I've been on bf.c for a little while, but never realized it had a special georgia form. anyway, i drive a black 325e, and recently got into an accident. I'm 16 and have no money/time(school and work @ steak n shake) to go looking for parts, but here's my current problem:

hit the back pass. side into a curb, then brought the front end into it too... the back wheel wobbled so much it was hitting the side of the car, and the steering was so off that i had to turn the wheel arround once all teh way to go straight. Here's what i figured i'd damaged:

*front + back wheel/tire (already replaced both)
*rear axle (the inner boot was messed up after driving it 2 yards) i replaced the axle after many many hours of work trying to find the parts/install em/get teh right ones/etc
*front control arm (replacing monday)

Anyway, since i now have the axle on, the car is drivable.... but it looks as if the back wheel is turned as if it has a steering wheel turning it inwards. My neighbor looked and measured a few things and said the rotor wasn't exactly in the same spot as the other one, but thought it would be alright. Anwayy my control arm is bent REALLY bad in the front and it turns the wheel to ATLEAST a 25 degree turn. This monday, i'm planning on driving it up to my freinds shop on the highway. I already went down the street (in my neighborhood) and i got to 60 mph, and decided i should not drive it any faster than that. probably shouldn't drive it that, but i do have an extra tire im not too woried about.

Anyway, are tehre any suggestions on what i should do? My neighbor says that the front is just the control arm, which is what i thought too. The drive to my friend's shop is about 10 miles. When i drive i have enough control to be on the side of the highway with the blinkers on and a friend behind me. I don't have the tools to do the front control arm here... and for the rear axle i had to rent a torque wrench which i returned... but i dont think napa rents out the tools i'll need for the front.

Anyway, i love this car and even though it's in really bad condition right now, i'm planning on having it in 100% best working/looking order possible by summer, but i do need it to be in drivable condition as soon as possible.

I heard a suggestion the rear control arm/subframe is bent? i diddnt know there was a rear control arm, and the rear subframe seems big, but does anyone have any suggestions on what i should do? and any price estimates or anyone parting out a car that could give me a good price? I'd really appreciate any help i could get.

sorry for the somewhat long post

thx
Tom

I've been on bf.c for a little while, but never realized it had a special georgia form. anyway, i drive a black 325e, and recently got into an accident. I'm 16 and have no money/time(school and work @ steak n shake) to go looking for parts, but here's my current problem:

hit the back pass. side into a curb, then brought the front end into it too... the back wheel wobbled so much it was hitting the side of the car, and the steering was so off that i had to turn the wheel arround once all teh way to go straight. Here's what i figured i'd damaged:

*front + back wheel/tire (already replaced both)
*rear axle (the inner boot was messed up after driving it 2 yards) i replaced the axle after many many hours of work trying to find the parts/install em/get teh right ones/etc
*front control arm (replacing monday)

Anyway, since i now have the axle on, the car is drivable.... but it looks as if the back wheel is turned as if it has a steering wheel turning it inwards. My neighbor looked and measured a few things and said the rotor wasn't exactly in the same spot as the other one, but thought it would be alright. Anwayy my control arm is bent REALLY bad in the front and it turns the wheel to ATLEAST a 25 degree turn. This monday, i'm planning on driving it up to my freinds shop on the highway. I already went down the street (in my neighborhood) and i got to 60 mph, and decided i should not drive it any faster than that. probably shouldn't drive it that, but i do have an extra tire im not too woried about.

Anyway, are tehre any suggestions on what i should do? My neighbor says that the front is just the control arm, which is what i thought too. The drive to my friend's shop is about 10 miles. When i drive i have enough control to be on the side of the highway with the blinkers on and a friend behind me. I don't have the tools to do the front control arm here... and for the rear axle i had to rent a torque wrench which i returned... but i dont think napa rents out the tools i'll need for the front.

Anyway, i love this car and even though it's in really bad condition right now, i'm planning on having it in 100% best working/looking order possible by summer, but i do need it to be in drivable condition as soon as possible.

I heard a suggestion the rear control arm/subframe is bent? i diddnt know there was a rear control arm, and the rear subframe seems big, but does anyone have any suggestions on what i should do? and any price estimates or anyone parting out a car that could give me a good price? I'd really appreciate any help i could get.

sorry for the somewhat long post

thx
Tom
Dunno but if it were me, I'd tow it or have it towed

Let me get this straight... Your rear wheel is turned inward, but your neighbor thinks it'll be OK?

First off, get advice from someone besides your neighbor. He doesn't know what he's talking about.

You probably bent your rear trailing arm and likely the rear shock on that side. It is NOT alright. You can get a used one in a junkyard for $40 or so, but you'll need to go pull it yourself. You could also get a used one from Strictly German or some other used parts source.

I suggest paying someone to fix it for you. A shop, not a neighbor.

Don't drive it, you wheel could fall off if you didn't replace the rear halfshaft properly.

Matt

sorry about that, my neighbor did not see when the wheel was placed on the hub... the hub did look straight to me too. Unfortunatly, i do not have the money to tow it because in the last 4 months, i have had that car towed 8 times by AAA and they will not tow it again for free. To replace the halfshaft, we took the shock off and put it back on, and in my unprofessional oppinion it seemed fine. im going to go look up the trailling arm right now.

10 miles will be $20 to tow it by AAA. Borrow it from your parents or work 3 extra hours at steak and shake. You're gonna do more damage/risk more damage driving it.

hmmm, i might have to tow it then. at steak n shake i get paid 5.23 an hour, so that's more than 3 hours :mad but its' all good. i just wanna have my car lookin decent and running perfect before it starts getting nice out.

indeed, the black 325e's have to look nice for summer.

Welcome to the GA section.

How long have you been working at Stake and Shake? Do you know Cody Scholberg?

Welcome


Do you know Cody Scholberg?
he still works there?

Welcome,
I would normally offer to help you with your car, but I'm real busy the next two weeks. But good luck and welcome.

he still works there?

Not sure. Last I heard he was leaving the country to go live in a dojo for some whack asian herbal body cleaning and ninja training thing.... or something.

(not joking- for those of you who know cody know he would do something like that :eyecrazy )

ive only been working at steak n shake for about 7 months, and i dont think i know any codys. I'm workin @ the one off 9 (on 400) which is northpoint parkway, and im the youngest there by atleast 10 years so he probably works at a different one. Anyway, all i need to do now is get a brushing for the front control arm, and press it on to the new control arm (correct me if i'm wrong), and install it. After that it should be driveable untill i figure out exactly how bad the subframe/trailing arm/control arm/whatever is. thanks for all your replys, i had no idea this many people lived anywhere near me on bf.c

I feel your pain your man. I'm also young, 18. I have indeed had my share of stuiped car incidents, we all have. Hang in there, its only a matter of time until it will be over.

I had an 86 325e in college and wish I still had it. It had like 350k miles on it and still ran perfectly. Those years they were over-engineered cars, hang on to yours.

If you get a new lower control arm, the ball joints should all be there already. As for the bushing at the back, it may be torn from the impact. A quick visual inspection will tell you that though. Those have to be pressed into the big round thing bolted to the unibody though, not onto the control arm. (well, they get forced onto the control arm, or rather the control arm gets forced into them, but it doesn't require tools. Just lots of lube.)

Also, don't drive it. If the rear tire is toe'd funky, something back there is bent. I don't have a good mental image of the rear suspension of an E30 in my head at the moment, so I can't say what it will most likely be. WTF locates the hub in the rear and controls toe? I know what would be bent on an E36...

Where's channing?

They're trailing arms.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=1554&mospid=47321&btnr=33_0213&hg=33&fg=30

Matt