Which Brands?

[Snoop D]

Hi all.

As some of you may be aware from my previous posts, I am carrying out a full suspension overhaul after experiencing very bad castor and handling issues. Starting with the front axle, I have a new subframe and will be replacing the following:

Control arms with ball joints
Lollipop bushes (powerflex preferably)
Droplinks
Anti-roll bar bushes (purple powerflex, already bought)
Track rod and tie rods
Top mounts
Top mount reinforcement plates
Springs and dampers (undecided on setup just now, but will either be B12 pro kit or OEM Sachs dampers with H&R springs with thicker spring pads)
Wheel bearings
Engine mounts (possibly VibraTechniks)

Now, my question for years has always been what brand of parts should I go for? I have read a few threads and some people say Meyle HD, some say Lemforder, some say stay away from both, some say there are fakes out there under their brand names...

Is there anyone here that has had experience of both and knows a good trustworthy place to buy genuine components?
Also, how can you tell if the parts are fake?
I need a genuine definitive answer

I am currently looking at buying these:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201481160121

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191247361555

They seem to have good reviews. Anyone tried these?
I have also been told to keep the original lollipop casings and only buy the powerflex bushing inserts, as aftermarket parts are always made from different weaker materials, whereas original BMW are cast and much stronger. I have seen this before, when I bought Lemforder top mounts for my E39 from eurocarparts and they looked so soft and weak, as if made of cheese!

I am also unsure if VibraTechnik engine mounts will be appropriate for my build. My Roadster is a weekend Summer car, do you think these engine mounts would be overkill? I'm not looking for a very harsh stiff ride, as the Z4 is already quite that.

I hope someone can answer my questions.

Thanks

 

[mjennings23]

Lemforder are the OEM for a large amount of the components listed above, so buying Lemforder parts is the same as buying a BMW branded part, minus the badge and the price inflation.

Meyle HD are also well regarded as being at least equivalent to OEM quality, some of their items are arguably better designed i.e. control arms have individually replaceable ball joints vs the fully captive OEM design.

 

[Darkangelv2]

Strongflex are a budget offering of Powerflex style bushes. They’ve seemed pretty good for the odd one I’ve bought. If I was doing all my suspension again I probably would have saved the money and used them for all the bushes I replaced.

 

[eddiemunster]

powerflex preferably

I'm not sure that I'd go complete polybush, it'll be quite harsh when you factor everything else in that you're about to do. I did everything that you did, bar the suspension where I had standard shocks (albeit Sachs twin tube) and 20mm Eibach springs, and I used the BMW lollipop from the Z4M, and that most important aspect of this setup wasn't that it removed the tramlining, which it did, and made it handle better, it was that it didn't become too harsh!

People often fully polybush the TT (I have a Mk1 roadster), and it utterly destroys any sophistication it started with (and it didn't start with much). I'd be very, very conscious about chasing "better handling" with polybushing only to find it doesn't work out as you planned. There's a notion that stiffer is better (!!), but it simply isn't true, the lateral force/heat/movement has to go somewhere, bushing a car can often move that force somewhere that's not best served to absorb/dissipate it.

It'd double your effort, but, I'd put it back to new, but relatively standard, and see what you think, instead of throwing all of the "uprated" modifications on it and hoping it'll be better.

 

[Anonymous]

Lemforder are the OEM for a large amount of the components listed above, so buying Lemforder parts is the same as buying a BMW branded part, minus the badge and the price inflation.

Meyle HD are also well regarded as being at least equivalent to OEM quality, some of their items are arguably better designed i.e. control arms have individually replaceable ball joints vs the fully captive OEM design.

I would suggest that these ‘quality’ suppliers products are bought through a quality reseller such as Autodoc..others are available..eBay is ridden with fake OE and OEM parts :thumbsdown:

 

[PDJ]

I have heard the argument for and against polly bushes and rose joints etc both when I built my Westfield and reading this forum and others when deciding what to do with my Z4M suspension rebuild

This is MY OPINION the bushes are a control point of the suspension and allow the joint to move lets say up and down I feel that the more accurately this control point stay where it is designed to the better, so the geometry stays as designed (unless it is meant to move under load not normal though) Thus allowing more precise control

The harshness that people report again in MY OPINION comes from too hard a spring set up as the equal and opposite reaction is felt my the driver as the car pushes back at the driver especially over pot holed roads.

Vibration transmission will increase as there is less give in polly bushes or rose joints and this could become tiresome as can a loud exhaust.

Hope that makes sense.

 

[Snoop D]

Lemforder are the OEM for a large amount of the components listed above, so buying Lemforder parts is the same as buying a BMW branded part, minus the badge and the price inflation.

Meyle HD are also well regarded as being at least equivalent to OEM quality, some of their items are arguably better designed i.e. control arms have individually replaceable ball joints vs the fully captive OEM design.

Thanks for clearing that up

 

[Snoop D]

Strongflex are a budget offering of Powerflex style bushes. They’ve seemed pretty good for the odd one I’ve bought. If I was doing all my suspension again I probably would have saved the money and used them for all the bushes I replaced.

Thanks for the recommendation, think I'll just stick to the original powerflex tbh as I will be doing everything else with genuine/good quality bits...

 

[Snoop D]

powerflex preferably

I'm not sure that I'd go complete polybush, it'll be quite harsh when you factor everything else in that you're about to do. I did everything that you did, bar the suspension where I had standard shocks (albeit Sachs twin tube) and 20mm Eibach springs, and I used the BMW lollipop from the Z4M, and that most important aspect of this setup wasn't that it removed the tramlining, which it did, and made it handle better, it was that it didn't become too harsh!

People often fully polybush the TT (I have a Mk1 roadster), and it utterly destroys any sophistication it started with (and it didn't start with much). I'd be very, very conscious about chasing "better handling" with polybushing only to find it doesn't work out as you planned. There's a notion that stiffer is better (!!), but it simply isn't true, the lateral force/heat/movement has to go somewhere, bushing a car can often move that force somewhere that's not best served to absorb/dissipate it.

It'd double your effort, but, I'd put it back to new, but relatively standard, and see what you think, instead of throwing all of the "uprated" modifications on it and hoping it'll be better.

Thanks for your reply. I will not be completely polybushing everything - don't want to end up breaking my back haha!

On the front axle I will only be powerflex polybushing the lollipops and anti-roll bar. I will probably also uprate the gearbox and engine mounts...

When you upgraded to the Z4M eccentric lollipop bushes, did you gain additional positive castor? I currently cannot afford to gain more castor as my front wheels are burning through the arch liner like mad and rubbing against the edge of the front bumper! Take a look at my previous threads...

For the rear axle I will probably be powerflex polybushing the diff bushes, rear arms and anti-roll bar...

 

[Snoop D]

Anyone know a good trustworthy place to buy decent quality genuine parts?

I'm thinking of buying these...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150672172496

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201481160121

Anyone tried any these out? I'll hold fire just now and see what the feedback is...

 

[saj77]

For what it’s worth, I’ve bought parts from both those eBay sellers - no issues. Which matches their 100% feedback

 

[Snoop D]

I have heard the argument for and against polly bushes and rose joints etc both when I built my Westfield and reading this forum and others when deciding what to do with my Z4M suspension rebuild

This is MY OPINION the bushes are a control point of the suspension and allow the joint to move lets say up and down I feel that the more accurately this control point stay where it is designed to the better, so the geometry stays as designed (unless it is meant to move under load not normal though) Thus allowing more precise control

The harshness that people report again in MY OPINION comes from too hard a spring set up as the equal and opposite reaction is felt my the driver as the car pushes back at the driver especially over pot holed roads.

Vibration transmission will increase as there is less give in polly bushes or rose joints and this could become tiresome as can a loud exhaust.

Hope that makes sense.

Thanks that makes sense. The other reason why I'm leaning towards powerflex polybushing, is because it will only need to be done once as they are lifetime guarantee bushes...

 

[Snoop D]

For what it’s worth, I’ve bought parts from both those eBay sellers - no issues. Which matches their 100% feedback

Great to hear. Thank you!

I'll just go ahead and order them tomorrow then

 

[Darkangelv2]

Strongflex are a budget offering of Powerflex style bushes. They’ve seemed pretty good for the odd one I’ve bought. If I was doing all my suspension again I probably would have saved the money and used them for all the bushes I replaced.

Thanks for the recommendation, think I'll just stick to the original powerflex tbh as I will be doing everything else with genuine/good quality bits...

For clarity, these are good quality bits - they just don’t trade on the name like powerflex do.

 

[Snoop D]

Just been informed by the sellers that Meyle does not make the HD variant for the top mounts and E85/E86 top mounts are not the same as E46 top mounts...

Think I will go with standard Meyle top mounts upfront then.

I've heard about the dreaded knocking you can get with the Meyle HD rear top mounts. Is Lemforder the best to go for then on the rears?

Cheers!