- 05/26/2020
- 2 Min Read
- By: Evan Madore
BMW X3 & X4 Front Control Arm Refresh Kit (F25 & F26) - Fitment, Failure Symptoms, And Review
While this kit is called a "front control arm refresh kit," it services more than just your control arms. This kit addresses everything you should replace when you feel your control arms are on their way out. When it comes to the F25 X3 and F26 X4, BMW incorporated the bushings and ball joints into the arms themselves to make replacement simple.
BMW F25 X3 and F26 X4 Front Control Arm Refresh Kit Replacement Symptoms
When the control arm bushings and related components start to fail on your BMW F25 X3 and F26 X4, there are a few main symptoms you'll start to notice.
- Clunking and rattling when driving over bumps—especially when turning.
- Loose steering/handling
- Compared to when you first purchased the car, there will be a noticeable amount of steering play or vagueness while driving. You can feel this when taking fast corners, or when you're on the highway and there are ruts/cambers in the road surface.
- Vibration in the steering wheel
- As the ball joint gets close to the point of failing, it can become so severely worn that vibration is transferred up through your steering wheel. If this is the case, it should be replaced immediately.
You don't want to ignore these warning signs that your control arm bushings, ball joints, tie rod ends, and sway bar end links need replacement. The longer you wait, the more stress it applies to other parts of your suspension. Complete ball joint or bushing failure can lead to catastrophic suspension failure that can result in an accident.
Front control arm bushings and ball joints are usually worn out around 70,000 miles. You should start to inspect these components during your regular inspections around that mileage.
If you bring your F25 X3 or F26 X4 to the dealer or shop to have your front control arms and related components replaced, it could run upward of $1700 for labor and parts. By doing the job yourself, it will only cost you a small fraction of that. Plus, when any of these components inevitably fail again, you can replace them for free using our Lifetime Replacement Guarantee.
BMW Models Applicable
- 2011-2017 BMW X3
- 2015-2018 BMW X4
If you're unsure if this kit will fit your car, you can use the vehicle selection feature of our "My Garage" tool. At the upper left hand side of homepage, just add your year, make, model, and submodel to ensure that the parts fit your car perfectly.
Parts Included with BMW F25 X3 and F26 X4 Front Control Arm Refresh Kit
- Suspension Control Arm
- Suspension Control Arm
- Suspension Ball Joint
- Suspension Control Arm
- Suspension Control Arm
- Suspension Stabilizer Bar Link
- Suspension Stabilizer Bar Link
- Steering Tie Rod Assembly
- Rack and Pinion Bellow Kit
- Suspension Ball Joint Bolt
- Hex Nut
- Differential Mount Bolt
- Suspension Control Arm Nut
- Suspension Control Arm Bolt
- Self Locking Collar Nut
In the video below, Gareth Foley, our BMW Guru/Catalog Manager gets up close with this BMW F25 X3 & F26 X4 front control arm refresh kit. If you're unsure if this kit will work on your car, you can verify the fitment by going to our homepage and use the vehicle selection tool in the upper left corner. As usual, if you like this Really Quick Product Review, subscribe and check back here for regular releases in the future.