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Thread: E36 Adjustable Lower Control Arms

  1. #26
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Braila, Romania
    Posts
    4
    My Cars
    2004 BMW 325
    BMW 3 SERIES E36 E46 REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM http://m-auto.blogspot.com/2012/01/online-epc.html

  2. #27
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Arvada, CO
    Posts
    717
    My Cars
    LS6 E36 drifter, 18 f350
    What about these ebay units? Run em till the heim goes out then replace with better end?

  3. #28
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Escondido, CA
    Posts
    36
    My Cars
    1994 325is 1997 M3 Coupe
    Quote Originally Posted by MrSpectre View Post
    I installed the Ebay ones recently that were 128$ shipped and seemed to be of decent quality and my alignment guy/bmw racer said they weren't bad at all. I'd recommend them. I just did want to pay a ton for the huge beefy ones and run the risk of potetially hitting a curb and putting the control arm through the entire subframe haha
    hitting a curb? oooh thats one of my fears too haha

  4. #29
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Virginia, United States
    Posts
    491
    My Cars
    '96 BMW 328is '08 F250
    For those that are looking at the eBay control arms, don't! I had this fail on me at the track as well after only light use using street tires and only the second event at Summit Point, WV. It failed coming out of turn 4 which threw me off the track where I was able to meet Mr. Tire Wall face-to-face. Not a lot of damage to the car, but when the weld broke, it felt as if my driver's wheel fell off. Unfortunately with that failure and at that speed, there was no catching the car. See below for photo of the broken weld.

    https://www.dropbox.com/s/5vf4s4mua3...image.jpg?dl=0

    https://www.dropbox.com/s/5vf4s4mua3...image.jpg?dl=0
    Last edited by diode; 12-19-2014 at 12:04 PM.

  5. #30
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Charleston, SC
    Posts
    660
    My Cars
    2000 M5, 2018 Macan Turb
    Chinesium. I don't quite understand putting eBay parts on a car and then going to the track. Not a place to cut corners.
    Last edited by shogun; 12-09-2018 at 07:18 AM. Reason: unnessary quotes removed
    PCA HPDE Instructor
    current:
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    past:
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  6. #31
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Virginia, United States
    Posts
    491
    My Cars
    '96 BMW 328is '08 F250
    Car started as an autocross application which they were fine for. Spoke with many other people, including ones racing much more powerful BMW and shop owners, and they all said that they used these arms. Just wanted more people to be aware of the issues of these bars, not really looking to be lectured.
    Last edited by shogun; 12-09-2018 at 07:19 AM. Reason: unnessary quotes removed

  7. #32
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Charleston, SC
    Posts
    660
    My Cars
    2000 M5, 2018 Macan Turb
    Sorry, appreciate the heads up. I've learned some lessons myself at the track with parts from supposedly quality vendors. Track events put much more stress on things.
    Last edited by shogun; 12-09-2018 at 07:20 AM. Reason: unnessary quotes removed
    PCA HPDE Instructor
    current:
    2004 M3 convert 6sp man - low mileage beauty!

    past:
    1995 BMW M3 3.2
    2004 M3 convert SMG
    2003 BMW 540i6 Alpine White M sport (I want her back!)

  8. #33
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Fresno, CA
    Posts
    646
    My Cars
    BMW's
    Seems like a very common failure point for all control arm that are welded in that area. We've seen it happen to customers using a wide range of brands made that way.

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  9. #34
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Pittsburgh, PA
    Posts
    577
    My Cars
    E36 M3 / 2.0T WRX
    Quote Originally Posted by Frank@AchillesMotorsports View Post
    Seems like a very common failure point for all control arm that are welded in that area. We've seen it happen to customers using a wide range of brands made that way.
    This is a great point! And thanks to dangerwillrbnsn and diode for making us aware of the kind of failures they've experienced with RLCAs that rely on welds to hold it together!

    Here are some RLCAs I would not install on my car even if they were given to me for free: Ireland Engineering http://www.iemotorsport.com/bmw/item/e36reararm.html

    I think I'm going to only buy a set that does not rely on a weld at that point for structural integrity. So far, I found Turner rear LCAs that appear to be a 1 piece design at the bracket that attaches to the rear spindle/knuckle. The heim joint also uses a standard replaceable piece that can be R&Red pretty cheaply (~$20). The QA1 XM series heim joints appear to be the best us mortals can buy.
    https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...nd-s-installed https://www.qa1.net/rod-ends-and-rel.../endura-series

    So, are there other options out their similar to Turner's? Which is: - bracket to rear spindle/knuckle bolted to 'turnbuckle' instead of being welded
    - easily replaceable heim joint
    - design relying on fasteners instead of welds for structural integrity

    The AKG arms seem like a good option. $280 https://www.akgmotorsport.com/produc...gs-e36-e46-z4/


    Rogue Engineering seems like a good option too. $360 They even tell you the spec for replacement heim joints at 5/8-18. http://www.rogueengineering.com/Rogu...ARCA_p_55.html

    Achilles Motorsports also seems like a good option. $320 https://www.achillesmotorsports.com/.../33-am-lca.htm

    VAC Motorsports also seems like a good option. $310 https://store.vacmotorsports.com/bmw...orts-p507.aspx

    This is a great thread that details more of the available RLCAs. I have yet to review them all but wanted to post it here for future review. http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=213186

    The connection of the arm to the outside clevis matters. Stay away from anything that uses a welded design. The good ones use a threaded fastener. So, does the design which tells you where you adjust it from when in the car. The only two options I've found so far that are acceptable are Turner and Rogue Engineering. I've been in email conversation with the Technical Engineer at RE about it.
    Last edited by shogun; 12-09-2018 at 07:22 AM. Reason: double posts merged

  10. #35
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    FL
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    4,754
    My Cars
    are slow.
    Well since this thread got bumped to the top, I might as well add that after a year or so, my SPC/Eibach arms did the exact same thing.
    Last edited by shogun; 12-09-2018 at 07:14 AM. Reason: no longer working pics removed
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