possibility of entire front end replacement?

[ptownTSI]

A guy locally has whole front end for sale, he says its in good shape with 150k on it. My front end has bad control arms, bad bushings, and a bad right front wheel bearings.

i've already bought new M3 cabs, and an SKF hub/wheelbearing, should get new lemfoerder arms as well, or just swap in the entire front end replacement, and if everything is good, keep my M3 cabs and hub for a later time. i can get the front end for less than a pair of lemfoerder arms.

[uflnuceng]

swapping is easy, just disconnect the steering column from the R&P (mark for easy alignment), support the engine back where it meets the tranny with a jack stand, disconnect suspension at strut towers, all ABS and brake lines, then just drop the subframe (4 bolts on unibody, 2 on engine mount bushings). Its heavy as hell though, but I did it solo in a weekend.

[Julien]

i wouln't fuck with it IMHO.. just get new parts and be done w/ it


Juliej

[uflnuceng]

i'd get it just for spare parts... maybe his strut housings are in better shape than yours.

[Garageaholic]

it depends on the array of tools you have.. and patience...knowledge.. and perhaps a little help

[ptownTSI]

this might seem like a really dumb question, but if i switch to koni adjustables do i keep my strut housing?

[chuckybob]

i hope you have a lot of money or a lot of free time.

[Digitalwave]

There is no sense in spending all the time swapping the parts for used parts with 150k on them. Buy new ones.

[Sean]

Buy new wear items, using used wear items are pointless - unless you literally have them laying around, and the car isn't a performance machine. Like, if I had some 84 318i as a daily, I'd put used parts on it. lol

Yes, you need the strut assembly no matter what.

GC's only modify the strut - but it still remains.