[N54Society]

I'm trying to see if people upgrade from the OEM sport suspension control arm bushings? I'm at 110k miles. I'm thinking it's a good time to replace these.

Thanks

[E30_335i]

Upgrade to the M3 control arms. OEM bushings are too soft.

[udm328i]

Just replaced mine with stock, I think they are oil filled. M3 ones might be solid, not sure if it would stiffen up ride quality

[fenixsaint]

No noticeable difference in ride quailty, just more camber

[N54Society]

Originally Posted by E30_335i

Upgrade to the M3 control arms. OEM bushings are too soft.

Does the ride become really "bouncy" with this upgrade? I already have sport suspension and that's a little on the bouncy side as it is.

Originally Posted by udm328i

Just replaced mine with stock, I think they are oil filled. M3 ones might be solid, not sure if it would stiffen up ride quality

Cool. You're the first person to recommend stock.

Originally Posted by fenixsaint

No noticeable difference in ride quailty, just more camber

Sorry if this sounds dumb but does this mean that you can hit the corners harder with increased grip?

[justpete]

M3 control arms will provide more precise and accurate steering, improve the road feel through the steering wheel, and the slightly increased camber will slightly improve turn-in. Have to get an M3 front alignment though with zero toe due to the extra camber.

Doesn't noticeably affect ride quality with the exception of the steering wheel being more alive which is not a bad thing. They will also increase the sense of the soft rear subframe bushings' tendency to pogo on bumps in a turn but this can be an advantage in learning car control before changing them out to solid bushings.

The bounciness of the sport suspension won't be affected, that requires changing to the performance suspension or something equivalent.

[tturbolife]

Can you replace the bushings with the m3 bushings or do you have to replace the complete control arms?

[N54Society]

Originally Posted by justpete

M3 control arms will provide more precise and accurate steering, improve the road feel through the steering wheel, and the slightly increased camber will slightly improve turn-in. Have to get an M3 front alignment though with zero toe due to the extra camber.

Doesn't noticeably affect ride quality with the exception of the steering wheel being more alive which is not a bad thing. They will also increase the sense of the soft rear subframe bushings' tendency to pogo on bumps in a turn but this can be an advantage in learning car control before changing them out to solid bushings.

The bounciness of the sport suspension won't be affected, that requires changing to the performance suspension or something equivalent.

Thank you! Very informative post.

Originally Posted by tturbolife

Can you replace the bushings with the m3 bushings or do you have to replace the complete control arms?

I believe you have to replace the control arms along with the bushings.

[justpete]

Originally Posted by vbp6us

Thank you! Very informative post.

You're welcome.

I believe you have to replace the control arms along with the bushings.

Yes, the larger bushing in the tension strut won't fit the non-M3 arm and the wishbone is completely different so no options there. Considering how much grief it is to change bushings correctly and how much the potential for damage to the arm exists it's a lot simpler, cheaper, and lower risk to just change the arms. You can change the tension strut yourself without needing an alignment, it's the wishbone that's longer and it pushes the toe way too far inward, requiring an alignment to M3 specs.