[lmoretti]

I have the parts and was thinking I would take this on myself but have heard a few horror stories from people who have tried themselves. So my questions is, has anyone paid a shop top do this in Central Florida? Who? how much? And did everything work out OK?

Thanks!

[F06msportmia]

I did this install back in March and its straight forward. I did the M3 control arms, Meyle HD tie rods, and Meyle HD sway bar end links. I would say like a 90 minute job or so. I would search the DIY and again its straight forward.

The one important step is the pre-loading of the suspension when you are tightening everything up.

[lmoretti]

Originally Posted by e90msportmia

I did this install back in March and its straight forward. I did the M3 control arms, Meyle HD tie rods, and Meyle HD sway bar end links. I would say like a 90 minute job or so. I would search the DIY and again its straight forward.

The one important step is the pre-loading of the suspension when you are tightening everything up.

Thank you I found a rather good one. Would you be able to comment on the suspension pre load height? What I found said for it to be 18.7" from bottom of hub to fender, sound right? Thanks

[mbanks21]

Ill be doing this soon (just had back surgery last week, so soon is like 2 months) but after having done my own coilover install, it doesnt look too difficult. To preload just jack up the suspension until you can feel/see the car lift from the jack like a mm. I'm getting the front kit from Offset Motors and probably upgrading my endlinks at the same time.

[lmoretti]

Originally Posted by mbanks21

Ill be doing this soon (just had back surgery last week, so soon is like 2 months) but after having done my own coilover install, it doesnt look too difficult. To preload just jack up the suspension until you can feel/see the car lift from the jack like a mm. I'm getting the front kit from Offset Motors and probably upgrading my endlinks at the same time.

You mean jack up the car lower it back down onto a stand then use the jack to lift the hub until the car raises from the stand 1mm? Not sure I understood what you meant

[mlifxs]

Another way to load the car ....If you have ramps....after you torqued the ball joint ends properly, tighten on the bushing side at a low torque. Put front of car on ramps. Remove underpanel if still on car. Jack rear of car to level. Now properly torque fasteners on the bushing side.

For me, biggest thing is the wishbones can be a tight fit in the subrame bracket (bushing side) especially if someone overtorqued the fastener previously. Some have filed down the bushing, I VERY gently widened the bracket with pliers. If you try that method be very careful and gradual....eventually you can coerce the bushings into the bracket.

The tension struts should be easy to fit.

The real fun begins with the alignment issue as you will be massively toe in from the wishbones....especially fun if you've never adjusted your front toe before.

[mbanks21]

Originally Posted by lmoretti

You mean jack up the car lower it back down onto a stand then use the jack to lift the hub until the car raises from the stand 1mm? Not sure I understood what you meant

You got it exactly. The car should be on jack stands anyway when you're working on it. Use the jack to lift the hub until the car is just off the stand

[vtbandit]

As long as the front control arms arrive this week from Offset Motorsports, I'll be doing this in my garage this weekend.

With regards to preloading the suspension, I think it is more important that the hub is the same position as it is when on the ground. My recommendation is to measure your ride height and use that as your reference with tightening your bolts versus jacking the hub until the car is off the jack. One method focuses on suspension geometry while the other focuses on weight on each corner of the car.

[grandsrus]

I will be doing this as well in the coming months. Sub'd

[lmoretti]

Originally Posted by vtbandit

As long as the front control arms arrive this week from Offset Motorsports, I'll be doing this in my garage this weekend.

With regards to preloading the suspension, I think it is more important that the hub is the same position as it is when on the ground. My recommendation is to measure your ride height and use that as your reference with tightening your bolts versus jacking the hub until the car is off the jack. One method focuses on suspension geometry while the other focuses on weight on each corner of the car.

LOL Ill be in St Pete this weekend. Please let me know how it goes. I got a cost to have it done for me for $238. Which isn't terrible but if I can do it my self I can be a front sway bar with that money Good luck

[vtbandit]

Control arms arrived today from Offset. The install is planned for this weekend.

I talked to JB Import in St Pete about doing an alignment to my specs after the install is complete. They said that would not be a problem and only need a day or two notice. He seemed to be BMW guy and quite comfortable working on any generation 3-series. I'm looking forward to the install and alignment.

http://www.jbimportauto.com/

[mbanks21]

Let me know how that shop is. My control arms should be here this week

[MNick]

Originally Posted by lmoretti

LOL Ill be in St Pete this weekend. Please let me know how it goes. I got a cost to have it done for me for $238. Which isn't terrible but if I can do it my self I can be a front sway bar with that money Good luck

Don't pay that! I can refer u to a place that will do it and your alignment for half that.

[lmoretti]

Originally Posted by MNick

Don't pay that! I can refer u to a place that will do it and your alignment for half that.

Please do!

[MNick]

Originally Posted by lmoretti

Please do!

Pm sent, but see below.

www.advanceperformance.com

[JStang]

$238 isn't bad at all. I had an alignment done at Advance Performance and it was around $100.

[lmoretti]

Originally Posted by JStang

$238 isn't bad at all. I had an alignment done at Advance Performance and it was around $100.

I pay $65 here in Orlando for a really good alignment. Yeah $238 isn't that bad but it doesn't include the alignment. $130 can't be beat but you always need to make sure it's quality work. An alignment you get a read out but everything else your hoping was done right. That's why I PM him asking him if he was happy with the work.

[vtbandit]

I did the front control arm install. It took 4 hours, which included a trip to the store to buy 18mm wrenches and a socket for the subframe bolts. It was my first serious wrenching session on the car, so every step took longer than I expected. With that said, if I had to do it again, it would probably take 2-2.5 hours.

I did a quick alignment adjustment that has me close. I rotated each half the steering arm 10 flats, which will be good enough to drive until my alignment next week.

[lmoretti]

Originally Posted by vtbandit

I did the front control arm install. It took 4 hours, which included a trip to the store to buy 18mm wrenches and a socket for the subframe bolts. It was my first serious wrenching session on the car, so every step took longer than I expected. With that said, if I had to do it again, it would probably take 2-2.5 hours.

I did a quick alignment adjustment that has me close. I rotated each half the steering arm 10 flats, which will be good enough to drive until my alignment next week.

Nice thanks for the info

[vtbandit]

Advanced Performance in Tampa did my alignment today. JStang mentioned them earlier in the thread. I was super pleased with their work. Gil did the alignment and was cool with me watching it on the rack.

I haven't driven it hard enough to determine the change in handling. FWIW, I was able to get -1.6 degrees in the front.

[Anarchy919]

I just did the Powerflex Black front LCR's and it was a night and day difference. At a Shop in Kissimmee I have been using for 5 Years now at a cost of $145 to put them in.