[BMWILUVU]

Originally Posted by kern417

so just to confirm, there's no way to fix the increased caster and get the wheels back center?

+1
Does anyone know if I use the M3 LCA, there is anything ado to bring the wheel back to center? The M3 TCA doesn't seem to do it.

[jjjccc]

how far is wheel off center just using the m3 control arm without m3 tension strut? is it visually noticeable? any one have problems after install? will an alignment shop raise hell about it when they go to align it or can they align it like factory specs for the f30 335i and be done????
i was actually runnin it hard on hwy in high winds and had that slow sway left to rt/hard to keep straight. i already hate the electronic power steering. so i thought this may help me im just not convinced yet/ does it actually help this in headwinds?

[yabx172]

Hello,

This is my first post here, i'm french, so sorry for my bad or non appropriate language.

I would like to install F80 LCA on my F31 330D RWD, so i read everything i can in the internet and there is a lot of good informations here.

in my opinion OEM F80 LCA are a bit expensive so i found that Delphi seems to provide the good ones, at a really good price.

Does anybody install that LCA ? can you confirm that the lenght (365mm) is the same as the OEM LCA ?

Thanks a lot for your answers

LCAF80 by

[jjjccc]

Originally Posted by yabx172

Hello,

This is my first post here, i'm french, so sorry for my bad or non appropriate language.

I would like to install F80 LCA on my F31 330D RWD, so i read everything i can in the internet and there is a lot of good informations here.

in my opinion OEM F80 LCA are a bit expensive so i found that Delphi seems to provide the good ones, at a really good price.

Does anybody install that LCA ? can you confirm that the lenght (365mm) is the same as the OEM LCA ?

Thanks a lot for your answers

LCAF80 by

those ones labeled delphi are the ones bmw uses. so get them by delphi to get better price. if labeled bmw they will cost more

[X-S!D3]

Aren't the BMW ones from Lemförder as reported by some other users where Lemförder 38258 01/38259 01 should be basically the same as BMW 31122284529/31122284530 but with M logo brushed off (and almost half the price).

[Pussiwillow]

Originally Posted by X-S!D3

Aren't the BMW ones from Lemförder as reported by some other users where Lemförder 38258 01/38259 01 should be basically the same as BMW 31122284529/31122284530 but with M logo brushed off (and almost half the price).

Yes oem supplier is lemforder

[jjjccc]

Originally Posted by X-S!D3

Aren't the BMW ones from Lemförder as reported by some other users where Lemförder 38258 01/38259 01 should be basically the same as BMW 31122284529/31122284530 but with M logo brushed off (and almost half the price).

for the 335i yes, but delphi is used for m3 control arms.go to ecs tuning, they show u the m3 upgraded arms for 335i under 335i/suspension/control arm/front lower.once u see the m3 upgrade package click kit contents, click one of the m3 arms, then u will see both m3 arms are by delphi

[Pussiwillow]

Originally Posted by jjjccc

for the 335i yes, but delphi is used for m3 control arms.go to ecs tuning, they show u the m3 upgraded arms for 335i under 335i/suspension/control arm/front lower.once u see the m3 upgrade package click kit contents, click one of the m3 arms, then u will see both m3 arms are by delphi

That's because nearly nobody stateside carries lemforder at the moment
Delphi are aftermarket to oem spec, lemforder is the oem supplier to bmw for the f80/f82 arms, when you do find lemforder and purchase them, the m logo is ground off.

[oksymoroni]

FWIW Here is a pic of the Lemforder parts I installed a few years ago. As stated above, they are OEM with the "M" logo ground off.

[yabx172]

Hi guys,

Sorry for late answer but i finally ordered 2 Delphi cheap lower control arms !

If you want, i could do a review in few weeks

[Polo08816]

Originally Posted by yabx172

Hi guys,

Sorry for late answer but i finally ordered 2 Delphi cheap lower control arms !

If you want, i could do a review in few weeks

I already tried those from RockAuto. It was a complete fail. They wore out really quick within 5000 miles and started clunking.

Stick with genuine unless there is going to be a quality alternative like MeyleHD or Lemforder.

[mike082802]

Originally Posted by Polo08816

I already tried those from RockAuto. It was a complete fail. They wore out really quick within 5000 miles and started clunking.

Stick with genuine unless there is going to be a quality alternative like MeyleHD or Lemforder.

ive had the delphi for a year with 3 track days and so far so good. about 5000 mile on them. which bushings failed? inner or outer? i also installed the thrust arms same time from rockauto.

[yabx172]

Same question, which part failed, the bushing or the ball joint?

The bushing can be upgraded with polyurethane if needed.

[madriz]

how about these adaptable caster bushings?

the idea is to be able to put the F80 arms and not rub.

https://powerflex.es/es/f32-f33-f36-...le-avance.html

[yabx172]

Originally Posted by madriz

how about these adaptable caster bushings?

the idea is to be able to put the F80 arms and not rub.

https://powerflex.es/es/f32-f33-f36-...le-avance.html

Be careful, because F80 and F30 arm do not have the same thickness.
If you have F80 arm, with F80 polybushes, you certainly need some washers to fit.

[yabx172]

Hi,

As you helped me a lot, I will (finally) report back on my assembly of F80 LCA and TS. I used Delphi TC3884, TC3885, TC3586, TC3587 arms. These are not original BMW M parts as the logo is not present and not erased.

Regarding the LCA, the assembly is identical to the original and the wheel moves forward a lot and rubs the wheel arch, but it is possible to drive the car like that. As I adjusted my parallelism myself, note that the steering rods must be lengthened by 8 turns. Regarding the ball joint of the xenon sensor I took at the graveyard a little ball joint on a Mini R56










Several weeks later I installed the TS with Stronglex polybushes. Bad idea. The width of the F80 arms is greater, so the polybush does not install correctly (system with two half shells) with a washer I managed to install it but there were squeaking noises in the suspension.



Finally I put back OEM silent blocks, reference Lemforder 36954 01 and it works very well and i do not took pictures

I am really very satisfied with this modification, the steering of the car reacts better, it is more incisive and precise, for the moment the wear of the tires is good and is no longer on the outer edge. Another important point the visual aspect is much better with negative camber ....

[madriz]

doesn't it touch you anymore?

[yabx172]

With F80 LCA and TS (with OEM F30 bush) it doesn't not rub anymore.

[SD Convert]

Originally Posted by yabx172

I am really very satisfied with this modification, the steering of the car reacts better, it is more incisive and precise, for the moment the wear of the tires is good and is no longer on the outer edge. Another important point the visual aspect is much better with negative camber.

Does using the M-series UCA/TS partially or fully resolve the issue of the wheel being pushed forward? Based on your post (and others), it's only partial, just verifying.

Also, this thread contains several notes about the inner tie-rod being close to (or at) it's limit. Has anyone tried the M-series inner tie rod? It's a different part number from the F30 inner tie rod, but the outers are the same.

[yabx172]

Originally Posted by SD Convert

Does using the M-series UCA/TS partially or fully resolve the issue of the wheel being pushed forward? Based on your post (and others), it's only partial, just verifying.

Also, this thread contains several notes about the inner tie-rod being close to (or at) it's limit. Has anyone tried the M-series inner tie rod? It's a different part number from the F30 inner tie rod, but the outers are the same.

As you can see the wheel is still forward !
But with TS/LCA F80 arm it does not rub the wheel arch.





the idea of ​​installing F80 inner tie rod crossed my mind. But as i told few months ago we need to lenghten them for 8 turns when we install F80 arms.

When the car is stock, the inner tie rod is screw for about 15 to 20 turns.

[SD Convert]

Originally Posted by yabx172

As you can see the wheel is still forward !
But with TS/LCA F80 arm it does not rub the wheel arch.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...101f6f0d_b.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...98906a36_b.jpg

the idea of ​​installing F80 inner tie rod crossed my mind. But as i told few months ago we need to lenghten them for 8 turns when we install F80 arms.

When the car is stock, the inner tie rod is screw for about 15 to 20 turns.

The above images aren't coming through for me.

So, the question now becomes how the F80 corrects this issue. Is it in the Knuckle. the Subframe or both?

[Marq_z]

Just sharing my experience with the F8x LCAs on my 335i since there is information missing in this thread about the retrofit.

Because the F8x LCA’s are longer than the F30’s the wheel gets pushed forward (positive caster) as stated in this thread already, and introduces 2 problems:
1. How to correct the caster/push wheel back to avoid rub in the front
- I decided to install caster adjustable bushings on the OE thrust arms instead of opting for the F8x thrust arms, as many have stated that they do not correct the caster. The bushings I went with are PowerFlex part No. PFF5-1901G black race series and I believe can be adjusted to +/-4 degrees . Before taking the oem thrust arms off, I could tell that the bushings were worn as I could see cracks in the rubber and was able to rock the arms a bit by using force. This would result in a lot of deflection once under load. The powerflex bushings are solid and have no deflection, which I was worried would make the ride harsh, but they’re surprisingly not too bad. They did push the wheel back slightly but not to the original position which is fine with me. The steering is way more sharp and the car turns in much easier even after the LCA install. Also, braking has improved dramatically since there’s now more camber and less deflection in the bushings.

2. Because the F8x LCAs are longer, the OE tie rods need to be threaded out pretty far.
- After installing the F8x LCAs there was only about a 1/4 inch left on the tie rods which made me really nervous. I didn’t find any info on whether the F8x tie rods fit the 335i so I took a gamble and ordered them. The outer tie rods are interchangeable, ie same for F3x and F8x. The inner tie rods are definitely longer by about an inch compared to the OE 335i rods. However, they thread right on just like the OE rods and worked out perfectly. Did this for peace of mind but I think it’s also a must if you’re doing this retrofit. Imagine you hit big pothole or some sort of road imperfection, the shortened rod could possibly snap or bend as a result.

Alignment specs in the front are now LR -2.1/-2 Camber, 7.7 caster and 0.12 toe.



https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...-31122284529kt

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...9389kt#fitment

https://www.powerflexusa.com/shop/pr...=1790#attr=515


Hope this helps.