Does e30 have the same front lower control arms as e30 m3 does?

[static]

i tried searching to no avail

Thanks
Alex

[Dave]

NO. The M3 ones are aluminum. Other than that though, the geometry of them is the same.

[arsevader]

NO. The M3 ones are aluminum. Other than that though, the geometry of them is the same.

Well technically only the later M3's (89 on) had aluminum arms but whose counting?...

oh wait this is R3v. ;)

James

[Dave]

I stand corrected.

Thanks James.

[arsevader]

I stand corrected.

Thanks James.

:)

I always thought the aluminum arms were a bit of a waste of money. You only save about 4 pounds a piece.

Hell I could stand to lose 8 pounds off the old mid section and it wouldn't cost me an extra $400.

James

[fretburnr]

:)

I always thought the aluminum arms were a bit of a waste of money. You only save about 4 pounds a piece.

Hell I could stand to lose 8 pounds off the old mid section and it wouldn't cost me an extra $400.

James

so could i :p but unfortunately i can't consider my midsection as "unsprung" weight

[arsevader]

so could i :p but unfortunately i can't consider my midsection as "unsprung" weight

It's all to do with how low your seat is and how low your waist is. ;)

James

[jht3]

:)

I always thought the aluminum arms were a bit of a waste of money. You only save about 4 pounds a piece.

yes and no. the aluminum e30 m3 arms have stronger heat treated ball joints. the steel e30 ones do not.

the e36 arms all have the heat treated ball joints and are a direct swap to e30s. the e36 m arms are better though as they have solid mounted ball joints. the 95 m arms are to be used w/ offset control arm bushings while the 96+ m arms are to be used w/ the centered bushings.

now if you have money to burn and want "the best", get the aluminum e30 m3 arms. but if you want the same strength with slightly more weight, the much cheaper steel e36 m3 arms are the way to go. if you're really concerned about weight, lose those bling heavy fucking rims first

[in_si1ence]

to e36 and the e30 control arms? can be fit into each other?

[jht3]

to e36 and the e30 control arms? can be fit into each other?

yes. e36 racers have been putting the aluminum e30 m3 arms on their cars for years.

the best bang for the buck are the e36 m3 arms; you just need to make sure you get the right part

you can even fit e46 arms on your car with HEAVY modifications to your fenders, the arms, and your suspension geometry.

[rwh11385]

:)

I always thought the aluminum arms were a bit of a waste of money. You only save about 4 pounds a piece.

Hell I could stand to lose 8 pounds off the old mid section and it wouldn't cost me an extra $400.

James

waste on the street? oh course, as much FUH RAZE items are.

but if you wanted a superior handling car and suspension to work better, dropping off some unsprung weight would be cool, and maybe worth it to the person.

i have them as the PO got them, and if i had to replace right now, of course steel would be the deal for me, but couple years down the road, aluminum all the way. and a hollow sway bar over a smaller solid one. and koseis or team dynamics, etc.

if you're going to worry about wheel weight for accel and other reason, you can worry about suspension components too, and brakes, and all.


but yeah, for most, they might as well save their $

[E304life]

One other thing to consider non-m e36 arms have factory replaceable
ball joints. I chose these because the salt and pot holes up here in MN
are hard on ball joints. I have been getting about 60,000 mile on the joints.
When they ware out I just replace the joint instead of the hole arm.

[jht3]

One other thing to consider non-m e36 arms have factory replaceable
ball joints. I chose these because the salt and pot holes up here in MN
are hard on ball joints. I have been getting about 60,000 mile on the joints.
When they ware out I just replace the joint instead of the hole arm.

but the ball joints are not solid mounted, so you're giving up suspension and steering feel

for you, maybe it makes sense to go this route. if you aren't tracking your car, you don't need to change the arms out frequently

for me, i have year old aluminum arms with 2 track schools on them. when the time comes to replace them, the steel e36 m3 arms will be going on. this is also not my daily driver and doesn't get driven when the white stuff is on the ground