E90 M3 control arm upgrade

CTinline-six · 11-11-2019, 08:41 AM

What's the consensus on alignment after upgrading the control arms? My car was aligned about 8,000 miles ago. I'm doing the M3 lower control arms on my 2009 328i this weekend. I searched and it seems some people say you absolutely need an alignment, others said it isn't needed.

unrulyteach · 11-11-2019, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CTinline-six

What's the consensus on alignment after upgrading the control arms? My car was aligned about 8,000 miles ago. I'm doing the M3 lower control arms on my 2009 328i this weekend. I searched and it seems some people say you absolutely need an alignment, others said it isn't needed.

Lol did this a few months ago and when i say it's a must to get ur car aligned afterwards
I can't stress it enough. Car will literally drive like shit. On the way to getting it aligned i had to be careful Cause the steering was just all over the place it would get stiff then loose then stiff again

weehe126 · 11-11-2019, 09:19 AM

I don't know why anyone would think you don't need an alignment after.

relative4 · 11-11-2019, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weehe126

I don't know why anyone would think you don't need an alignment after.

+1

Efthreeoh · 11-11-2019, 09:44 AM

Converting to M3 thrust arms do not need an alignment. Converting to M3 control arms does need an alignment. M3 control arms change the suspension geometry. The thrust arms are the same aluminum part with solid bushings (vs. hydraulic for non-M part), so the dimensions of the two versions of the thrust are the same.

CTinline-six · 11-11-2019, 10:06 AM

Excellent, thanks for the quick replies.

gjm120 · 11-11-2019, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CTinline-six

Excellent, thanks for the quick replies.

After the M arms are on, adjust each outer tie rod outward 3 turns to make it driveable to get to the alignment shop.

nsjames · 11-11-2019, 11:20 AM

the dimensions of the m3 bushing are not the same for an XI thrust arm.

measured myself.

bought the fancy CTA tool too compress the shell to fit them in my arms.
the bushing eye is also offset.
I'll have to find the measurements I took.
I'll get to them eventually, but I just slammed stock ones in it for now.

dcorn · 11-12-2019, 03:09 PM

I avoided the issue all together by getting the shop to install the arms and do the alignment. Figured a control arm install was fairly quick and cheap.

I will go on record to say I got the M3 front arms at the same time as I switched from Michelin RFT to Conti ECS non-RFT. Feels like the handling got worse.

mweisdorfer · 11-12-2019, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CTinline-six

What's the consensus on alignment after upgrading the control arms? My car was aligned about 8,000 miles ago. I'm doing the M3 lower control arms on my 2009 328i this weekend. I searched and it seems some people say you absolutely need an alignment, others said it isn't needed.

Yep, you absolutely, positively will need an alignment after installing M3 control arms

hellokitty · 11-12-2019, 04:23 PM

Try driving without an alignment and let us know how that works out. Your steering wheel will lock to one side or the other without one. It would be nearly impossible/extremely dangerous to drive lol

unrulyteach · 11-12-2019, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hellokitty

Try driving without an alignment and let us know how that works out. Your steering wheel will lock to one side or the other without one. It would be nearly impossible/extremely dangerous to drive lol

+1 here i took the risk drove really slow to the dealer

Tambohamilton · 11-12-2019, 05:03 PM

Surely just use the old string trick to get the alignment somewhere near, so you can drive to the alignment shop safely? Doesn't have to be perfect; just needs to be somewhere near. Last time I worked on the suspension arms on my car, I got the alignment within spec using a piece of string for toe and a spirit level for camber...and yes, I do trust the shop I took it to!

gjm120 · 11-12-2019, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tambohamilton

Surely just use the old string trick to get the alignment somewhere near, so you can drive to the alignment shop safely? Doesn't have to be perfect; just needs to be somewhere near. Last time I worked on the suspension arms on my car, I got the alignment within spec using a piece of string for toe and a spirit level for camber...and yes, I do trust the shop I took it to!

Turning the tie rods like I mentioned above really does the trick. I was tempted to not get an alignment soon but knew better.

Tambohamilton · 11-13-2019, 02:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gjm120

Turning the tie rods like I mentioned above really does the trick. I was tempted to not get an alignment soon but knew better.

Haha, me too. Definitely worth getting it checked though, at least!

matamua · 11-16-2019, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcorn

I avoided the issue all together by getting the shop to install the arms and do the alignment. Figured a control arm install was fairly quick and cheap.

I will go on record to say I got the M3 front arms at the same time as I switched from Michelin RFT to Conti ECS non-RFT. Feels like the handling got worse.

Well that sucks.

tlow98 · 11-16-2019, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matamua

Well that sucks.

Could be The Alignment.

11-11-2019, 08:41 AM	#1
CTinline-six Hoonigan 6825 Rep 3,000 Posts Drives: '09 328i, '98 Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Connecticut iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW 328i N51 [0.00]	E90 M3 control arm upgrade What's the consensus on alignment after upgrading the control arms? My car was aligned about 8,000 miles ago. I'm doing the M3 lower control arms on my 2009 328i this weekend. I searched and it seems some people say you absolutely need an alignment, others said it isn't needed. __________________ "Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should." -Dr. Ian Malcolm, Jurassic Park
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

11-11-2019, 09:19 AM	#3
weehe126 Brigadier General 1161 Rep 3,189 Posts Drives: 2017 340i Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: San Antonio iTrader: (2)	I don't know why anyone would think you don't need an alignment after.
	Appreciate 1 CTinline-six6825.00 Quote

11-11-2019, 09:44 AM	#5
Efthreeoh General 17303 Rep 18,734 Posts Drives: The E90 + Z4 Coupe & Z3 R'ster Join Date: May 2012 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	Converting to M3 thrust arms do not need an alignment. Converting to M3 control arms does need an alignment. M3 control arms change the suspension geometry. The thrust arms are the same aluminum part with solid bushings (vs. hydraulic for non-M part), so the dimensions of the two versions of the thrust are the same.
	Appreciate 2 CTinline-six6825.00 lab_rat394.50 Quote

11-11-2019, 10:06 AM	#6
CTinline-six Hoonigan 6825 Rep 3,000 Posts Drives: '09 328i, '98 Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Connecticut iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW 328i N51 [0.00]	Excellent, thanks for the quick replies. __________________ "Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should." -Dr. Ian Malcolm, Jurassic Park
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-11-2019, 11:20 AM	#8
nsjames Brigadier General 2440 Rep 4,330 Posts Drives: 08 328xi Touring Join Date: May 2017 Location: ohio iTrader: (0)	the dimensions of the m3 bushing are not the same for an XI thrust arm. measured myself. bought the fancy CTA tool too compress the shell to fit them in my arms. the bushing eye is also offset. I'll have to find the measurements I took. I'll get to them eventually, but I just slammed stock ones in it for now.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-12-2019, 03:09 PM	#9
dcorn Captain 77 Rep 940 Posts Drives: 2008 E90 335i Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: NoVA iTrader: (2)	I avoided the issue all together by getting the shop to install the arms and do the alignment. Figured a control arm install was fairly quick and cheap. I will go on record to say I got the M3 front arms at the same time as I switched from Michelin RFT to Conti ECS non-RFT. Feels like the handling got worse.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-12-2019, 04:23 PM	#11
hellokitty Brigadier General 2896 Rep 3,726 Posts Drives: '17 M3 ZCP DCT Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Southern California iTrader: (2)	Try driving without an alignment and let us know how that works out. Your steering wheel will lock to one side or the other without one. It would be nearly impossible/extremely dangerous to drive lol __________________ 2017 F80 M3 ZCP / AA GESI DPs / Akrapovic Evo / BBS FI-R 19" / Bend Calibration ECUTEK Flex Fuel \| Bilstein B16 DDC + CS EDC / BMC Filters / BMS OCC / CSF HE / ESS CP / Nitto NT555R2 / PD Crank Hub / SPL Suspension / Uniden R7 / Wagner Top Mount IC 2021 Mini GP3 / BMC Filters / BM3 / Cary Jordan E30 / Wagner IC / Remus Race
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-12-2019, 05:03 PM	#13
Tambohamilton Brigadier General 3058 Rep 3,909 Posts Drives: E91 330d Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Herefordshire iTrader: (0)	Surely just use the old string trick to get the alignment somewhere near, so you can drive to the alignment shop safely? Doesn't have to be perfect; just needs to be somewhere near. Last time I worked on the suspension arms on my car, I got the alignment within spec using a piece of string for toe and a spirit level for camber...and yes, I do trust the shop I took it to!
	Appreciate 0 Quote