[AlexKoast]

Hey everyone,
Recently upgraded to m3 front control arms on my 330i however I'm running into a few hiccups. With the m3 control arms it appears that my caster has been pushed forward ever so slightly causing my tires to rub on the front bumper. Its gotten to a point where some of the paint has cracked on the bumper and I've even been recognized by our local police department where I've been issued a vehicle inspection notice. A few caveats, I AM lowered on Eibach Pro Kit springs in combination with Supreme Power Lowering Perches (these have been discontinued btw) and running 19x9 et24 wheels up front with 225/35/19 tires.

I've ordered Bilstein B14 coilovers (sweet wait time by the way...) and downsizing my wheels. I haven't been a fan of this tire size since getting them since they're too dang stretched. More importantly this combination no longer works for me with these control arms.

I'm curious to hear from others what size wheels and tires you've been running in the front with your m3 front control arms. I'm going to be looking at 18s going forward. For anyone curious my rears at 255/30/19 and haven't had a single problem rubbing.

Pictures for your entertainment:

[FCobra94]

Originally Posted by AlexKoast

I've even been recognized by our local police department where I've been issued a vehicle inspection notice.

That's probably one of the most insane things I've ever read on here

Of all the setups and combination of parts peeps have added over the years, a caster issue has never come up, as far as I can recall.

Did you add multiple parts all at the same time? Or were the arms added by themselves most recently?

[Emilime75]

Yeah, same here, this is the first time I've heard of caster changing with M3 control arms.

[AlexKoast]

Originally Posted by FCobra94

That's probably one of the most insane things I've ever read on here

Of all the setups and combination of parts peeps have added over the years, a caster issue has never come up, as far as I can recall.

Did you add multiple parts all at the same time? Or were the arms added by themselves most recently?

Yea, the vehicle inspection raid has been a bit of an issue in the car community as a whole in Vancouver in the last few years. People are getting harassed for loud exhausts. Some folks pulling out of the BMW and Porsche dealerships have been immediately pulled over by police and handed notices.

Just the arms themselves were added (the 5 piece kit for the front from FCP). There was minimal rub upon initial lowering but after I installed the arms the tires wore quite a bit off the bumper. I'm suspecting the Supreme Power perches were the biggest culprit since I haven't seen many threads on others running them (and that they got discontinued).

[Emilime75]

I don't think your problem is caster, but camber + offset + lowered. At 19x9 +24 you're already poking past the fender's edge a bit, and the M3 arms will push the wheels out a touch more. The car is then dropped about 1.7" using springs and perches in the front bringing all of the body parts even closer to the tire.

I'm also somewhat questioning your fender and bumper fitment. Maybe it's just the photos, but it looks like the fender was pulled a bit for clearence, while the bumper's flat outer edge looks to angle in a bit. Is the bumper OEM? Has the fender been worked at all?

Maybe consider removing the lowering perches for stock and/or adding camber to pull the top of the tire in.

[FCobra94]

What are your current alignment specs?

[freedomfries]

Originally Posted by Emilime75

I don't think your problem is caster, but camber + offset + lowered. At 19x9 +24 you're already poking past the fender's edge a bit, and the M3 arms will push the wheels out a touch more. The car is then dropped about 1.7" using springs and perches in the front bringing all of the body parts even closer to the tire.

Agreed - combination of ride height too low and offset too low. Caster isn't adjustable

And sorry to hear about the VI. Richmond?

[SSW]

I have a 335i and "upgraded" the entire front suspenion w/M3 parts and Koni yellows w/the original Sport suspension springs and stock wheel/tire sizes.

I am running spacers in front and back (forget the exact sizes, they're mentioned somewhere in My Build Thread) but have not had any clearance problems using them and the car has be realigned at least a couple of times using standard street settings.

[jwalker87]

On my '08 335i I'm running Apex EC-7 wheels, 19x9 et35 front with 255/30R19 Michelin PSS tires, on stock sport suspension with M3 arms. No issues other than slight wheel liner rubbing at full steering lock, but that was present before the M3 arms as well.