Anyone have experience with Bav Auto brand control arms?

[butters]

I'm putting together parts for a front end refresh + shocks, and shopping around for control arms.

Searching yields the consensus of "ONLY buy Lemfoerders!" but I was wondering if anyone has used the Bav Auto parts which are $75 less for the pair.

I wouldn't consider them, but they do offer a 2-year warranty. Is that a new thing, maybe the ball joints have improved? 2 years isn't very long for CA's in my mind, but still, other E30 arms only come with a standard 1-year warranty.

[phillipj]

I'm interested in well, if anyone has had hands on experience with these BavAuto ones.

I've also looked at the Meyle ones, which supposedly are OE equivalent, you can get a pair for $160.

[butters]

I went ahead and got Lemfoerders. The BavAuto guy on the phone didn't try to sell their brand to me either. I decided that the extra $60 was worth spending for peace of mind and known quality on such an important part of the car.

[MR 325]

The BavAuto brand arms are likely just Chinese anyway. Good call on getting the good stuff!

I have run Meyle a couple times in the past though and I think their stuff id decent myself.

[LoneWolf]

I cheaped out and bought some from FCP Groton.

It was a mistake. I was under the car the other day and noticed the boots on each of them was already ripped, about 10,000 miles later. Won't be long until they fail now....

[AlexHale]

I went ahead and got Lemfoerders. The BavAuto guy on the phone didn't try to sell their brand to me either. I decided that the extra $60 was worth spending for peace of mind and known quality on such an important part of the car.

Was he nasty on the phone about it?

[phillipj]

I cheaped out and bought some from FCP Groton.

It was a mistake. I was under the car the other day and noticed the boots on each of them was already ripped, about 10,000 miles later. Won't be long until they fail now....

What brand exactly did you buy from FCP?

They sell Meyle and lemfoerders at reasonable prices... for example:

http://www.fcpeuro.com/BMW-parts/325i/Control-Arms?year=1990&m=20&e=177

[butters]

Was he nasty on the phone about it?

Actually not at all. I didn't bother asking for more info or an opinion, I just said "and Lemfoerder front control arms" among my order list and he cheerily said "yep definitely".

[jeffnhiscars]

FCP has the same brands as everyone else although unlike BavAuto, FCP tells you what brand you are getting. I've bought 3 pairs of Lemforder CA's from them in the last 18 months (among a lot of other parts) at prices that no one else could touch.

[MR 325]

FCP's Lemforder control arm prices are the same as RM European.

[atmobenzin]

You guys do know that you can just change the ball joints separately right?

[jeffnhiscars]

FCP's Lemforder control arm prices are the same as RM European.

Not when I buy them ;)

[LoneWolf]

What brand exactly did you buy from FCP?

They sell Meyle and lemfoerders at reasonable prices... for example:

http://www.fcpeuro.com/BMW-parts/325...990&m=20&e=177

They were the meyle ones.

[Cephas]

I had the same experience when I ordered my Lemfoerder arms from bavauto. The sales guy actually said he recommended them.

It could be that they're just happy to get your money, but on one of the most important parts of the car, I think an extra 60 is worth it.

[phillipj]

FCP has the same brands as everyone else although unlike BavAuto, FCP tells you what brand you are getting. I've bought 3 pairs of Lemforder CA's from them in the last 18 months (among a lot of other parts) at prices that no one else could touch.

I new to this board... going through a couple of similar processes on my low mile 1990 325iC-- beyond FCP what places do you order your parts? Who do you like best so far?

Btw, I really liked your cabrio build thread. Nice story & excellent work. I have the same fender area-attachment issue you had and it was good to read up on what you did to repair that attachment point.

I'm having a really tough time finding a replacement vert passenger front fender, btw. :|