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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > E90 / E92 / E93 3-series Technical Forums > Suspension | Brakes | Chassis > M3 control arm conversion upgrade



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      05-07-2021, 12:50 PM   #1
Kyronwicker123
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M3 control arm conversion upgrade

Hey guys I'm going to buy the m3 control arm conversion kit and I'm looking for any advice on prices and recommendations.

fcp euro has control arms for $332 but Amazon pieces were separate and added up to only $210. This is without the headlight leveling sensor rod(is it required to do conversion?)

I heard If you order get the hardware kit as the arms don't come with every nut & bolt that should be renewed. Can anyone link me to those? I want everything I need for the conversion.
Thanks guys
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      05-07-2021, 03:26 PM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kyronwicker123 View Post
Hey guys I'm going to buy the m3 control arm conversion kit and I'm looking for any advice on prices and recommendations.

fcp euro has control arms for $332 but Amazon pieces were separate and added up to only $210. This is without the headlight leveling sensor rod(is it required to do conversion?)

I heard If you order get the hardware kit as the arms don't come with every nut & bolt that should be renewed. Can anyone link me to those? I want everything I need for the conversion.
Thanks guys


On the same page as the control arms is a Control Arm Installation Kit. One for front and one for rear. They are $52.52 each. Those contain the fasteners that don't come with the arms. Linking the kit wouldn't work for some reason, but it's there.

$210 vs $332 is a big price difference. If the headlight leveling rod gets the prices close together, you might want to consider the FCP wtty.

Yes you need the headlight leveling rod
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      05-08-2021, 09:54 AM   #3
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      05-08-2021, 10:35 AM   #4
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Originally Posted by ibd12nv View Post
FCP
Better hurry up! Upper wishbone is really hard to get. I just purchased rear control arms, and pretty much everyone is struggling to get that wishbone from TRW.
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      05-10-2021, 10:04 PM   #5
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Originally Posted by edycol View Post
Better hurry up! Upper wishbone is really hard to get. I just purchased rear control arms, and pretty much everyone is struggling to get that wishbone from TRW.
Wow that sucks, I just ordered my arms a few days ago and it said that right wishbone "ships in 1-2 days." I just checked my order status and it shows "BACKORDERED - NO ETA"
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      05-20-2021, 12:53 PM   #6
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Originally Posted by lowrydr310 View Post
Wow that sucks, I just ordered my arms a few days ago and it said that right wishbone "ships in 1-2 days." I just checked my order status and it shows "BACKORDERED - NO ETA"
My order shipped and the retailer made good, sent me a BMW branded arm with the "M" logo intact so I have a pair to install!

However I wanted to order Bilstein B4 shocks in the rear to match the struts I recently installed, and it looks like the B4 for sport suspension is backordered everywhere.
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      05-20-2021, 02:31 PM   #7
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Had this setup with the B4s and M3 arms.

Ride was garbage. Made me hate to drive the car.

And the M3 arms pushed out the wheels about 10mm and forward about the same. Rubbed badly on dips.

Hope you have better luck.
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      05-20-2021, 04:26 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mave198 View Post
Had this setup with the B4s and M3 arms.

Ride was garbage. Made me hate to drive the car.

And the M3 arms pushed out the wheels about 10mm and forward about the same. Rubbed badly on dips.

Hope you have better luck.
What were your alignment specs? The change in wheel positioning is kinda the whole point of these arms, there are handling benefits to the 10mm out and forward changes you described.



OP, go with FCP.
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      05-20-2021, 04:31 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mave198 View Post
Had this setup with the B4s and M3 arms.

Ride was garbage. Made me hate to drive the car.

And the M3 arms pushed out the wheels about 10mm and forward about the same. Rubbed badly on dips.

Hope you have better luck.
Odd, I'm on M3 arms and B8's + M-sport springs and having no rubbing /clearance issues. This is with upsized tires too (275R / 235F). 07 335i. does the e92 have different clearances than the e90?
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      05-22-2021, 12:52 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lowrydr310 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by lowrydr310 View Post
Wow that sucks, I just ordered my arms a few days ago and it said that right wishbone "ships in 1-2 days." I just checked my order status and it shows "BACKORDERED - NO ETA"
My order shipped and the retailer made good, sent me a BMW branded arm with the "M" logo intact so I have a pair to install!

However I wanted to order Bilstein B4 shocks in the rear to match the struts I recently installed, and it looks like the B4 for sport suspension is backordered everywhere.
Here is my set up. Just finished. If I knew it it would be THIS GOOD, I would do it long time ago.
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      05-24-2021, 01:27 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by edycol View Post
Here is my set up. Just finished. If I knew it it would be THIS GOOD, I would do it long time ago.
Color me jealous. I am finishing up several little projects on my 07 e90 335i, including m3 control arms. I could only get them for the front. I have read that the rear control arms help with the body roll I get (and despise) in corners. I already have the whiteline rear subframe bushings, and was wanting the control arms to finish it all up. Oh well. There's always next year when I do my annual e90 maintenance and improvement project...
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      05-24-2021, 01:54 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by srey View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by edycol View Post
Here is my set up. Just finished. If I knew it it would be THIS GOOD, I would do it long time ago.
Color me jealous. I am finishing up several little projects on my 07 e90 335i, including m3 control arms. I could only get them for the front. I have read that the rear control arms help with the body roll I get (and despise) in corners. I already have the whiteline rear subframe bushings, and was wanting the control arms to finish it all up. Oh well. There's always next year when I do my annual e90 maintenance and improvement project...
So, xDrive cannot fit M3 arms in front. So, only upgrade in front are B6 struts. Everything else I just refreshed with regular Lamforder parts.
In the back I did powerflex, M3 guide rod and wishbone, Monroe lower and upper mounts and of course B6 shocks.
What is interesting is that front end behaves much, much better! It goes into curves quicker, easier with much less understeer typical for xDrive. I will out-corner any RWD with sport suspension.
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      05-27-2021, 10:12 AM   #13
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Purchased mine off FCP last year and install was a breeze. You don't need new hardware if you follow the correct torque specs. The HARDEST part was sanding/filing down the mount for the new arms. The m3 control arms are slightly too tight. I used a metal file and greased them and whacked them in with a rubber mallet. Zero issues. Handling is sharp and turn-in improved big time.
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      05-27-2021, 11:52 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jaronbwall View Post
Purchased mine off FCP last year and install was a breeze. You don't need new hardware if you follow the correct torque specs. The HARDEST part was sanding/filing down the mount for the new arms. The m3 control arms are slightly too tight. I used a metal file and greased them and whacked them in with a rubber mallet. Zero issues. Handling is sharp and turn-in improved big time.
I did the exact same thing to my mounts. Did you also install rear M3 control arms?
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      05-28-2021, 05:11 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by edycol View Post
Here is my set up. Just finished. If I knew it it would be THIS GOOD, I would do it long time ago.
Dude you rear arms is not installed correctly upper link bend should be bending upwards, lower link bend should be bending downwards
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      05-28-2021, 08:22 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dovydas.B View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by edycol View Post
Here is my set up. Just finished. If I knew it it would be THIS GOOD, I would do it long time ago.
Dude you rear arms is not installed correctly upper link bend should be bending upwards, lower link bend should be bending downwards
Now I see where I made mistake!
On it
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      05-28-2021, 05:02 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dovydas.B View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by edycol View Post
Here is my set up. Just finished. If I knew it it would be THIS GOOD, I would do it long time ago.
Dude you rear arms is not installed correctly upper link bend should be bending upwards, lower link bend should be bending downwards
Thanx man for noticing that! I knew it I had to miss something. Fixed it.
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      05-29-2021, 06:56 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by edycol View Post
Thanx man for noticing that! I knew it I had to miss something. Fixed it.
No Problem. Does it feel different now in some way?
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      05-29-2021, 10:34 PM   #19
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Originally Posted by Dovydas.B View Post
No Problem. Does it feel different now in some way?
Nope
Same thing. I was thinking about it.
I still did not take it to the track, so probably pushing the vehicle would feel different. I am going to a track in 10 days so if it was the wrong position, maybe it would wear faster? Maybe another one would too? Who knows.
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      06-01-2021, 01:19 PM   #20
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I never installed the rear m3 arms or sway bar (rear sway install is a b**ch). I read somewhere its not as beneficial for improved handling. The issue being the 335i doesn't have the limited-slip dif like the m3. I don't have the cash for a Wavetrac LSD so I'm leaving those parts stock.

I'd love to ditch the stock sport suspension and upgrade the like OP posted about in this thread but adulting sucks. House renovation > car parts. House goes up in value, car goes down. Should have just bought an e90 M3, 6-speed years ago. I thought my car was a rare spec, KBB can you otherwise... **rant over**
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Last edited by Jaronbwall; 06-01-2021 at 01:29 PM..
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      06-01-2021, 07:42 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jaronbwall View Post
I never installed the rear m3 arms or sway bar (rear sway install is a b**ch). I read somewhere its not as beneficial for improved handling. The issue being the 335i doesn't have the limited-slip dif like the m3. I don't have the cash for a Wavetrac LSD so I'm leaving those parts stock.

I'd love to ditch the stock sport suspension and upgrade the like OP posted about in this thread but adulting sucks. House renovation > car parts. House goes up in value, car goes down. Should have just bought an e90 M3, 6-speed years ago. I thought my car was a rare spec, KBB can you otherwise... **rant over**
Imo M3 arms are worth it as long as you get TRW, bcs. no $ penalty.
M3? Sure, BUT rod bearings?
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      06-02-2021, 09:28 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by edycol View Post
Imo M3 arms are worth it as long as you get TRW, bcs. no $ penalty.
M3? Sure, BUT rod bearings?
Damn rod bearings. haha My 335i is faster than the m3 anyways. I guess we shouldn't be complaining.
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