I look at everything it doesn't seem damaged at all, if it's bent it's just slight to the point of almost nothing. I didn't have any issues installing the struts at the start everything fit perfectly.

Originally Posted by scrace

the problem is when I look at everything it doesn't seem damaged at all, if it's bent it's just slight to the point of almost nothing. I didn't have any issues installing the struts at the start everything fit perfectly.

That's a judgement call you're going to have to make since I haven't looked at them.

So I am now getting around to doing this. How can I even tell if the tower is bent and how to bend it back? Would any alinement place be able to fix it? I can do the strut tower replacement myself, just unsure of how to fix what is bent or if it's even bent and the dealer was just guessing because I broke the nipple that goes through the hole at the top of the tower.

Are these the best reinforcement plates?
http://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-32...ates-pair.aspx

Originally Posted by scrace

So I am now getting around to doing this. How can I even tell if the tower is bent and how to bend it back? Would any alinement place be able to fix it? I can do the strut tower replacement myself, just unsure of how to fix what is bent or if it's even bent and the dealer was just guessing because I broke the nipple that goes through the hole at the top of the tower.

Are these the best reinforcement plates?
http://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-32...ates-pair.aspx

yes, those are the plates. I would just call your dealership and ask them to look them under any model year 330xi or 325xi and ask if they can do any better then the price they qouted you. That's what I did and they had them in stock.

Originally Posted by newe46fan

yes, those are the plates. I would just call your dealership and ask them to look them under any model year 330xi or 325xi and ask if they can do any better then the price they qouted you. That's what I did and they had them in stock.

I'd prefer to do it myself, I want to learn as much as possible.