Anyone Know If e30 Control Arms Fit a 95 M3?

[BeLzEbUb58]

May be out of place here but I was told my e30 control arms also fit a 95 M3 which I also have. This could save some big bucks. Anyone know absolutely that they are compatible?

[jlevie]

The part numbers are different, so they aren't the same. You might be able to put them on an M3, but the suspension geometery will be off.

[MR 325]

They will physically bolt up, but don't do it.

[BeLzEbUb58]

The part numbers are different, so they aren't the same. You might be able to put them on an M3, but the suspension geometery will be off.

I was told by a very competent BMW tech that the suspension geometry is the same if I used Lemfoerder LCA from an e30. ONLY Lemfoerder. If I use the 95 offset bushings how far could the LCA from the e30 be off. Would I not be able to align it and drive it?

Also, I wonder if BMW assigns different parts numbers to identical parts to up-price its product. Just to give you an example: I had 99 M3 LCA bushings I had originally purchased for my for my 323iC. They were in the trunk of my 88 e30 and were installed on my 88 e30 lollipops and installed onto the e30 control arms. So, can we assume the reverse may be true that some e30 suspension parts will fit an M3?

[Dominic49]

e30 and obd1 e36 m3 are the same minus the rubber ball joints on the e36

[jlevie]

I was told by a very competent BMW tech that the suspension geometry is the same if I used Lemfoerder LCA from an e30. ONLY Lemfoerder. If I use the 95 offset bushings how far could the LCA from the e30 be off. Would I not be able to align it and drive it?

I don't know how the parts are different, only that the part numbers are different. You'd have to take measurements off both parts to find the differences.

Also, I wonder if BMW assigns different parts numbers to identical parts to up-price its product. Just to give you an example: I had 99 M3 LCA bushings I had originally purchased for my for my 323iC. They were in the trunk of my 88 e30 and were installed on my 88 e30 lollipops and installed onto the e30 control arms. So, can we assume the reverse may be true that some e30 suspension parts will fit an M3?

BMW is good at keeping part numbers the same if the part is the same. In the case of the CABS, those parts are different, though you can use the M3 part on an E30 or vice versa.

[jmacNC]

According to post 13 in this thread the dimensions are identical: http://r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=163761
Read the paragraph right below the picture of the control arms. It says the measurements are identical, but the post makes no mention of the ball joints. So the compounds are probably different like dominic49 said. It should be fine geometry wise.

[Hellabad]

There have been several threads about this over the years, I have posted some great info about it on bimmerforums (but now that bfc serves as a bitch site, I gave up).

Here is the bottom line:

All e30 arms are the same geometry.

All e36 non-M are the same as e30 geometry.

The first year 1995 e36 M3 is the same as e30 geometry.

All of the other e36 M3s (96-99) are different geometry.



The differences are in the outer ball joint, despite the geometry being the same.

Worst control arm (rubber mounted ball joint): 1992-2000 e36 non-M

Decent control arm: 1984-1992 e30, and up to 9/88 e30 M3

Pretty good control arm (aluminum ftw) : 1989ish to 1990ish e30 M3

Best control arm: 1995 M3, solid, very large outer ball joint, same size pin.


Jay from GC

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