Fitting M3 Control Arms

T

tiglon

Senior member
 South West
I bought some E90 M3 control arms to fit to my Z4, thinking I'd just call up my local BMW indy and get them to install them. I've tried 3 local BMW specialists and none seem keen. Two offered to have a look but weren't confident on the headlight levelling sensor issue. The third refused to fit supplied parts due to insurance, but quoted for supplying themselves and fitting - more expensive and I'd need to sell or return the parts I already have. He did seem very relaxed about the sensor issue, but I think that might have been because he stopped listening when I said I'd already got the parts.

Has anyone had this done previously and can recommend somewhere? Happy to travel a bit.
 
I'm looking at this too.

The eponymous pbondar on this forum did this himself..if you search you should find a write up.

The issues are that the headlamp leveling is on the opposite side to that on the M3..so the bobble that the self leveling arm connects to has to be cut off from its location on the old arm and fixed somehow to the new arm.

A chap in the States did it with tie wraps and looked pretty horrible.

I believe pbondar used aerospace glue to fix his.

Because the linkages are not identical a full 4 wheel alignment will be required post fitment.

That is if you do the rear bearing mods too.

I would imagine that any cutting and shutting will have the average dealer running for the hills.
 
Thanks, I've read a couple of write ups but I just don't have the space/tools to do it myself. One indy suggested they might drill a new hole in the other control arm, but it really doesn't sound as complicated as that. I'll keep searching for somewhere that seems a bit more confident, otherwise get one of the local guys to have a look.
 
Drilling a hole in a steering linkage I think is an exceptionally bad idea..if it was OK why didn't BMW do it?
 
Ed.Straker said:
Drilling a hole in a steering linkage I think is an exceptionally bad idea..if it was OK why didn't BMW do it?
Click to expand...

That was my thought, hence definitely not using that particular garage.
 
Finally got these fitted - by MStyle in Romford, for reference if anyone else is looking to do the same.
 
tiglon said:
Finally got these fitted - by MStyle in Romford, for reference if anyone else is looking to do the same.
Click to expand...

How much did they charge?

Did you see how they did the level sensor adjustment?
 
B21 said:
tiglon said:
Finally got these fitted - by MStyle in Romford, for reference if anyone else is looking to do the same.
Click to expand...

How much did they charge?

Did you see how they did the level sensor adjustment?
Click to expand...

Total was around £280 including alignment. They got a new sensor (I think, need to double check that) and cable tied it to the arm. Maybe not a long-long-term solution but it will do for now and I can visually check it every month or so, perhaps glue it or make a bracket at some point.
 
tiglon said:
B21 said:
tiglon said:
Finally got these fitted - by MStyle in Romford, for reference if anyone else is looking to do the same.
Click to expand...

How much did they charge?

Did you see how they did the level sensor adjustment?
Click to expand...

Total was around £280 including alignment. They got a new sensor (I think, need to double check that) and cable tied it to the arm. Maybe not a long-long-term solution but it will do for now and I can visually check it every month or so, perhaps glue it or make a bracket at some point.
Click to expand...


Noted thnx..not impressed with their sensor attachment solution but I guess it works..
 
tiglon said:
To be fair to them, "It works" was really all I asked for. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Quite so..I’d picked up elsewhere that MStyle weren’t big on engineering….
 
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