It's Time For Front End Refresh (This Sufficient?)

[mLuMaN83]

So it's at the point of no return. Just in time for my finances getting in line for this. It's popping, bouncing, shaking, moving under braking, etc. Whats weird, is that I have had some symptoms for awhile and they would sort of come and go, but today, it got bad! Scary! If seemed to have stopped on my way home from school today then the popping, shaking, came back with vengeance a couple miles from home. Things sounds and feels like its gonna fall apart. Good thing this got to this point right when I planned on doing it anyways.

Is this kit sufficient? I'm looking for closest to stock and enough to get another 50k+ miles out of her. http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E46-330Ci-M54_3.0L/Suspension/Refresh_Kits/ES205227/

Any better options around the same price? I don't need anything super expensive/sporty. Just want it feeling stock and will last at least 50k.

After this, I have to figure out what to do with the rear... it's clunking and sits sideways when brake is on with a decline... :eeps

[alexandre]

Went through this last May. Soooo worth it!!!

Go through rmeuropean or eeuroparts though, their prices are cheaper. I did shocks, struts, control arms + bushings, rtab, tie rods and sway bar bushings + links for ~$1k. That's replacing every single nut, bolt, gasket, etc that is present in this set up - I didn't cheap out on anything. Lemfoerder mounts, bushings, arms, tie rods, and Sachs shocks/struts.

[mLuMaN83]

Here? ---- http://www.eeuroparts.com/Parts/48223/Suspension-Kit-Front-e46-Standard-100K10002/ Thats pretty cheap... are these parts ok with quality?


Went through this last May. Soooo worth it!!!

Go through rmeuropean or eeuroparts though, their prices are cheaper. I did shocks, struts, control arms + bushings, rtab, tie rods and sway bar bushings + links for ~$1k. That's replacing every single nut, bolt, gasket, etc that is present in this set up - I didn't cheap out on anything. Lemfoerder mounts, bushings, arms, tie rods, and Sachs shocks/struts.

Was this a kit? I don't mind 1k for this at all!

[prowlerflyer]

Have not seen them before, prices seem really good. Msport control arms were a good deal.

[alexandre]

Get the part numbers and make sure to select the good brands. Kits often carry a 10-15% surcharge over buying parts individually!

[SoCalZman]

does the noise sound anything like this?
https://soundcloud.com/socalzman/car-noise

[mLuMaN83]

does the noise sound anything like this?
https://soundcloud.com/socalzman/car-noise

Similar... does it when turn the front wheels and sometimes over bumps.

[SoCalZman]

That is my car. I am taking it into the shop next week to find out what it is.

[mLuMaN83]

I'm sure it's CAB and other components. Get er refreshed! I can't wait to get mine done.

[jakksfor20]

Similar... does it when turn the front wheels and sometimes over bumps.
Sounds like endlinks to me.

I think CAB's, endlinks, and RTAB's are the 3 biggest things to look at according to your post. Tie rods can be proven safe by grabbing a wheel and trying to turn it. If it doesn't move but just enough for the wheel to hit the steering locks, then they are probably ok. Reinforcement plates and strut tower bushings can most likely wait until you replace the struts.

[mLuMaN83]

What brands should I be looking at if I buy each part separate? Should I go ALL Lemforder? Ive got 160k on it right now and looking to get another 50k+ without worry.

I'm just not sure which parts I can go cheaper and which I should spend more on.

[danewilson77]

Lemforder is respectable.

[mLuMaN83]

Lemforder is respectable.

So's the price.:facepalm

[az3579]

So's the price.:facepalm

You get what you pay for.

[prowlerflyer]

I think most agree that Lemforder is the most consistent, high quality parts.

I believe they are the OEM producer of our ZHP specific M labeled control arms.

[DARXIDE]

Lemforder is respectable.
Hey Dane, so I've seen different part numbers for the lower control arms. I may be a little dense, but when I search the mafia site a bunch of threads come up that have nothing to do with suspension. [emoji58] Any direction? Saw a kit on Amazon, but there aren't enough specifics to know what I'm getting

[Johal E32]

Prob seeing diff part numbers because ZHP arms have stiffer ball joints.

I recommend Lemforeder or perhaps Karlyn.

http://swiftmotorworks.com/collections/suspension/products/front-control-arm

[Hornung418]

What brands should I be looking at if I buy each part separate? Should I go ALL Lemforder? Ive got 160k on it right now and looking to get another 50k+ without worry.

I'm just not sure which parts I can go cheaper and which I should spend more on.


Lemforder is respectable.


So's the price.:facepalm

Owns a BMW, complains about the price of parts.

Go wait inline to buy an iPhone instead of maintaining your car with proper parts.

Sent from my GS3.

[mLuMaN83]

Owns a BMW, complains about the price of parts.

Go wait inline to buy an iPhone instead of maintaining your car with proper parts.

Sent from my GS3.

Wowsers.

[Hornung418]

Wow.

I can complain all I want about price differences, dude. Lemforder is going in my car. My car is always tip top.

Wow.

Sent from my GS3.

[Newjack]

Owns a BMW, complains about the price of parts.

Go wait inline to buy an iPhone instead of maintaining your car with proper parts.

Sent from my GS3.
http://i.imgur.com/Wzlm9xX.gif

[mLuMaN83]

Anyways, back on topic...

Thanks for the input to everyone who has helped out. I'll stick with the Lemforder parts. Did a bit of research the past couple of days and found that most people had mucho problems with anything less.

[Newjack]

Wow.

Sent from my GS3.
Tip top

Lemforder

http://i.imgur.com/Mb0O4.gif

[mLuMaN83]

Any of you guys do the job yourself? Any advise, suggestions, pointers to help alleviate any headaches? I watched a video on youtube of the install of the control arms and tie rods and it seemed like a pretty straight forward job.

[danewilson77]

Getting the CAB off the end of the CA always used to piss me off, until I pin punched the end of my CA's and started using a 3 jaw bearing puller.

The friendliest forum on the planet!

[danewilson77]

Hey Dane, so I've seen different part numbers for the lower control arms. I may be a little dense, but when I search the mafia site a bunch of threads come up that have nothing to do with suspension. [emoji58] Any direction? Saw a kit on Amazon, but there aren't enough specifics to know what I'm getting

You really should get the ZHP ///M control arms. Johal is on the money. The Lemforders will have an ///M sticker.


Prob seeing diff part numbers because ZHP arms have stiffer ball joints.

I recommend Lemforeder or perhaps Karlyn.

http://swiftmotorworks.com/collections/suspension/products/front-control-arm


The friendliest forum on the planet!

[3ZHP]

I did my front 2 years ago and managed to get BMW OEM for less than anything I could find on the web. Last year, I did the RTAB with BMW OEM and had the alignment done at a BMW dealer. I was experiencing some of the same issues as you and now the car is as good as it was when I purchased it with 27K oh the clock. About a year and a half before I did the front end, I replaced the shocks and struts with Koni Sports and have been very satisfied with them also.

Below is the link to the DIY, I did on the control arms and bushings. Good luck, and let me know if you have any questions on any of this and I should be able to help.

http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?7849-Checking-and-Replacing-front-Control-Arms-and-Bushings-doityourself

[DARXIDE]

Getting the CAB off the end of the CA always used to piss me off, until I pin punched the end of my CA's and started using a 3 jaw bearing puller.

The friendliest forum on the planet!
Ahh so grasshopper...[emoji41] . Good idear.

[Newjack]

Any of you guys do the job yourself? Any advise, suggestions, pointers to help alleviate any headaches? I watched a video on youtube of the install of the control arms and tie rods and it seemed like a pretty straight forward job.
I've done it myself. I wouldn't do it again because of how difficult the control arms were. I have a write up in my build thread about the work that was done.

[mLuMaN83]

Thanks guys. Gonna check out the write ups. Hopefully getting this all done in the next two weeks. Going to ruin my weekend with maintenance. It's gonna feel so freaking good though. I'm still impressed how it feels even with wore out suspension.

[Johal E32]

Getting the CAB off the end of the CA always used to piss me off, until I pin punched the end of my CA's and started using a 3 jaw bearing puller.

The friendliest forum on the planet!

It can be a pain, but if he is getting the CA then he should buy new FCAB's too so he will not have to worry about pulling it off.

[danewilson77]

True.

The friendliest forum on the planet!

[mLuMaN83]

Went with this. I am happy with that price too. Hopefully I'll be murdering on-ramps by next week!

http://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-control-arm-kit-8-piece-e46-oem-e46cakitl

[danewilson77]

Noice

The friendliest forum on the planet!