[benjlv]

Originally Posted by Blackhawk36

I based my post on the Bentley manual. The bolt felt awfully light to be steel though and the torque precedure included a torque plus an additional turn like the aluminum bolts. The manual could be wrong though. There was definitely an 8.8 headstamp (Medium Carbon Steel, Quenched and Tempered) on mine and I didn't check them for magnetism.

yeah it is a little confusing. to my knowledge the only aluminum bolts are those that go into the magnesium engine block. And that is only because steel and magnesium do not get along together. You'd have strength/cost issues if they were used elsewhere.

from realoem. the bolt is a M12x1.5 that is 115mm long grade 8.8

11 Hex bolt with washer M12X1.5X115-8.8 4 31106763928 $2.94

[Avenged328i]

Originally Posted by benjlv

as you said, this is real common. their price is high in my opinion. I removed the arms, pressed out the bushings, pressed in new one and had the arms back in the car in about an hour. I had access to a lift and a press though. Its a super easy job. If you can replace brake pads and rotors on a car you can handle this job in my opinion.

As i said, i personally replaced just the bushings because i had access to a press. People often will replace the whole arm. They are ~$100 a piece and you should replace both arms. You should get the alignment checked shortly after doing the job.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=778726

Hey, is there anything in specific when I press in the new bushings?
I am going to do them this week.

Let me know if there is anything to look for when doing this.

Thanks!!

[pits200]

Originally Posted by Avenged328i

Hey, is there anything in specific when I press in the new bushings?
I am going to do them this week.

Let me know if there is anything to look for when doing this.

Thanks!!

The bushings are directional for deflection. Be sure to match the arrows when pressing in the new ones.

[J. Dub]

Originally Posted by HP Autosport

My monoball front M3 bushings are going in today. So stoked… I'll be giving a review with the next week or so!

-Mike

Trying to find your review. How do you like them?

[PhaseP]

Originally Posted by benjlv

the bolts that go through the bushing are not aluminum they are a standard grade 8.8 steel bolt. The bently manual does list them as single use though. I called the local dealership to buy these bolts because i didnt order them and they told me that they reuse them. I believe that they are single use because of the threadlocker/sealer that they come with on the threads. I used locktite blue to seal/lock mine. The nut on the outer ball joint is single use though. I would not re-use them. If you want to be vigilant, replacing all the bolts and nuts isnt going to hurt anything but your pocket book.

Mine (XI) didn't have any locktite on those bolts. They are one time use because they are torqued to yield. That last angle torqueing stretches the bolt and deforms it slightly but permanently as far as I understand.

Those nuts are self locking, they have a thread cut that gets progressively tighter. After one use the thread will open up, hence they say one time use. Like nylon locking nut, but without the nylon.

There are many bolts like that used in these cars, including the strut tower brace bolts. Ideally they should be replaced each time, because they are torque to yield tightened also.

[jcarv20s]

Just piggy backing on this, do the M3 bushings only work on the i models? My car is an 08 335XI. I'm trying to find upgrades for either the bushings or the whole damn front control arm assembly but suspension makes my head hurt.

[HP Autosport]

Originally Posted by jcarv20s

Just piggy backing on this, do the M3 bushings only work on the i models? My car is an 08 335XI. I'm trying to find upgrades for either the bushings or the whole damn front control arm assembly but suspension makes my head hurt.

Correct.

Call RE, something supposed to come out soon.

[FamilyManTrackSedan]

Originally Posted by HP Autosport

Correct.

Call RE, something supposed to come out soon.

any update on m3 bushings/arms for xi?

[PrematureApex]

Originally Posted by jctw769

any update on m3 bushings/arms for xi?

Most of us buy the Strongflex bushings (about two weeks shipping from Poland). I think they're about the only option for replacing the xdrive hydro.

http://www.strongflex.eu/en/e90-e91-...553503470.html

Check out the XI forum, just swapped mine out last week...

[HP Autosport]

You guys hit up Rogue Engineering to show your interest. If they hear from you, they will likely release a bushing kit for xi.

[PrematureApex]

Originally Posted by HP Autosport

You guys hit up Rogue Engineering to show your interest. If they hear from you, they will likely release a bushing kit for xi.

Been talking about it for years, still nothing. In any case, they'd likely be at least $300, if their other offerings are any indication. That's a lot different than a $100 powerflex poly option or even better, a $50 Strongflex.

[HP Autosport]

Originally Posted by PrematureApex

Been talking about it for years, still nothing. In any case, they'd likely be at least $300, if their other offerings are any indication. That's a lot different than a $100 powerflex poly option or even better, a $50 Strongflex.

They will only make it from customer inquiries.

It's not a simple bushing design like the power flex thus the premium price.

[PrematureApex]

Originally Posted by HP Autosport

They will only make it from customer inquiries.

It's not a simple bushing design like the power flex thus the premium price.

Did you mean to say material choice? Not that polyoxymethylene vs.a polyurethane makes a $100 bushing a $300 bushing...

But yeah...this is as simple a bushing design as there is:

http://www.rogueengineering.com/rogu...-E9X-RACE.html

Anyway, and again, not many people will be interested in a $300 bushing set, when a $50-100 one is all anyone needs (sans those people running solid mounts which is what Rogue offers for the E90 platforms).

Not a big market for solid aluminum xdrive front mounts, given the premium.

[HP Autosport]

Originally Posted by PrematureApex

Did you mean to say material choice? Not that polyoxymethylene vs.a polyurethane makes a $100 bushing a $300 bushing...

But yeah...this is as simple a bushing design as there is:

http://www.rogueengineering.com/rogu...-E9X-RACE.html

Anyway, and again, not many people will be interested in a $300 bushing set, when a $50-100 one is all anyone needs (sans those people running solid mounts which is what Rogue offers for the E90 platforms).

Not a big market for solid aluminum xdrive front mounts, given the premium.

This is the one I am referring to:

http://www.rogueengineering.com/rogu...E-TAB-E9X.html

[FamilyManTrackSedan]

Originally Posted by PrematureApex

Check out the XI forum, just swapped mine out last week...

Can you link me to this tool and explain how you use it? Noob at replacing bushings.

Nevermind I found it - super easy

[PrematureApex]

You got it!

Just use a receiver big enough to accept the outer race, and a pusher big enough to push on the outer race of the bushing. In my pic, that's not the end of the bushings you're looking at, it's pushing disk almost the same diameter as the bushing.

Impact gun REALLY helps.

[FamilyManTrackSedan]

If I'm at the point like others, where the upper bushing is totally shot - would you think the sway bar end links and sway bar mount bushings are shot too?

[feuer]

Originally Posted by jctw769

any update on m3 bushings/arms for xi?

Originally Posted by PrematureApex

Most of us buy the Strongflex bushings (about two weeks shipping from Poland). I think they're about the only option for replacing the xdrive hydro.

http://www.strongflex.eu/en/e90-e91-...553503470.html

Check out the XI forum, just swapped mine out last week...

Originally Posted by HP Autosport

You guys hit up Rogue Engineering to show your interest. If they hear from you, they will likely release a bushing kit for xi.

Actually there is a guy that makes them for XI very similar to AKG bushing for the RWD. I tried to find the thread but failed. If you are savvy with searching on the XI section I'm sure you will find the post.

[Stupenal]

Originally Posted by jctw769

If I'm at the point like others, where the upper bushing is totally shot - would you think the sway bar end links and sway bar mount bushings are shot too?

Sway links are easy to check

Look at the boots to see if they're torn. Mine were completely exposed and you could easily move the links side to side while still attached. New ones could not be easily movedwhen attached.

Sway bar mount bushings can slowly enlarge over time, creating some clunking. I haven't seen this on BMWs, but I've seen it on Hondas. The BMW bushing is like $5 each and easy to replace while you're under the car. A might as well sort of thing as opposed to usual failure point.

[Eschleae]

Originally Posted by DASHOCKER

The drivers side arm was replaced on my car with 15k on the clock under warranty about a month ago. I used to hear a clunk while turning the steering while braking wheel or going up driveways..all is well now.. Potholes? Too soon for such a young car imo

I had the same problem so I replaced mine and it still making that clunking noise.. any ideas on what else it could be?

[=C=]

If you're replacing the stock 335 lower control arm with M3 Front lower Control Arm Upgrade Kit, do you also need to replace the upper control arm or can you leave that stock?

[HP Autosport]

Originally Posted by =C=

If you're replacing the stock 335 lower control arm with M3 Front lower Control Arm Upgrade Kit, do you also need to replace the upper control arm or can you leave that stock?

No, you can do one or the other without having to do both.