Front Lower Control Arm Bushing OEM or Aftermarket?

[3002 tii]

Need to replace mine, has anyone gone with non-OEM (ie. Meyle, Powerflex, UUC, RE, etc)? If so any benefit or improvement over OEM? Was there any increased NVH?

Also curious as to when you had to replace yours. I'm near 50k and was surprised they already needed to be replaced.

[HaiDef]

I replaced my rear trailer arm bushings over the weekend and i feel tighter during acceleration. Less "Bounce" with the powerflex.

[Mirko]

I used meyle heavy duty on my 330ci. Too much vibration and i didnt like them. Id rather go oem.

[BruceJ]

Replaced mine with Meyle HD's in my E46 - huge improvement - but I was at the point of shudder everytime I braked. Couldnt help but be better. It probably also helped wear out the rag joint in my steering. I also just went on and replaced the lower a-arms and ball joints, $350 for the kit - good price to me.

http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E46-330...Kits/ES205226/

I'll probably do the same for the Z in a few more - I'm at 50K now but dont notice any lack of handling.

[nadaclue]

I'm at 60k miles and will be putting in the powerflex units in the next week or two. Waiting for my front lowering perches to get here before I rip the suspension apart to install everything (konis and lowering springs).

I went with the powerflexe lcab's hoping for a longer life span. I don't track the car and don't expect much handling improvement, I just like to upgrade every time I have to replace an OEM part. OEM parts usually are a compromise between price / quality.

[thekurgan]

I haven't seen any aftermarket FCABs for the z4m, not even powerflex, but the non-M seems to have some available.

[Blind32]

Originally Posted by BruceJ

Replaced mine with Meyle HD's in my E46 - huge improvement - but I was at the point of shudder everytime I braked. Couldnt help but be better. It probably also helped wear out the rag joint in my steering. I also just went on and replaced the lower a-arms and ball joints, $350 for the kit - good price to me.

http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E46-330...Kits/ES205226/

I'll probably do the same for the Z in a few more - I'm at 50K now but dont notice any lack of handling.

Did that same kit on my e46 325i. It was awesome afterwards.

[pokeybritches]

I bought some HD FCABs from Bavarian Autosport that already came in the brackets for $100 or so. The labor was EASY... just required a gear puller and some Dawn soap. I noticed a huge improvement as well, though I had 50k more miles than you but no track time. No noticeable changes in NVH, but again I just went with a harder rubber than OEM rather than track-oriented bushings. I'm very happy I did.

[fercho]

I need to replaced my arm bushing, I have a 2.5i what do you guys recommend me to buy, would this fit my car??
http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E46-330...Kits/ES205226/

[seank]

With ANY after market bushing, you will get more NVH. For the control arm bushing, I would go aftermarket and since you track your car that would be my suggestion for you.

If you like the quiet, soft, comfortable no maintenance, go with stock.

My BMW mechanic said that all the bushings are good for 50,000 miles. But what does he know?

[fercho]

thanks guys, but I don't track my car, and my car now has 100k miles, dealer wants to charge me 600 to replace the arm bushings, I thinks is a good price knowing that just for the oem parts is close to 500, thats why I want to see what aftermarket parts you guys recommend.

[seank]

I say this with experience. If you don't need more than stock, then I would purchase OEM. It will be stiffer just because its not worn out. My .02 cents

[Finnegan]

Originally Posted by seank

I say this with experience. If you don't need more than stock, then I would purchase OEM. It will be stiffer just because its not worn out. My .02 cents

Excellent advice.

[MFGJR]

Originally Posted by fercho

thanks guys, but I don't track my car, and my car now has 100k miles, dealer wants to charge me 600 to replace the arm bushings, I thinks is a good price knowing that just for the oem parts is close to 500, thats why I want to see what aftermarket parts you guys recommend.

OEM FCABs are nowhere near $500--you can get them already pressed into new carriers for $158/pair. Powerflex and Meyle HDs are less exepnsive than OEM. See here starting about half-way down: http://www.bavauto.com/shop.asp. I have the Meyles on our E46s and am really happy with them.

As mentioned above, a pretty easy DIY if you get bushings already installed in the carriers. Put car on stands, remove four bolts, use a big gear puller (or a hammer!) to remove the old ones. New one go on, as per above, with dish soap. Four bolts back in and you're done. Maybe need a new alignment if the old bushings were crappy the last time the car was aligned.

[pokeybritches]

Get the Bavauto ones for $100. They come in the brackets and have minimal/negligible increases in NVH. You could do the job in under an hour (15 min your second time). Like spark plugs or coils, I would never pay a dealer to do it.

[3002 tii]

I ended up going oem that were pre-pressed as well. Quick swap, no special tools needed. Only difficult part was figuring out how to take the existing one off the arm.