I've got a 2003 530i Sport with 79,000 miles with the dreaded shimmy. It really comes on strong around 75mph and it comes and goes (kind of fades in and out). I've had the tires road force balanced and the shop said they did the best they could. The tires are cupped and should be replaced. The balance helped, but it's not gone. Plenty of tread left so I'm going to ride it out a little longer. But I'd hate to replace the tires only to have new ones wear out due to a bad suspension part. That leads me to my question: should there be ANY play in the thrust arms? I had the wheels off a week ago and grabbed one of the thrust arms with my hand and I could move it back and forth easily. It moved at the bushing end, not the ball joint end. I assume they are probably shot, but I don't get a shimmy while braking and there isn't really a shimmy around 50-60 as I've heard is common when these arms go. Any ideas?
STEVE46
Have they been replaced before? If not, you are due! I hear the trick is to use the bushings for the X5. Not has hard as the aftermarket poly bushings, but harder and more durable than the stock oem E39 ones.
Dave
Dave
The fact that your tires are cupped and need to be replaced, do that first, and then look into the condition of your wheels too! I got new rims and tires and my shimmy is gone!!!! I have a 2002 530i with 82K. Still original thrust arms!!!
How 'bout them apples!
How 'bout them apples!
Sorry not sure about the 530, all my friends have 540's! 
But you could search here for both the 530 and 540 and see if they use the same bushing part number:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/select.do
But you could search here for both the 530 and 540 and see if they use the same bushing part number:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/select.do
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