Just got a gen1 '06 mcs for my girlfriend and i have been told that it needs help with bushings / control arms and lower arms and other stuff that I dont understand. the car has 60k miles and apparently it has to do with both front wheels not being steady/hooked as they should be and i got a quote for over $800 including parts and labor. I am over due for new tires and of course I dont want to get new tires before I take care of this, IF I HAVE TO?? I called another local shop and they said that it does not sound like I need them with those miles but again who knows what happened that the vehicle before we bought it. the only reason why I took the car to where I took was because the car does sound rough when going over pot holes or harsh speed bumps but again this is new to me. this car drives amazing the whole time, i can also tell that it needs alignment bad but the shop I took the car to said that they wouldnt align the car until i replace these parts.

 

this is the damage w/o tires or anything else

 

Where are you located?

They are basically telling you that your inner and outer ball joints and lower control arm bushings need to be replaced. I have 58k on my 06 and yes my lower control arm bushings were shot. I replaced them with Powerflex ones from way motor works. The work isn't terribly hard, just time consuming if you are good with tools/wrenches.

 

south florida / miami area... yeah so I guess this is a normal wear and tear thing. oh man... 60k miles but yeah I dont think I can do the work myself but I wanna do it right. What do you recommend? thanks for the help

 

It is normal for the front lower control arm (LCA) bushings to be worn out by 60,000 miles. I had to argue with MINI USA to get mine replaced under warranty (at 45,000 miles)because MINI said they are a wear out item just like tires.
It is a big job to replace them because the front subframe has to be dropped. If doing yourself, I would suggest paying ($20) for the option to have the bushings already pressed into the brackets.
OEM rubber type ($110):
http://www.waymotorworks.com/control...0-r53-r52.html
Poly type ($100):
http://www.waymotorworks.com/powerfl...shing-kit.html
LCA Bushings & Ball Joints ($300)
http://www.waymotorworks.com/powerfl...ll-joints.html

 

i got the poly ones from a local shop, they did everything plus i needed new brakes. thank god i got everything that i needed not what the shop wanted to charge me.