Z3 M Roadster front suspension bottom arms.

[AcidicDavey]

Hello all,

Just a quick one for my first post, recently bought a Z3m and it's come to my attention on removal of the wheels for refurbishment that the car might be due bottom arm replacement.

Do parts off a normal Z3 fit or are they Z3m specific?

Any recommended brands ?

Sorry for what is quite a basic question but I'm yet to find a definitive answer online.

 

[Mario]

I am on the same boat here, what I have gathered so far is they have a different part number on RealOem to the other Zeds and the same as the E36 M3 - you could in theory fit one from a regular Zed and it will slightly change the geometry of the suspension as I believe they are made to work with the top mounts that are also different on the M.

 

[Mario]

I have also found this

http://www.hackengineering.co.uk/product/meyle-hd-front-control-arm-e30e36z3-inc-m/

 

[Mario]

Another option I am exploring is refurbishing mine i.e. powder coat them and fit E30 ball joints (seem to be stronger) on them which is what the E36 M guys in the forums seem to be doing.

 

[AcidicDavey]

Cheers for the input Mario, think I'll get a price off my local BMW dealer for now and go from there.

 

[Mario]

Ok let me know what price you get just In case it would be good to know ta

 

[Nodzed]

Hi, the lower arms are specific to the M and they are bloody expensive from BMW.

 

[Tom Martin]

Hi and welcome to the forum from Oz.

 

[Nodzed]

ust a quick one for my first post, recently bought a Z3m and it's come to my attention on removal of the wheels for refurbishment that the car might be due bottom arm replacement.

Oh dear, hate to break this to you but if you think the lower arms need replacing I'd bet after rebuilding 2 myself everything else needs replacing too if it hasn't been done ARBs, top mounts, rear beam bushes, shocks, diff bush, lollipops

 

[AcidicDavey]

Yeah I got a price from my local dealer and they're about £207+vat each. The reason I need to change them is due to a split gaiter.

 

[t-tony]

Yeah I got a price from my local dealer and they're about £207+vat each. The reason I need to change them is due to a split gaiter.

By a split gaiter, do you mean the ball joint boot? If so you can buy replacement ball joint boots if the actual ball joint itself is serviceable. These cost literally pennies at the side of a new lower arm.

Tony.

 

[Mario]

Be aware that you can change the gaiters if the ball joints are OK, the gaiters are a fiver each or so

 

[Mario]

Tony you beat me to it

 

[Pingu]

If it's just a gaiter. Make sure the ball joint is clean inside, squeeze some graphite grease through the split, clean the split with some white spirit and glue the split with super glue.

If you are lucky, you may not even have to break the joint.

I've repaired several ball joint and CV gaiters in this way. None have failed or leaked.

 

[Althulas]

I just had a look here https://www.eurocarparts.com/suspension-arm-and-suspension-joints for both sides with 35% discount £110 for the Starline ones never heard of them and they have the Lederford ones at £168.

 

[AcidicDavey]

Turns out the ball joints were a bit sloppy too in the end so I asked around some local motor factors and managed to get a Borg & Beck set for £77.98 each side plus the rear bushes for £30.98 each so happy enough with that.

 

[Mario]

The 77.98 was to press our the old joints and press in the new ones? Did that include the actual joints? 4 of them?? Seems like a very good deal