The center rubber support bushing for the driveline was from FCP Euro - kit for just over $36. The packaging was labeled Febi Bilstein. The bearing is listed as FAG, not sure if that is the brand.

The TABs I bought are powerflex purple in color, no outer metal sleeve - they are intended to reuse existing sleeve which in some regards seems easier, we will see when I try to cut the old rubber out... If I could find a way to do so I would try freezing the old installed bushings with the intent to chip it all out. Seems ideal, more likely I'll be using saw blades, dremel tool & things of that nature.

I'm assuming other bushings are ok - will know more when I get the car jacked again.

Probably won't get to this till December - car has had these old bushings since I brought it home spring of 2018. It has some other engine issue - could be vacuum leak that I'll work before the bushings. And still driving the BMW most days anyway.

Thanks Phil & Art

Good explanation on how the rear end is held with the torque rods & everything. I did replace the torque rod bushings with the nice bright orange ones a couple years ago so I've got that going for me - which is nice...

Took your advice & replaced the center support bearing & big rubber donut yesterday. I got the dremel tool out & ground the inside diameter of the old bearing enough for a nice clearance fit on the driveshaft & made it into a "tool" to drive on the new bearing. Have to say getting that rubber donut on was the hardest part of the job - it did not want to go on... The old donut was torn & the spring was driving the washer into contact with the drive shaft.

the new purple powerflex trailing arm bushings arrived tonight. Not looking forward to it but in a few weeks I'll cut all the guts out of the existing bushings & slide these into the existing bearing sleeve. Did a similar repair on my first Volvo the 88' 245 many years ago. I don't have the tool to drive the bushings out, and based on the clunk I'm thinking the center sleeve is loose anyway.

Appreciate the insights you all offer.

Mike

Hi,

I have to agree with on wanting to keep a good reliable car under someone’s foot or buns depending on one’s perspective.🤓

You are not the first to discover that Audi, BMW and the Volkswagen are no longer a people’s or a “folks” car.
That arrangement above has left reliability in the dust over performances and gadgetry.
Plug in the facts of reoccurring payments like rentals and the idea to replace it, rather than doing repairs limits one’s availability to create a budget. Not everyone can think like politicians, globally, who’s printing the biggest batch.

Things have gone that way long after the idea of darning your socks over an incandescent light bulb with needle and thread.
Now they are removing the light bulbs but I wonder how LEDs are going to work out in ovens. Maybe there will only be solar ones and that you won’t need a light bulb inside?
That’s going to be rough on the bakery shops @ 3 in the morning. 🤔

As far as which parts to do first depends on how bad is that driveline to begin with!
The Universal joints are the biggest worry here.
The one thing you don’t want to hear is a flopping driveshaft beat between the car and the roadway, especially, in traffic!
If you start swinging a driveshaft with the engine or even a differential rolling to a stop. Imagine if the driveshaft is pointing forwards and not dragging! 😵‍💫

Yep those trailing arm bushings are in there tight and if you hear clunks when pulling into driveway ramping approach, then a twisting fight is between the bushings and the two torque rods.

I don’t think a rear end can get completely out from under a car for the pan-hard rod, torque rods and the trailing arms.
These are beefy let alone the springs being captured under there by the weight of the car.

Now that we both recognize what is a foot in our worlds the 240 is still the champion of finding compromise with its design goals of the times. Sensibility has its virtues as time has always proved.

Your choice but get it done before any of rainy days start, if you are outdoors.
The driveline can travel those bushings … do not.

Phil