Does anyone watch M539 Restorations?

[Tambohamilton]

Those meyle track rods he takes out - 100% the non-M version. Doesn't really matter, to be fair. They have heaps of thread engagement anyhow. I have M3 wishbones with non-M track rods on my car, and it's not an issue at all.

Does anyone else feel like the stance of the car is a bit off - too high in the rear, I think? Somehow the car doesn't look level to me. The e9x normally have smaller tyre-fender gap in the rear than the front, and it doesn't look to be that way on this car (yet).

[LOW4LYF]

Originally Posted by Tambohamilton

Those meyle track rods he takes out - 100% the non-M version. Doesn't really matter, to be fair. They have heaps of thread engagement anyhow. I have M3 wishbones with non-M track rods on my car, and it's not an issue at all.

Does anyone else feel like the stance of the car is a bit off - too high in the rear, I think? Somehow the car doesn't look level to me. The e9x normally have smaller tyre-fender gap in the rear than the front, and it doesn't look to be that way on this car (yet).

Because he is running a square winter tire setup.

[Tambohamilton]

How does that simultaneously make the back of the car too high, and with too much gap to the fender?

[M-technik-3]

Smaller tire is not going to fill the wheel well. It's still going to have the same ride height. Also Streten mentioned the suspension is junk so if the fronts are ridding on more spring then the rears it will make it look like a 70's muscle car on rear air shocks that was all the rage when I attended high school in the early 80's.


Never understood this as a teenager.

[LOW4LYF]

Originally Posted by Tambohamilton

How does that simultaneously make the back of the car too high, and with too much gap to the fender?

Because with the OEM staggered setup, the rear tire is taller and gives you less gap in the rear.

245/40ZR18
265/40ZR18

[Tambohamilton]

Yeah, but right now it also looks to me like the rear is higher off the ground...

Anyhow, never mind. I'm sure he'll get it sorted when he does the suspension.

[toxik]

anyone have any more info on the comment about Lemforder and TRW? I was planning on getting Lemforder control/thrust arms to replace my OEMs, but now I'm having 2nd thoughts. A quick google search did confirm that BMW no longer has Lemforder as an OE supplier due to quality issues.

[Tambohamilton]

Basically lem and trw have moved production of some items to Malaysia, and the quality doesn't seem to be up to par any more...though I haven't actually heard of anyone having a Malaysian component fail prematurely etc - all the reports I've read are just saying that the items don't look well finished etc (which certainly isn't a good start!)

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2043241

[toxik]

Originally Posted by Tambohamilton

Basically lem and trw have moved production of some items to Malaysia, and the quality doesn't seem to be up to par any more...though I haven't actually heard of anyone having a Malaysian component fail prematurely etc - all the reports I've read are just saying that the items don't look well finished etc (which certainly isn't a good start!)

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2043241

thanks for the link, one of the posts on the first page is actually point out premature wear:

Ball joints in Malaysian tension struts are made of chocolate cake, or french fries. I have installed them in may 2022 and I had to replace them after year of searching what is knocking in suspension. I replaced them in may 2023, and after two months new arms are knocking once again

arms are annoying to swap out on such a short interval, would be worth going OEM if that's the case. but man it's so hard paying almost double the cost of what Lem wants compared to OEM.

[Tambohamilton]

Good point!

To be fair, that's been the case for (German made) lemforder front sway links for many years

[toxik]

Originally Posted by Tambohamilton

Good point!

To be fair, that's been the case for (German made) lemforder front sway links for many years

sounds like I may need to just buy OEM

[Tambohamilton]

Does anyone else make them? Febi?

[toxik]

Originally Posted by Tambohamilton

Does anyone else make them? Febi?

yeah Febi does make them, but no US retailers carry them, I'd need to do an international order... which would still be cheaper than OEM I guess. Is Febi a recommended OE brand? Any others?

the only OE brands I see sold in the US have been TRW (no longer) and Lemforder which are still always in stock.

[Tambohamilton]

Febi are oe for giubos, and they're my go-to for 'best of the rest'...but that doesn't promise much, tbh!

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by toxik

anyone have any more info on the comment about Lemforder and TRW? I was planning on getting Lemforder control/thrust arms to replace my OEMs, but now I'm having 2nd thoughts. A quick google search did confirm that BMW no longer has Lemforder as an OE supplier due to quality issues.

Both are a subsidiary of ZF btw.

[toxik]

Originally Posted by F32Fleet

Both are a subsidiary of ZF btw.

yeah do you know if there's any significance to that? from everything I saw the individual companies still operate independently, from what I understand manufacturing plants aren't producing TRW and Lem in the same space. if ZF's goal is cost cutting then both would be heading in the same direction overall, but other than that, I wasn't sure if their common ownership under ZF meant the products are the same.

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by toxik

yeah do you know if there's any significance to that? from everything I saw the individual companies still operate independently, from what I understand manufacturing plants aren't producing TRW and Lem in the same space. if ZF's goal is cost cutting then both would be heading in the same direction overall, but other than that, I wasn't sure if their common ownership under ZF meant the products are the same.

Just figured I'd point that out. Thankfully somes parts houses in the US will disclose country of origin.

[toxik]

Originally Posted by F32Fleet

Just figured I'd point that out. Thankfully somes parts houses in the US will disclose country of origin.

do you know which sites specifically? I'm not doing my arms just yet and this is why I started the question to begin with, my assumption is that the Germany stock will run out and all new batches will come from Malaysia, I want to be ready to make my decision correctly when time comes to buy the arms.

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by toxik

do you know which sites specifically? I'm not doing my arms just yet and this is why I started the question to begin with, my assumption is that the Germany stock will run out and all new batches will come from Malaysia, I want to be ready to make my decision correctly when time comes to buy the arms.

FCP

[sergbaja5t]

@Sreten Thank you for videos and your content. I'm glad I'm a paetron member.
Now a days you cant please everyone. Cant wait for your videos!
"Coming up"

[Mani59]

The next episode of Project Marseille (E31 850i) is now up!

[Jbrown7403]

Really interesting episode and a nice way to spend a rainy Saturday afternoon!