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Thread: will E36 front control arms fit E30? answers asap plz

  1. #1
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    will E36 front control arms fit E30? answers asap plz

    need to know if i can use an E36 front control arm on my E30. have a bad ball joint on one of the arms on the car and i dint want to pay a buttload for a new E30 arm and the only second hand ones are not local. there are plenty of E36's in the local yard so im thinking i could fit an arm from an E36... will it alter any of the geometry on that side? looks the same to me but havent done a side by side comparison.

    - My E30: Project 325i

    - WMMotorsports.co.uk

  2. #2
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    Yes, they will.

    96-99 M3's have different geometry, but all other e36 are the same.
    Tenured Automotive Service Professional - Avid BMW Enthusiast

  3. #3
    Join Date
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    i know they fit as such because alot of the 5 stub conversions use E36 arms im just not sure if they will alter the geometry or anything because i know some 5 stud converted cars end up with the front wheels a little further back in the arches. is this only the case with 96-99 E36 M3 arms or with all e36 arms?

    see im thinking if the geometry isnt different i could pick up an E36 arm and bushing with the lollipop bracket and just stick the lot in on the side im getting the knocking/creaking from. it sounds like a knocking ball joint sometimes but it also kind of sounds like a dry creaking bushing to me too. i have already fit new drop links and new OEM front arb bushes to no avail and i cant seem to find out what the cause of the noise is. it only does it once the car has been warmed fully and driven a bit then it will do it ll day long after that unless i let the car sit for like half the day before driving it again.

    - My E30: Project 325i

    - WMMotorsports.co.uk

  4. #4
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    are there any performance gains from doing this?

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by groundpilots View Post
    are there any performance gains from doing this?
    No. E36 control arms actually are less robust (fail much sooner) than e30.
    Tenured Automotive Service Professional - Avid BMW Enthusiast

  6. #6
    Join Date
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    E30 325i Coupe
    handy to know if i ever find myself with another E36. also it looks like there are 2 types of arm for E30's, early and late. was at the dealer looking up some parts and they tell me there is one with holes in the arm and one without. think holes = later.

    so i should be good to replace the side with the worn out ball joint with an E36 peice then. coolness.. only other options are to drive out of my way to get a 2nd hand E30 arm or to get a 2nd hand E36 arm. priced new from BMW but at £100 a side id rather not. i could buy 5 from a junk yard for the price of a new one.
    Last edited by DmcL; 06-24-2009 at 12:53 PM.

    - My E30: Project 325i

    - WMMotorsports.co.uk

  7. #7
    Join Date
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    There are only 2 types of e30 front control arms.

    Solid Aluminum (e30 M3) and steel /w holes (non M)
    Tenured Automotive Service Professional - Avid BMW Enthusiast

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