1m/m3 front control arm install?

[elitesales305]

just bought the kit for the front trw control arms.. 1m/m3 spec

trying to find a vehicle specific tutorial on the tube for the install..cant find one..
( i perched for like 5 minutes)
any1 know of a tutorial ??
is this that cut and paste where i would need a crash course??

thnx for the input in advance

[128ibro]

Look for E90 videos available more. Taking everything apart is easy and installing as well, but when attaching it with the subframe for the front ones can be painful.

[Tommm]

if you cant get the front one to fit between the rails on the car take the bolt, thread the nut on it, slip it through the hole from the inside, unwind the nut so the head of the bolt is in the hole on the other side and gently "loosen" the nut and it will expand the frame the little bit you need.

Someone posed that in the suspension forum a few days after I muscled the front ones in on my car.
I took off the wheel, fender liner, hung the caliper, removed rotor, then the tin shield, then took the tie rod and the two control arms off of the hub. Then the bolts for the control arm were right there.

Be careful not to break the TPMS receiver wire. The receiver is on the other side of the wheel well. Perfect time to change your fog light bulbs if so inclined.

Did you decide on your alignment specs yet? I did the whiteline rear subrame inserts at the same time. Already had the Koni Sports.

[1and1]

Note that your toe will be way off after install- you'll want to get it back at least close to 0 just so you can get to your alignment

[gjm120]

Search to confirm this, but, I recall that turning each toe are outward by approx 3 turns will get toe to where the car is driveable.

[elitesales305]

yea thankfully i have a good alignment shop like 2 miles away..
gonna try and tackle this myself even tho i was quoted very cheap i believe to switch em out..

[Dackelone]

I like these guys videos. Installing the M control arms is almost the same as replacing the OE parts. Here you go...

and...

[1and1]

Those are pretty good! Great info as always Dack!
Worth noting that the 1M/M3 arms require different headlight adjustment arms- didn't even occur to me till I noticed it wasn't shown in this video. The M arm headlight rods are bolt on, not clip on like the 135 are.

[elitesales305]

Originally Posted by 1and1

Those are pretty good! Great info as always Dack!
Worth noting that the 1M/M3 arms require different headlight adjustment arms- didn't even occur to me till I noticed it wasn't shown in this video. The M arm headlight rods are bolt on, not clip on like the 135 are.

shit... do i need to order a special headlight adj arm ?? one side bolt the other clip??

[1and1]

Part # 37142283867

Here's an example: https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...d/37142283867/

[elitesales305]

Originally Posted by 1and1

Part # 37142283867

Here's an example: https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...d/37142283867/

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-trw-part...102283577mkt1/

bought this one.. looks like the leveling rod u posted???

[1and1]

Yep, should be good, it's in that kit. You still need to grab a second nut though- you can re-use the one you have on your current rod where it bolts to the sensor, but you'll need one for mounting to the arm.

[Zombie_Head]

Originally Posted by gjm120

Search to confirm this, but, I recall that turning each toe are outward by approx 3 turns will get toe to where the car is driveable.

Thank you, alignment shop is 15 kms away, should be drivable.

[gjm120]

Originally Posted by Zombie_Head

Thank you, alignment shop is 15 kms away, should be drivable.

From what I've heard, that could be an interesting ride.

I'm sure you all know that the mounting hardware is supposed to be renewed. They are torque + 90 deg.

[a4nut]

Originally Posted by 1and1

Those are pretty good! Great info as always Dack!
Worth noting that the 1M/M3 arms require different headlight adjustment arms- didn't even occur to me till I noticed it wasn't shown in this video. The M arm headlight rods are bolt on, not clip on like the 135 are.

I did these control arms in conjunction with coilovers about a year ago, but did not change the headlight adjustment arms. I have the active xenons, do I need to do so now?

[1and1]

The stock arms have a notch the adjustment rod clips into- well, around, actually, shown in the first pic taken from the video Dack posted.

The M arms don't have that- they have a spot where the rod bolts on, shown in the second pic below

[elitesales305]

im not looking at the item on ecs now.. but I've bought from them before and almost all the bits i buy come with new hardware.. u guys got me worried ima go search now and see if theyrs a "customers also bought" link towards the bottom..

thanks for your input gents ,always appreciated

[Zombie_Head]

Originally Posted by gjm120

From what I've heard, that could be an interesting ride.

I'm sure you all know that the mounting hardware is supposed to be renewed. They are torque + 90 deg.

My goodness...yes i purchased every single nut, bolt i can find on OE diagrams directly from my dealership. Since i am also replacing the sway bars, brand new brackets as well from the dealership. Costed me around €80 for all the hardware in total (front upper and lower arms hardware, rear subframe bushing hardware etc).