[djacinto]

Hey everyone,

So it's about time... my lower control arm bushings need replaced as they are leaking.

I've been seeing some threads about how people replaced them with Turner or Powerflex monoball style bushings and wanted some feedback on what may be a better fix or feedback on how others feel after doing the swap

is it really a concern that when you get the old bushings pressed out the "tolerance" of the old arm is widened? And if that's the case, should I just go oem? Based off fcp I can get the pair of new arms for 160 plus their awesome warranty, and on that note, where is the listing for the monoballs for xdrive?

I definitely think I want to do a performance upgrade as the old bushings were quite floaty so my preference is to go poly if it's the better option for xdrive

Sorry if this is a simple question, I just want a cost effective way as other than getting bushings out, I'll be diy'ing this myself

Edit: found the power flex ones

[frchdragon]

I was also on the fence and I do love my spherical bearing on my E34 and E24 race car.
But considering the cost of the two arms: 500+ I decided that HD Meyle bushings pressed into the arm will be much easier than pressing the bushing out.

I will end up with a stiffer bushing and a brand new arm.
Your choices:
- Meyle HD thrust arms (slight improvement)
- Your stock arm with bushings removed and monoball pressed in.
- Brand new Lemforder (OEM) arms with bushings removed and monoball pressed in.
- Brand new arms with monoball already pressed in/ installed.

Cost effective is this: https://www.millway.se/bmw/3-series/f30-f31-f32.html
But on back order. Next cost effective is the Meyle HD at $70 an arm/bushing.
And yes, I bought them from FCP

[djacinto]

Thanks for the advice

Yeah so far my thoughts were the lemforder with the monoball. Unfortunately, I don't think there's prepressed in for xdrive at least as far as I've seen

Turner has the arms prepared for the rwd but not xdrive. I'll try contacting them to see if they could just do it for me

[homanmaster]

Where could I order the upgraded arms with the monoballs prepressed?

[djacinto]

Originally Posted by homanmaster

Where could I order the upgraded arms with the monoballs prepressed?

if you're rwd, you can get them here

otherwise I posted the link for the bushings themselves from powerflex above for xdrive. Also note these are for the lower arms as well

I haven't found pre-pressed monoball upgrades for the xdrive so I am on the lookout for those

[johnung]

Originally Posted by djacinto

if you're rwd, you can get them here

otherwise I posted the link for the bushings themselves from powerflex above for xdrive. Also note these are for the lower arms as well

I haven't found pre-pressed monoball upgrades for the xdrive so I am on the lookout for those

I have Monoballs on my Xdrive. Kies Motorsports sells them they come in upper and lower control arm models . They have RWD models too.

Upper Control Arms will dramatically improve the steering, making it much more precise upon acceleration and braking.

Below is the xdrive link. Choose upper or lower or both...

https://www.kiesmotorsports.com/prod...8;_ss=r?aff=22

[djacinto]

Originally Posted by johnung

I have Monoballs on my Xdrive. Kies Motorsports sells them they come in upper and lower control arm models . They have RWD models too.

Upper Control Arms will dramatically improve the steering, making it much more precise upon acceleration and braking.

Below is the xdrive link. Choose upper or lower or both...

https://www.kiesmotorsports.com/prod...8;_ss=r?aff=22

That's perfect thank you!!

[djacinto]

@johnung what does the ride feel like now? Did you do both or just lower?

How long are they supposed to last since they're not fluid filled

[johnung]

Originally Posted by djacinto

@johnung what does the ride feel like now? Did you do both or just lower?

How long are they supposed to last since they're not fluid filled

I would expect them to last longer than the fluid filled rubber stock bushings.

The monoballs reduce the excess play of the stock bushings like a race type bushing would. But monoballs have so much more freedom of movement that they don't introduce more NVH, (Noise Vibration Harshness) like a race bushing.

In a very positive way, they do transmit to the driver's hands, through the steering wheel, a subtle feeling of the road that is missing from the vague F3x steering.

[djacinto]

Originally Posted by johnung

I would expect them to last longer than the fluid filled rubber stock bushings.

The monoballs reduce the excess play of the stock bushings like a race type bushing would. But monoballs have so much more freedom of movement that they don't introduce more NVH, (Noise Vibration Harshness) like a race bushing.

In a very positive way, they do transmit to the driver's hands, through the steering wheel, a subtle feeling of the road that is missing from the vague F3x steering.

I agree the steering definitely needs a more oomph

Did you end up doing both or just one set? How long have you had yours on now

[frchdragon]

For information, I just replaced all 4 arms on my F30 Satuday, the front end is much tighter now and the ride more firm (go figure).

[djacinto]

Originally Posted by frchdragon

For information, I just replaced all 4 arms on my F30 Satuday, the front end is much tighter now and the ride more firm (go figure).

Looks very nice! Good to hear about the ride firming up too. Are those fluid filled as well?

Do you have a gauge based on manufacturer for longevity?

[frchdragon]

- Meyle HD thrust arms and bushing not liquid filled
- Lemforder (OEM) control arms.

They will last another 100k miles or more.
I didn't fancy spending 500USD in thrust arms alone.
FCP has great prices on arms so I placed an order. I got all 4 with 2 axle bolts for $300.

[johnung]

Originally Posted by djacinto

I agree the steering definitely needs a more oomph

Did you end up doing both or just one set? How long have you had yours on now

I installed the monoball upper control arms (see Kies Motorsports link) over year ago specifically for the massive steering improvement. I have the lowers and will probably get around to installing them soon now that the weather is improving

I have friends who have one or both pairs installed. Really big improvement without the Noise Vibration Harshness.

[djacinto]

Originally Posted by frchdragon

- Meyle HD thrust arms and bushing not liquid filled
- Lemforder (OEM) control arms.

They will last another 100k miles or more.
I didn't fancy spending 500USD in thrust arms alone.
FCP has great prices on arms so I placed an order. I got all 4 with 2 axle bolts for $300.

That's a good deal. And how much did it take to get them pressed in?

[djacinto]

Originally Posted by johnung

I installed the monoball upper control arms (see Kies Motorsports link) over year ago specifically for the massive steering improvement. I have the lowers and will probably get around to installing them soon now that the weather is improving

I have friends who have one or both pairs installed. Really big improvement without the Noise Vibration Harshness.

Also really awesome to hear. Girlfriend has liked all the mods I've done thus far, but will be doing coilovers, the poly bushings so that will certainly make a difference

[frchdragon]

Originally Posted by djacinto

That's a good deal. And how much did it take to get them pressed in?

The arms come with bushings already pressed in, just install the arms.

[djacinto]

Originally Posted by frchdragon

The arms come with bushings already pressed in, just install the arms.

Oh dang yeah that sounds like what I'm going for lol

I really appreciate the help! Also you got the link? I can't seem to find it atm

[frchdragon]

Here is the link for one control arm:
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...854723#fitment
The Meyle HD are using a stiff bushing instead of the liquid filled OE one.

Check fitment but these were the pn for my 335ix, arms are one for the right and one for the left each.

BMW Axle Bolt With Compression Spring
2 x Genuine bmw - SKU: BMW-31206795249

BMW Control Arm
Lemforder - SKU: LEM-3711701 & SKU: LEM-3711601

BMW Control Arm
Meyle hd - SKU: MEY-3160500069HD & SKU: MEY-3160500068HD

[Logicoeur]

Originally Posted by frchdragon

Here is the link for one control arm:
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...854723#fitment
The Meyle HD are using a stiff bushing instead of the liquid filled OE one.

Check fitment but these were the pn for my 335ix, arms are one for the right and one for the left each.

BMW Axle Bolt With Compression Spring
2 x Genuine bmw - SKU: BMW-31206795249

BMW Control Arm
Lemforder - SKU: LEM-3711701 & SKU: LEM-3711601

BMW Control Arm
Meyle hd - SKU: MEY-3160500069HD & SKU: MEY-3160500068HD

Meyle HD is definitely a good path forward. Not new nvh stiff but noticible over stock. I have experience with their arms on my old Audi. Plenty of good reviews there too.

Didn't know they made a bmw arm but this is a nice find. Thank you for making me spend more money 🤣

[johnung]

Originally Posted by djacinto

Also really awesome to hear. Girlfriend has liked all the mods I've done thus far, but will be doing coilovers, the poly bushings so that will certainly make a difference

This thread is reading like this is an apples to apples comparison. It is not.

Poly bushings are old style bushings with added Noise Vibration and Harshness compared to monoballs that are designed not to have those drawbacks. I know guys with M cars who have purposely installed monoball bushings because they are such a big improvement.

[frchdragon]

Originally Posted by johnung

This thread is reading like this is an apples to apples comparison. It is not.

Poly bushings are old style bushings with added Noise Vibration and Harshness compared to monoballs that are designed not to have those drawbacks. I know guys with M cars who have purposely installed monoball bushings because they are such a big improvement.

I totally agree that this isn't apple to apple.
If I had $500 laying around, I would absolutely buy the monoball, even $300 I would buy.
I love the monoball and there is no comparison. (I had them in my E34 and in my race car)
But for $140.00 the Meyle HD are a good buy. I wouldn't just put them in if the stock ones were not leaking.

So if money is not an issue: Monoball, else Meyle HD is a good replacement over stock. (Don't tell anyone but I am waiting for the millway monoball to be back in stock)