E36 M3 Evo control arms - can I replace them with E30 arms + offset bushes?

[mistreku]

Hi guys, trying to finish my M3 suspension conversion on the front on my 325i and I'm a bit stuck. I can't find the M3 Evo control arms in a good used condition and I can't afford buying them new.

I know they are different from the rest of the E36 arms, IIRC they are slighly longer for increased castor (please confirm, not sure I got it right). So I was thinking, can I just replace them with the supposedly stronger E30 arms and fit some offset solid bushes from E30 or E36 M3's, to compensate for the castor? Would this be a similar setup from the geometry point of view?

So far, I've fitted M3 Evo top mounts, shocks, springs, drop links (but kept my 25.5mm ARB). If I fit the E30 arms and offset bushes, would it be OK? I really can't afford paying for brand new Evo control arms.

Thanks for reading/sharing opinion.

Gab

[flyfishvt]

The castor increase comes from a combo of the offset bushings and the angle of the arm not the length. You can create a similar effect with standard e36 control arms and offset bushings.

[mistreku]

Man, first of all, I really need to you a beer if I ever come to US.

Second, I think the castor on the Evo's only comes from the angle of the arm (this is what I meant by length, the angle is wider, I just lack the vocabulary, lol). The bushes are concentric on Evo's. Or at least in Europe.

IIRC, it's just the pre'95 M3's which have the eccentric bushes, because they have the same angle in the control arms as regular E36's, so they need the offset bush to increase castor.

Bottom line, regular control arms with offset bushes will be similar to Evo's control arms and concentric bushes, right? Probably not identical, but similar.

And second dilemma, would the E30 offset bushes fit the E36 brackets? I would think so, but unless someone can confirm that for sure, I'll stick with E36 M3 offset bushes.

I would prefer the E30 bushes, as again, they are cheaper.

Flyfish, thanks again man for taking the time to answer questions on this forum!

[flyfishvt]

Well a quick search of RealOem.com would have given you the answer.

The lollipops on e36's were also used on most if not all e30's. So your bushings should fit. here you go.

The search button is your friend...don't let it get lonely.

http://realoem.com/bmw/partxref.do?part=31121139790&showus=on

[mistreku]

To be honest, I haven't thought of searching for the brackets man, I did search for the bushings though, and they have different part numbers. However, I had a hunch that they might fit, despite having different part numbers, as many other parts.

Thanks again for clearing this up, appreciated!