[F31cruisin]

Hello,

Looking at doing some maintenance on the front and rear pieces of my suspension. Already bought the BMW performance kit for my E90, now looking to replace control arms, end links, bushings, etc.

I have been looking around, and trying to piece my own kits, but it always seems to get more expensive than ECS tuning kits. Are these kits the best priced in the market? Anyone have any tips on saving money over these kits? Just asking before I pull the trigger. I prefer to go OEM, but if anyone has experience with aftermarket parts offered in these kits, please chime in.

https://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E92-33.../Refresh_Kits/

[F31cruisin]

BTW - Car has 106k miles, and currently has the sport suspension installed. In desperate need of a refresh.

[martinblair]

See my PM. All OEM parts.

[Berstuck]

Best price I found was from FCPeuro. My e90 325i has 112k miles on it. Swapped in the M3 control arms, and Meyle HD tie rods for about 460. Car drives great again.

[BMSE92_Harry]

Was your Tie Rod bad? I see they sell just the tie rod itself or the whole tie rod assembly, did you replace the whole assembly?
Does Sway bar bushing tend to go bad?

[Team503]

I have to admit I'm seriously considering the Stage 3 myself, specifically this: https://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E92-33...its/ES2986841/

Combine that with the B16 kit from Bilstein should be a fundamental transformation.

[Volasko]

Originally Posted by Team503

I have to admit I'm seriously considering the Stage 3 myself, specifically this: https://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E92-33...its/ES2986841/

Combine that with the B16 kit from Bilstein should be a fundamental transformation.

The rear trailing arm set isn't worth the money IMO. The M3 arms and bushings on the other hand are worth every penny!

[Team503]

I've got 93k on my stock suspension - I'm more inclined to replace, and for $100 more and basically no more labor when installing it, I'd rather swap it than not.

[BMSE92_Harry]

Does sway bar bushing generally go bad? They seem to include them to all the refresh kit.

What component in the rear suspension should be replaced when doing coilover over 100K?

[CoralRed335XI]

Originally Posted by BMSE92_Harry

Does sway bar bushing generally go bad? They seem to include them to all the refresh kit.

What component in the rear suspension should be replaced when doing coilover over 100K?

+1. I'm at 131k and have KW v1s, but rest of suspension is stock. Things feel loose and sound clunky now

[VTECaddict]

Originally Posted by BMSE92_Harry

Does sway bar bushing generally go bad? They seem to include them to all the refresh kit.

What component in the rear suspension should be replaced when doing coilover over 100K?

Originally Posted by CoralRed335XI

+1. I'm at 131k and have KW v1s, but rest of suspension is stock. Things feel loose and sound clunky now

I just did a refresh of some suspension parts on my E90 with 125k. Running BC racing coils (about 50k on them). This is what I replaced.

M3 front tension strut and lower control arms: tightened up the front end steering responsiveness and resolved a clunk I had when braking sometimes. My coilovers come with camber plates, so I was already running more negative front camber than what the M3 arms add, so the additional camber from the M3 LCA was not noticeable to me. If you're coming from stock camber it should feel like it adds a lot more lateral grip in the front when turning.

Aftermarket (Manzo) adjustable camber and toe arms, along with M3 rear guide rods: really tightened up the rear end. Before the car would get unsettled if hitting a bump mid corner and just overall didn't feel solid. Now it feels super stable and planted. I'm not sure which part made the biggest difference since they were all replaced together. Side benefit - I rub less in the rear now with the same alignment settings. I suspect because the bushings are stiffer there is less play as the suspension moves.

Monroe rubber rear strut mounts: makes the rear end feel a bit firmer. Kind of hard to explain but it feels like the strut is now doing all the work instead of the mounts absorbing some of the shock. I do feel a bit more vibrations from the road now than with the stock mounts though.

After all that, the handling definitely feels MUCH sharper, more responsive and sure footed than before. It almost feels like a whole different car. I didn't think the swaybar bushings would make much of a difference so I didn't replace them, but of course it wouldn't hurt to replace them too. All rubber bushings will deteriorate with time and miles.

[BMSE92_Harry]

Originally Posted by VTECaddict

I just did a refresh of some suspension parts on my E90 with 125k. Running BC racing coils (about 50k on them). This is what I replaced.

M3 front tension strut and lower control arms: tightened up the front end steering responsiveness and resolved a clunk I had when braking sometimes. My coilovers come with camber plates, so I was already running more negative front camber than what the M3 arms add, so the additional camber from the M3 LCA was not noticeable to me. If you're coming from stock camber it should feel like it adds a lot more lateral grip in the front when turning.

Aftermarket (Manzo) adjustable camber and toe arms, along with M3 rear guide rods: really tightened up the rear end. Before the car would get unsettled if hitting a bump mid corner and just overall didn't feel solid. Now it feels super stable and planted. I'm not sure which part made the biggest difference since they were all replaced together. Side benefit - I rub less in the rear now with the same alignment settings. I suspect because the bushings are stiffer there is less play as the suspension moves.

Monroe rubber rear strut mounts: makes the rear end feel a bit firmer. Kind of hard to explain but it feels like the strut is now doing all the work instead of the mounts absorbing some of the shock. I do feel a bit more vibrations from the road now than with the stock mounts though.

After all that, the handling definitely feels MUCH sharper, more responsive and sure footed than before. It almost feels like a whole different car. I didn't think the swaybar bushings would make much of a difference so I didn't replace them, but of course it wouldn't hurt to replace them too. All rubber bushings will deteriorate with time and miles.

So beside the rear shock mounts, anything else you replaced in the rear?
I am definitely doing the m3 trw control arms, the toe arm, is that part of the tie rod assembly?

[VTECaddict]

M3 guide rods, adjustable camber arms and adjustable toe arms are all rear suspension links.

[F31cruisin]

Found this the other day and it seems like a steal. From what I have read TRW is the maker of the OEM parts. What's everyone's thoughts on this?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-BMW-E90-...AAAOSwsB9V-nV7

[F31cruisin]

Even this kit is a great price. Just wondering about that OEM TRW manufacturer.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-E90-E92-...kAAOSwVL1V-Wrc

[Bent_remy]

Originally Posted by BMSE92_Harry

Was your Tie Rod bad? I see they sell just the tie rod itself or the whole tie rod assembly, did you replace the whole assembly?
Does Sway bar bushing tend to go bad?

I kinda wish he would have answered the question.

[dannyle27]

TRW is contracted by BMW to manufacture their OEM parts. I have TRW front M3 control arms. They are the same exact M3 control arms with the BMW logo crossed off before it ships out. Same exact product from the same exact production line, cheaper price.

Originally Posted by E90cruisin

Even this kit is a great price. Just wondering about that OEM TRW manufacturer.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-E90-E92-...kAAOSwVL1V-Wrc

[MAK3N3]

Originally Posted by dannyle27

TRW is contracted by BMW to manufacture their OEM parts. I have TRW front M3 control arms. They are the same exact M3 control arms with the BMW logo crossed off before it ships out. Same exact product from the same exact production line, cheaper price.

+1 save yourself a lil money. I bought the TRW M3 kit from ECS not the "OEM" M3 Kit for more....which ONLY gets you that BMW logo.

[BMSE92_Harry]

What about tie rod? Meyle or lemforder? Or Karyn is lot cheaper

[F31cruisin]

Originally Posted by BMSE92_Harry

What about tie rod? Meyle or lemforder? Or Karyn is lot cheaper

The ebay kit brings lemforder, which I think is OEM. The ECS tuning kit brings Karlyn.