Are tubular control arms worth it?

[shibui]

Is anybody running them? Were they worth it?

[Feffman]

Is anybody running them? Were they worth it?

One of my stock control arms broke at Mid-Ohio, prompting me to look at the tubular control arms. Ultimately I went with Bimmerworld's (https://www.bimmerworld.com/E46-M3-R...trol-Arms.html) race control arms after chatting extensively with racers David McKee and Brad Perkins (Chicane Motorsports in KC). I sent my uprights to Bimmerworld for the necessary modification (drilling and welding - $250).

The install was straight forward. One bolt hole on each side of the aluminum under panel had to be opened up slightly. Make sure you get the B-World front control arm bushings as their tubular arms don't work with stock FCAB. One thing I feel makes the B-World set up better is the lateral loads are on the welded-on cone (welding modification I mentioned above), not on the 14mm grade 12.9 mounting bolt. This 14mm bolt can also be easily replaced as part of annual maintenance.

Since the hubs were off, I sprung for Core 4 Motorsports front hubs with press-in style MSI studs (https://www.core4motorsports.com/pro...hub-conversion).

What the Bimmerworld control arms did was FINALLY dial out the last bit of understeer on my M3 race car. It sticks like fly-paper all the way through the corners. No more mid-corner push. For me it was well worth it. Feel free to contact me if you need any more input.

Feff

[elbert]

One of my stock control arms broke at Mid-Ohio

Holy crap, do you have a picture of the broken arm?

[Feffman]

Holy crap, do you have a picture of the broken arm?

I don't. It was the ball joint on the passenger side control arm that broke.