Z4M Solid rubber offset bushings!

[AutoXfreak]

Hey guys,

I just installed a set of factory MZ4 offset bushings on my newly acquired ZHP. I have a couple MZ4 racecars at the shop and I noted the bushings on those cars looked like they would fit. So I special ordered a set from my BMW dealership. I Pressed out the old bushing from the bushing bracket, and installed the new bushings.

First impressions, the car tracks and feels way more confident and positive though the steering wheel. The extra caster the bushings provide gives more positive feel. Under braking the "numb" feel is gone, they make threshold breaking easier to achieve.

Anyway, here is the Real OEM diagram I found the part number on.

http://realoem.com/bmw/diagrams/v/a/220.png

Number 9
09 SET RUBBER MOUNTING D=66MM 1 31107838575 $75.19

Party on fellow motorists. Hope you guys find this helpful!

-Brad

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Brad, cool. Thanks for the tip.

[aurelius]

Like the E30 M3's offset CAB's, which fit non-M E30's and last a lot longer.

What does this mod imply for ZHP alignment specs?

[static667]

Kinda got the same deal with E36 M and non-M bushing interchangeability. I will be looking into these for my car.

Sent from my rooted Fascinate using Tapatalk.

[AutoXfreak]

Like the E30 M3's offset CAB's, which fit non-M E30's and last a lot longer.

What does this mod imply for ZHP alignment specs?

I did my alignment right after the install of the bushings. However I didn't remember to measure the caster. If I get my car back on the alignment rack I will update the alignment stats for the caster difference.

These are just like the e30 M3, and 95 M3 offset bushings.

[mikeyb74]

Are the Z4M bushing the same thickness as the stock e46 bushing? The Z4M shares the control arms with the ZHP.

[nike001]

Bump. Considering Z4M bushings instead of going poly..

[Johnmadd]

Bump. Considering Z4M bushings instead of going poly..

Nice bump, Dalton. I missed this, and its great to know this is an option. I was trying to translate e30 to e46 to just this subject... just didn't know what part was needed for the e46.

I would go for these because what I've heard about the poly ones is that they squeak, and if you can fit a genuine bmw part it will likely be the best of both worlds. If your lowered I wouldn't even think twice.

[nike001]

and if you can fit a genuine bmw part it will likely be the best of both worlds. If your lowered I wouldn't even think twice.

Yep. I'm most likely going this route.. I'll be checking at work tomorrow with the BMW parts guy for what my price would be for them. I think it'd be foolish to not go this route.

My current ones aren't bad, but my drivers side one has a bit of play in it. Meaning that if I'm cruising at ~60mph and tap the brakes really fast I'll get a little jolt in the steering wheel. It doesn't happen all of the time but enough for it to grow to be annoying..

[SoCalZman]

aurelius asked about the alignment but it wasnt clear in the earlier posts. Does putting in different bushings like this affect affect how the car can/will be aligned?

[Johnmadd]

It allows the bushing to have less pressure on it (especially lowered cars), alignment should be as close to stock as they can get it, and offset bushings help with this, especially if you don't have the pricey adjustable camber plates.

[Johal E32]

Bump. Considering Z4M bushings instead of going poly..

I'm not a fan on poly suspension on a DD. A dd should be comfortable and quiet, I would go with this route IMO.

I wonder if it will work with regular old non-M/non-ZHP E46 control arms? I think it would since ZHP and non ZHP CAB's are the same..

[terraphantm]

I'm not a fan on poly suspension on a DD. A dd should be comfortable and quiet, I would go with this route IMO.

I wonder if it will work with regular old non-M/non-ZHP E46 control arms? I think it would since ZHP and non ZHP CAB's are the same..

Should. Only difference between ZHP and non ZHP control arms is the inner ball joint (or maybe it was outer?) -- the wishbones themselves are the same

Also you can get the bushings pre-pressed in the housings too:

31107836862
31107836863

Might be best to go that route since pressing out the hydraulic bushing is a bit of a pain

[derbo]

I remember a Technician saying the M3 and the Z4M bushings were offset. Do you know how much caster is changed from the original ZHP setup?

[nike001]

I would think an alignment would be needed before and after to show the caster changes. I don't think anyone has done so yet..

[nike001]

Just ordered the z4m bushings for a couple bucks under $50.. Should be here tomorrow and installed by Saturday

[MiniD]

^Ballin'. Out. Of. Control.

[nike001]

Whoops, they ended up being $38.34. I heart employee prices

[aurelius]

Pre-pressed into new brackets or just the naked bushings?

[terraphantm]

I remember a Technician saying the M3 and the Z4M bushings were offset. Do you know how much caster is changed from the original ZHP setup?

M3 bushings are centered. But I think our control arms give a similar effect as an offset bushing

[nike001]

Pre-pressed into new brackets or just the naked bushings?

Just the bushings

[Johal E32]

Should. Only difference between ZHP and non ZHP control arms is the inner ball joint (or maybe it was outer?) -- the wishbones themselves are the same

Also you can get the bushings pre-pressed in the housings too:

31107836862
31107836863

Might be best to go that route since pressing out the hydraulic bushing is a bit of a pain

Perfect. Thank you, looks like I can get them for $56 a side (bushing and housing)

[nike001]

Does anyone know the orientation of the bushing on how it's supposed to be pressed in? I have the bushings only, so they need to be pressed in and I don't want to press them in wrong, since they're offset

[MooseX]

they should have a mark on the housing to match the bushing

[terraphantm]

they should have a mark on the housing to match the bushing

I guess he hasn't updated this thread, but he's figured it out and the bushings are on the car now

[MooseX]

Are those part #s for factory bushings already in lollypops really only 56 apiece? That's a swingin deal.

I used to put the offsets bushings on my Subarus and it was like nite and day. Crazy caster and stability at speed.

I was almost ready to pop for pro flex 'till I read this. thank god...I'd rather go with hard rubber over plastic

[terraphantm]

Are those part #s for factory bushings already in lollypops really only 56 apiece? That's a swingin deal.

I used to put the offsets bushings on my Subarus and it was like nite and day. Crazy caster and stability at speed.

I was almost ready to pop for pro flex 'till I read this. thank god...I'd rather go with hard rubber over plastic

Exact price will depend on where you order from, but yeah, the pre-pressed bushings are only $56/side

[MooseX]

that's redonkulous. where would you suggest I order them? Mod Bargains?....

[nike001]

Or your local stealer? Mine arrived the same day I ordered them

[MooseX]

ok. is this something I can get from a lemforder parts place?

[Johnmadd]

How do you like them Dalton?

[Johal E32]

that's redonkulous. where would you suggest I order them? Mod Bargains?....

YA. stealer or ebmwparts.com

Maybe thebmwpartstore.com same price as ebmw but the shipping cost might be different.

[MooseX]

ebmwparts shows the Z4M bracket for 56 and the bushing for an additional 40 bux

[terraphantm]

ebmwparts shows the Z4M bracket for 56 and the bushing for an additional 40 bux

The bushings are prepressed into the brackets

[MooseX]

OK I got it...thanks

[nike001]

How do you like them Dalton?

They're freakin SWEET lol.

I was just ripping through some corners that would usually yield understeer or make me feel uncomfortable going that fast through them. Front end grip seems incredible.. and less weight shift through turns. I think rear sways are next on my list to do since my front seems pretty tight as-is.

Turn in is pretty solid as well. I can definitely toss the car in a lot easier..

[Johal E32]

They're freakin SWEET lol.

I was just ripping through some corners that would usually yield understeer or make me feel uncomfortable going that fast through them. Front end grip seems incredible.. and less weight shift through turns. I think rear sways are next on my list to do since my front seems pretty tight as-is.

Turn in is pretty solid as well. I can definitely toss the car in a lot easier..

Just what I wanted to hear! I think I am going to change up my suspension in the next month or so. I am thinking HR race springs and Z4M FCABS, should be nice upgrade.

[poke08]

Quick question, I picked these up for my ZHP and I realized that these are a little smaller than the stock bushings. Are they supposed to sit flush in the control arm? or is it supposed to stick out a little like the stock bushings?

[TWong1200]

Bump! I'd like to know too before biting the bullet and buying

[derbo]

If you just buy the ones with the brackets installed, you don't have to worry about that. I bought the ones with the brackets included and they install just fine.

[Vas]

If you just buy the ones with the brackets installed, you don't have to worry about that. I bought the ones with the brackets included and they install just fine.

Best place to get the ones with the brackets installed?

[derbo]

Best place to get the ones with the brackets installed?

I bought them locally at my dealership.

31107836862
31107836863

thebmwpartstore has it for $57.70 each + shipping.

BMW Morristown has it for $52.89 each + shipping
http://www.trademotion.com/parts/index.cfm?make=BMW&action=oePartSearch&siteid=214320&searchText=31107836862

[Vas]

Thanks Derek. Good to know.

[derbo]

Thanks Derek. Good to know.

You should do it :)

[Vas]

You should do it :)

Most likely I will do the Z4M over the current AKG poly units I have on the wifes car. Just need to decide on the RTAB and do them both at once so I can align the car.

[derbo]

Most likely I will do the Z4M over the current AKG poly units I have on the wifes car. Just need to decide on the RTAB and do them both at once so I can align the car.

How are the AKG poly? What makes you decide to go with the Z4M vs the AKG?

[poke08]

I should of done that instead of getting the bushings alone. Did yours fit flush with the bracket or did they stick out a little like the original bushings?

[Vas]

I do like the Akg poly but they feel kinda soft to me. I was going to get the z4m and try them out. On my imola sedan I have the uuc poly and I like those more then the Akg.

[derbo]

I should of done that instead of getting the bushings alone. Did yours fit flush with the bracket or did they stick out a little like the original bushings?

What do you mean stick out?

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/10/09/8e5u7y6u.jpg

does this pic help?

[poke08]

What do you mean stick out?

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/10/09/8e5u7y6u.jpg

does this pic help?

Yeah thats what I was referring to. Right now, my bushings look like the top two.

When my mechanic tried installing them, he said it sat a bit more flush to the bracket, such as the single bushing at the bottom. So he just left the original ones in.

[derbo]

They are slightly shorter in length compared to the regular ones but it shouldn't affect much.

[TWong1200]

I ended up picking up a set of carriers cheap and just bought the Z4M bushings. I'll press them in then tackle the job to reduce downtime. Saves me a few bucks.

I get my KW V1's tomorrow and when I install them, I'll be doing new top hats, Z4M RTABs with limiters, Z4M FCABs, and Front and rear reinforcements. I want to do it all at once so that I can align it just once.

[TWong1200]

Does anyone know if our factory lollipops are 60 or 66mm?

[SoCalZman]

66mm

[TWong1200]

66mm
Thanks!

[Vas]

Had a set of these installed on the wife's car not that long ago. No complaints.

[QC_ZHP]

thinking of switching back to all rubber and these will be my FCAB choice. How hard is it to press the bushing in a lollipop? I figure I could find a set of lollipops cheap if its easy instead of ordering these pre-pressed. Save a little $$

[Vas]

thinking of switching back to all rubber and these will be my FCAB choice. How hard is it to press the bushing in a lollipop? I figure I could find a set of lollipops cheap if its easy instead of ordering these pre-pressed. Save a little $$

Went down this path actually. Not bad job at all if you have a press otherwise get the complete assembly. Save yourself the time and hassle.

[QC_ZHP]

Went down this path actually. Not bad job at all if you have a press otherwise get the complete assembly. Save yourself the time and hassle.

Yeah I'd probably regret not spending the couple extra bucks on the complete bushings. Looking forward to your install of the RTABs too. Tired of my AKGs already lol.

[Vas]

Yeah I'd probably regret not spending the couple extra bucks on the complete bushings. Looking forward to your install of the RTABs too. Tired of my AKGs already lol.
I'm going the job is smooth.

[thegenius46m]

Anyone have a trick to installing these once the fcab is already seated to the arm? I installed these z4m fcabs on a friend's zhp about a month ago and remember it being royal hell to get the fcab to line up with the frame rail bolt holes because the solid hex has minimal flex. Had to use a combination of a large prybar, lowering the strut from the tower, and then had to pivot the knuckle with a jack to just the right angle to get the holes to line up. Then had to insert a screw driver into one of the frame holes while threading a bolt into the other hole.

I am changing control arms on my zhp thursday night and this wont be my first rodeo on an e46 since I did my m3 years ago, but I dont have offset fcabs on that car so the fcabs are effortless to mount to the chassis in comparison.

Curious if anyone has a more ideal method than what I came up with for these offset fcabs? Or is it just a hell of a task regardless?

Thinking I may start the fcab bolts before getting the new arm balljoints completely snug since the ball joints take up any of the slack anyways to prevent binding, but off the top of my head, I can recall if there will be enough room for this method?

[sillieidiot]

That should work fine. I did both methods on my car. for one side, I put the bushing on the arm first. Then I did the center ball joint one that you have to use the wrench the whole time. Then did the fcab side and followed up with the one on the knuckle. But if you weren't replacing the arm, then just lube up the arm/fcab (I used ONR). After you hammer it, you can still twist it some because it has some lube and thread the 2 bolts in.

This one time it was seated in wrong on the arm. It was quicker to just pull it back off, lube it and hammer it back on lol