Only front control arms?

z0mghii · 08-03-2023, 12:25 PM

I was looking to make the car a little more fun to drive. Just mainly being used as a daily & some spirited driving. Everything is currently stock on OEM m-sport suspension & pilot sport 4s.

I have very little knowledge on how all these parts work & impact the car but from the threads I was reading, it seemed like most recommendations were:

- m3 front arms
- rear subframe bushings
- m3 rear guide arms

I asked my mechanic who is pretty knowledgeable with the 135i with a track build + participates in local events.

He actually just recommended to me to only do the front m3 control arms and thrust rod arms.

Thoughts?

scratchgolf135 · 08-03-2023, 05:15 PM

From my reading on this forum the rear guide rods make a considerable difference compared to stock. I opted for those on my build but my car is still under the knife so can’t speak to the improvement myself.

fe1rx · 08-03-2023, 06:33 PM

Admittedly this forum is now about 15 years old, and digging through the mountains of information on the suspension takes some doing. I suggest you start with the stickys. This one is not a bad place to start:

https://www.1addicts.com/forums/show...66&postcount=1

To cut to the chase - nobody who knows anything about these cars will suggest that you do anything else to your suspension until you change the rear subframe bushings. Solid is good, M3 is good, inserts are better than nothing (apparently).

That is, unless you just want to put something shiny on your car, which is legitimate - its your car after all. But don't point to a reading of the forum to justify you choice.

No subject has been more thoroughly flogged on this forum, and for good reason.

SKI-R · 08-03-2023, 06:37 PM

Personally, I felt RSFB were the most impactful for a daily. Then some front camber, whether it’s via arms, offset bushings or plates. Of course it’s all subjective opinion. Fe1rx has an entire quantified thread on OEM vs various ‘ upgraded’ suspension pieces in here that I recommend consulting if you have opportunity.

Doh. AND - the man has spoken while I was typing!

scratchgolf135 · 08-04-2023, 08:19 AM

Listen to fe1rx, he's done the homework on suspension upgrades and I followed a lot of his findings when I did mine. I followed this advice and did my subframe bushings (used Condor myself) before I even touched my 84k mile oem suspension, let alone the M arms. Generally people on here will say RSFB->Tires->Shocks/springs/struts->Control Arms->Sway Bars (if at all and usually front only, leave rear alone). I followed this same order of progression myself fwiw.

atr_hugo · 08-09-2023, 08:49 AM

I just did the rear sub-frame bushing inserts (Whiteline) and they made a significant difference in wide open throttle (WOT) acceleration - w/o the bushing inserts the driveline has to 'wind up' (there's a lot of slop/slack that has to be taken up), the inserts have made WOT acceleration more immediate.

I upgraded the front control arms to M3 and the steering feel (plus additional negative camber) has improved. I did not touch the rear control arms.

ShocknAwe · 08-09-2023, 05:31 PM

Solid aluminum rsfb then slowly do all the arms

08-03-2023, 12:25 PM	#1
z0mghii Private 8 Rep 52 Posts Drives: E82 135i Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (0)	Only front control arms? I was looking to make the car a little more fun to drive. Just mainly being used as a daily & some spirited driving. Everything is currently stock on OEM m-sport suspension & pilot sport 4s. I have very little knowledge on how all these parts work & impact the car but from the threads I was reading, it seemed like most recommendations were: - m3 front arms - rear subframe bushings - m3 rear guide arms I asked my mechanic who is pretty knowledgeable with the 135i with a track build + participates in local events. He actually just recommended to me to only do the front m3 control arms and thrust rod arms. Thoughts?
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08-03-2023, 05:15 PM	#2
scratchgolf135 First Lieutenant 281 Rep 373 Posts Drives: alpine white 135i Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Fishers, IN iTrader: (0)	From my reading on this forum the rear guide rods make a considerable difference compared to stock. I opted for those on my build but my car is still under the knife so can’t speak to the improvement myself.
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08-03-2023, 06:33 PM	#3
fe1rx Captain 1432 Rep 783 Posts Drives: 135i, 328i, Cayman S Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada iTrader: (3)	Admittedly this forum is now about 15 years old, and digging through the mountains of information on the suspension takes some doing. I suggest you start with the stickys. This one is not a bad place to start: https://www.1addicts.com/forums/show...66&postcount=1 To cut to the chase - nobody who knows anything about these cars will suggest that you do anything else to your suspension until you change the rear subframe bushings. Solid is good, M3 is good, inserts are better than nothing (apparently). That is, unless you just want to put something shiny on your car, which is legitimate - its your car after all. But don't point to a reading of the forum to justify you choice. No subject has been more thoroughly flogged on this forum, and for good reason.
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08-03-2023, 06:37 PM	#4
SKI-R Working towards usefulness 159 Rep 238 Posts Drives: 128i, Tundra, B8S4 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Canmore iTrader: (1)	Personally, I felt RSFB were the most impactful for a daily. Then some front camber, whether it’s via arms, offset bushings or plates. Of course it’s all subjective opinion. Fe1rx has an entire quantified thread on OEM vs various ‘ upgraded’ suspension pieces in here that I recommend consulting if you have opportunity. Doh. AND - the man has spoken while I was typing! __________________ 09 128i Slicktop - TCKlines, KMac Plates, M3 RSFB, M3 RSB, Hotchkis FSB/endlinks, 1M brace, Wavetrac, Coolerworx, JKVK headers, RPM Motorsport Tune, Yokohama A052 255/40/17s
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08-04-2023, 08:19 AM	#5
scratchgolf135 First Lieutenant 281 Rep 373 Posts Drives: alpine white 135i Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Fishers, IN iTrader: (0)	Listen to fe1rx, he's done the homework on suspension upgrades and I followed a lot of his findings when I did mine. I followed this advice and did my subframe bushings (used Condor myself) before I even touched my 84k mile oem suspension, let alone the M arms. Generally people on here will say RSFB->Tires->Shocks/springs/struts->Control Arms->Sway Bars (if at all and usually front only, leave rear alone). I followed this same order of progression myself fwiw. __________________ IG: t_turner64
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08-09-2023, 08:49 AM	#6
atr_hugo No longer moderate 325 Rep 4,401 Posts Drives: '13 135i Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: - iTrader: (0)	I just did the rear sub-frame bushing inserts (Whiteline) and they made a significant difference in wide open throttle (WOT) acceleration - w/o the bushing inserts the driveline has to 'wind up' (there's a lot of slop/slack that has to be taken up), the inserts have made WOT acceleration more immediate. I upgraded the front control arms to M3 and the steering feel (plus additional negative camber) has improved. I did not touch the rear control arms.
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08-09-2023, 05:31 PM	#7
ShocknAwe 1Addict 3239 Rep 7,905 Posts Drives: E82 Mutt, M57 Truck Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Charleston iTrader: (22)	Solid aluminum rsfb then slowly do all the arms __________________ 2010 135i 6MT Jet Black N54/3 FE82 Mutt \| BUILD THREAD \| GARAGE SALE
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