I was changing the brake pads and rotors on my VDP over the weekend and noticed the rubber booths on both steering tie rods were broken.

How do I know if the tie rods need replacement?

 

grab the tire at 9 and 3 with the wheels off the ground and try to wiggle the tire left and right. If the tie rods are loose you will feel a clunking from them. Helps to have someone wiggle the tire for you while you feel around on the tie rods.

 

If the joints are OK, you could always fit new rack boots. I cannot find one specific to the X350 on the internet (yet), but suspect the S-type ones will fit for the ZF rack, as so much of the X350 steering and suspension is similar to the S-type. I found some sites on ebay with the dimension, so useful for checking yours out. Main dealers may even supply them as splitting is not uncommon.

 

Also, if you can get under the car with the wheels on the ground you can have someone wiggle the steering wheel back and forth while you feel the tie rods for looseness.