I am refreshing my E85 Z4 2.5i Sport’s M Sport suspension and was wondering whether to use Lemforder or Meyle front suspension arms, lollipops / bushes and track rod ends. Lemforder are nearly twice the price of Meyle at Autodoc. Also should I use new nuts and bolts and would antiroll bar bushes be needed, the car only having done 52,000 miles ? I have some new (to me) Ebach springs, top mounts, bump stops, front drop links and B4 shock absorbers to go on (purchased from a forum member). Is there anything else I should fit while I’m at it? Any advice would be appreciated.
Lemforder or Meyle?
- Thread starter malc24
- Start date
raymond.harper
Senior member
For suspension arms, Lemforder is made of sheet steel, while Meyle is made of aluminium. There has been a lot of discussion on other BMW forums, and no one seems to agree on what is best! Be careful with the springs; they are very difficult to compress. Make sure you get the alignment done immediately afterwards and I agree you should use all new nuts and bolts. Some also use upper strut reinforcement plates. While you are there, give everything a good clean up underneath, perhaps treat any rusty metal parts.
Specifically regarding front suspension arms or wishbones. BMW part numbers
I understand lemforder is the oe manufacturer so should be exactly the same.
@raymond.harper i don’t think you are talking about the same parts as lemforder are clearly advertised as aluminium.
They would weigh a ton if steel.
Lemforder arms on Autodoc are sometimes slightly cheaper than bmw, with all the price fluctuations but for an extra few £ I’m getting bmw.
Meyle often market their stuff as oe quality and meyle hd as improvements on oe.
@malc24 keep watching on the Autodoc app and the prices may well drop. If you are not registered I can refer you and you get £10 off I think.
31122343352 & 31122343353
The genuine bmw items are available on eBay for £179 from bmw or £174 from vertu. A 20% discount just finished yesterday, so £139, but this discount comes along every few weeks if you watch them. My mechanic is just getting mine from my local dealer. Retail on these is £179 and trade is £138.
BMW Genuine Right Wishbone Repair Kit Value Parts Fits E46 E85 E86 31122343352 | eBay UK
31122343352 3 Series E46 Convertible 318Ci N42 BP71 2000-12 2003-03 ECE. 31122343352 3 Series E46 Convertible 318Ci N42 BP72 2001-03 2003-03 ECE. 31122343352 3 Series E46 Convertible 320Ci M54 BS11 2000-02 2003-03 ECE.
ebay.us
I understand lemforder is the oe manufacturer so should be exactly the same.
@raymond.harper i don’t think you are talking about the same parts as lemforder are clearly advertised as aluminium.
They would weigh a ton if steel.
Lemforder arms on Autodoc are sometimes slightly cheaper than bmw, with all the price fluctuations but for an extra few £ I’m getting bmw.
Meyle often market their stuff as oe quality and meyle hd as improvements on oe.
@malc24 keep watching on the Autodoc app and the prices may well drop. If you are not registered I can refer you and you get £10 off I think.
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I went with Meyle HD bottom arms and Lemforder lollipop bushes. As you say Lemforder arms are twice the price of the others but the bushes were not stupidly expensive which is why i went with them.
Meyle HD arms have replaceable ball joints as well - not sure if Lemforder do.
Meyle HD arms have replaceable ball joints as well - not sure if Lemforder do.
Scottish Borders
Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately, the Meyle parts on Autodoc don’t seem to be HD. I’m hesitant about buying from non BMW dealers via Ebay as the parts could be fake Meyle HD. I will watch out for the genuine BMW arms etc to see if I can get them at a discount. If not I think it will be Lemforder.