96+ M3 front strut mount swap questions.

[tekviper]

I installed 96 m3 front strut mounts, along with bilstein sport struts and HR sport springs on my 94 325i. Looking at the aligment specs of a 96 m3, there should be around -2.0 degrees negative camber. On my car however, I have -0.4 and -0.5 degrees negative camber. Previously with the stock struts and mounts, I had around -1.2 degrees. Caster has increased to around 6.0 degrees, but I also thought that should be closer to 7.0 degrees? I measured the alignment with the 94's original 15in wheels. I also have a set of 17in DS1's but I didn't think changing the tire size would change the alignment readings. Has anyone done this swap and checked the alignment afterwards? Did I forget a part in order to get closer to the -2.0 degrees of negative camber of the m3?

[racermp]

the m3 also the an offset LCA bushing affecting camber too. that is one reason

[beem3]

Just wanted to share my info.

I didn't swap the M3 front strut mounts, but I do have koni yellow shocks and H&R oe sport springs with 17in. contours, M3 offset control arm bushings. In my most recent alignment, I have -1.8 camber on all 4 wheels,4.5 caster. In my previous alignment, I had about -1.4 to -1.7 camber. Your camber is back to stock specs, that's odd. I find that it makes a difference where you take your car to get an alignment.

Basically the only difference between your car and my car in regards to camber is you have the M3 front strut mounts, and your car is lower than mine. I would think even without the M3 front strut mounts, you would already have close to -2 camber.

The alignment specs for a 99 S52 M3 stock are;-.3 to -1.3 camber, 7.1-8.1 caster.

Also, the offset M3 lcabs affects caster more than it affects camber.

Hope this helps at all.

[tekviper]

I knew about the offset lca bushings of the m3, and I was going to replace them with the m3 eventually but I don't think those account for 1.6 degrees of missing negative camber. Are the front knuckles different as well maybe?

I do the alignment myself on a hunter rack, numerous times before with everything stock I had about -1.2 degrees negative camber in the front. It is only since installing the bilstien sports (m3 part number), hr sport (m3 part), and m3 front strut mouts where I am measuring only -0.4 degrees and I am not sure why.

[BraveUlysses]

The offset LCA Bushings increase CASTER not CAMBER.

You need to swap your tophats/strut mounts from left to right (yes, opposite of what they "should" be) and you'll find lots of extra camber.

[heavyfoot2990]

I think they will fit on backwards, and this will reduce neg camber instead of increasing it so make sure you didn't do that (I think there's an arrow that should point forward). If you still can't find the problem, you can always swap the left and right ones side to side on 96+ strut mounts to get even more camber like braveulysses said