Refreshing the suspension on my 1990 325i

[yoda634]

So, I've been having some squeaks and squeals from the front end of my car lately, nothing major, but I've got a couple of weeks coming up where I'll be able to work on my car, and I want to get it all taken care of.

After a little research, I've decided to replace the front control arms, the control arm bushings (with the E30 M3 part), and the sway bar bushings and mounting brackets.

While looking for the best prices on control arms, I found this on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Bmw-E30-325-318-Control-Arm-Arms-Tie-Rods-KIT_W0QQitemZ250147617604QQihZ015QQcategoryZ33583QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

How does this look? I'm a little apprehensive about not knowing the brand names of the parts, but that's definitely a good deal for a set of control arms, bushings, and tie rods. Even though I wasn't going to replace the tie rods, that still ends up about as much as I'd be paying for just the control arms and bushings anywhere else.

This brings up another question -- which would be better -- the M3 bushings with the different offset or the polyurethane bushings? What sort of a difference could I feel between the two?

there's also this, with the M3 bushings:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-E30-325-318-Control-Arm-Arms-Tie-Rods-KIT-BOGE-OEM_W0QQitemZ250147617677QQihZ015QQcategoryZ33583QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Any suggestions for one over the other? Neither, and just buy the parts from another site?

[browntown]

just call patrick at bma parts, tell him you want lemforder components, and a r3v discount. He'll give you a good price. You can comparison shop and get the part #'s by perusing pelicanparts.com It'll give you a good idea of what kind of price you can see if BMA can beat.

[Massive Lee]

Hi Yoda

The only control arm worth buying (and installing) are the Lemforder as supplied originally on your car (with a BMW stamp). Anything else is garbage. Why pay a few hours of shop work to have the job redone in two months? Here goes the initial saving.

For the control arm bushings, you can go with urethane (eccentric of course) but they tend to knock a bit. The original rubber ones from the e30 M3 are better in my opinion. They are way more quiet.

Also, beware of Meyle parts. Any balljoint with a rubber boot is garbage. Meyle's rubber boots tear very easily, allowing dust and dirt to destroy the balljoints. One of my clients owns a shop and sells tons of Lemforder, TWR, Meyle parts for BMWs, Audis and VWs. He hates Meyle.

[yoda634]

Alright, went to buy some parts tonight, and had a couple more questions:

First, here's what I've settled on: control arms and bushings, sway bar bushings/brackets/links.

I was looking for the e30 m3 control arm bushings, and saw that the part number someone posted over on e30tech was for the E36 M3. From what I can tell with a little googling, this part works. So which one do I want -- E30 or E36?

I also stumbled across seeing someone replace their sway bar links with the M3 ones, and seeing good handling gains off them. Is this a direct replacement, or is there custom fab work involved?

Anything else I'd want to look at an M3 replacement for?

[browntown]

m3 swaybar links require welding a mount on the strut tube. The mounts can be ordered from ground control. They are not in their web catalog, but if you call, they'll sell them to you. They're about 35$ for the pair. Can you weld? If not, I'd skip that and get a cabrio front bar, and a m3 rear. Get adjustable links, and reinforce the rear trailing arms (turner sells a kit) and get either turner or ireland rear sway reinforcement brackets that bolt through the trunk floor.

[Massive Lee]

As browntown has mentionned, it requires to weld a tab on the strut. You can make those tabs yourself, but make sure they also are reinforced, as it is also neeeded on M3 struts. You will also need longer links than regular e30 ones. That install will give you a more effective leverage of the swaybar.

[smonkbmw]

i have those ebay parts, just installed them a few days ago. no problems to report as of yet. maybe lee is right, ask me again in a few months...

[einstein57]

i also have the ebay kit. I've had them on for about 3 months strong. Not the worlds greatest parts but half the price of lemforder. But massive is right. It would really suck to have to install them twice. I had to because they sent me two left control arms which i did not notice untill i already took my car apart. The sent me a new one but it delayed my another two weeks.

[JGood]

Hi Yoda

The only control arm worth buying (and installing) are the Lemforder as supplied originally on your car (with a BMW stamp). Anything else is garbage. Why pay a few hours of shop work to have the job redone in two months? Here goes the initial saving.

For the control arm bushings, you can go with urethane (eccentric of course) but they tend to knock a bit. The original rubber ones from the e30 M3 are better in my opinion. They are way more quiet.

Also, beware of Meyle parts. Any balljoint with a rubber boot is garbage. Meyle's rubber boots tear very easily, allowing dust and dirt to destroy the balljoints. One of my clients owns a shop and sells tons of Lemforder, TWR, Meyle parts for BMWs, Audis and VWs. He hates Meyle.

I wasn't aware of that. I thought Meyle was a good quality OEM brand. I just put Meyle control arms and tie rods on one of my cars. Is there any known issues with part failures, or is it just because separation of the joint will likely tear the boot?

[LivingLegend06]

Can somebody tell me what lemforder control arms run from BMA? My local auto parts store can get me them for $150 per arm and can get meyle for $100 per arm.

[bmwpower]

Also, beware of Meyle parts. Any balljoint with a rubber boot is garbage. Meyle's rubber boots tear very easily, allowing dust and dirt to destroy the balljoints. One of my clients owns a shop and sells tons of Lemforder, TWR, Meyle parts for BMWs, Audis and VWs. He hates Meyle.

All ball joints have rubber boots.

[PiercedE30]

Damn Legend, that is HUGE mark up on those parts. Meyle should be around like 55-75 a pop from BMA (correct me if I'm wrong) and Lemfoerder should be like 125 or something.

[LivingLegend06]

Damn Legend, that is HUGE mark up on those parts. Meyle should be around like 55-75 a pop from BMA (correct me if I'm wrong) and Lemfoerder should be like 125 or something.

Yes it is a lot of markup. I just called in a favor from an old friend who now works at a BMW repair shop and I'm going to have him get me my control arms and tie rod ends, I expect that the wholesale price from him will be better. I wont know until he gets to work tomorrow and has time to look it up.

[PiercedE30]

I know when I ordered mine, through the shop that I work at, I got both of my Lemfoerder's for like 198 or something.

[LivingLegend06]

I know when I ordered mine, through the shop that I work at, I got both of my Lemfoerder's for like 198 or something.

I would be very happy if my friend could get me a price like that.