Awful handling. Something is definitely off.

[trudriv3r]

I’ve had the e46 for a couple years but never really got to drive it as I was getting bodywork done to it and dealing with body shops. Fun times! I just got it back, and forgot just how bad it handled. While in second gear, if I push it, the car goes all over the place. The car is not that strong for it to not be stable. It’s legit unsafe to drive. If I drive above 50 mph, I constantly have to try and keep the car straight. The car has 182k miles and I am not sure what the history was. When I bought the car I knew a lot of stuff would have to be changed. So far these are the parts I will be refreshing in regards to the suspension:

Subframe Bushings
Sway Bar Bushings
Tie Rod Assembly
Sway Bar Links
Stabilizer Bar Bushings
Control Arm Bushings (Front and Rear)
Control Arm Assembly
Trailing Arm Ball Joint
Coil Over Kit
Steering Coupling Assembly (Not suspension related, but still changing)

Subframe will be reinforced as well with Vince plates and bar

Is there anything else I should be considering before I attack this project? I have other stuff that I will be doing as well, not related to the suspension:

Differential Mounts
Engine Mounts
Transmission Mounts
Exhaust Hangers
Driveshaft Guibo
Rod bearings
VANOS

Anything else I am missing, please add. Thanks in advance.

[SQ13]

Tires?

[Icecream]

What coilovers?
alignment?
Is everything installed correctly?

[trudriv3r]

Tires?

Tires are good. Just recently got them installed and balanced.

[trudriv3r]

What coilovers?
alignment?
Is everything installed correctly?

Well I havent installed the parts yet. Havent done an alignment pending installation of the parts. Just mainly wanted to see that I was on the right track with the parts I have on hand and plan on changing soon.

[Obioban]

Are you running Hankook V12s? If so, that's the issue.

If not, I'd suspect and RTAB issue before anything else.

... and if it's not that, check your subframe mount points.

[repoman89]

Are you running Hankook V12s? If so, that's the issue.

If not, I'd suspect and RTAB issue before anything else.

I hated the V12s as much as anyone but the OP has a bigger issue than that. They are harsh, loud and don’t justify it with grip but when I had them the car was at least stable and had no problem driving in a straight line at highway speeds.

Agreed with RTABs though and also sounds like you need an alignment after all the suspension changes.

[Obioban]

I hated the V12s as much as anyone but the OP has a bigger issue than that. They are harsh, loud and don’t justify it with grip but when I had them the car was at least stable and had no problem driving in a straight line at highway speeds.

Agreed with RTABs though and also sounds like you need an alignment after all the suspension changes.

I had a friend whose car drove as described in the OP and, after days of trying to diagnose it, it turned out the issue was V12s

[trudriv3r]

In changing the RTAB's, will the Trailing Arm Ball Joints I got be enough, or do I also need Trailing Arm Bushings? I may be confused here. Also, are OE bushings the way to go?

[Halftim3]

How many ball joints did you order? There should be 4 in the rear. Outer, upper and lower in each trailing arm. Typically, OE is used.
For trailing arm bushings, typically used is OE with limiters which can be had for $55 altogether or upgrade to monoball around $265.
Get the upgraded diff bolts part# 23001222891 if you haven't already. You either get a new rear diff cover or e36 rear diff mounts pressed in part# 33171134872.
Also, check/refresh the rear outer/inner cv boots, repack with fresh grease, new axle nuts and e12 bolts.
Also, might as well do new wheel bearings and rear hubs if needed.

[zzyzx85]

In changing the RTAB's, will the Trailing Arm Ball Joints I got be enough, or do I also need Trailing Arm Bushings? I may be confused here. Also, are OE bushings the way to go?

The main ones to replace is the Rear Trailing Arm Bushing. A good upgrade is changing out the bushing to a sealed/monoball bearing (such as the one from Syncro Design Work or Turner Motorsports). The bushings have a lot of "squish" in them and don't offer the same degree of freedom of motion as a bearing..

[kaiv]

I'm thinking punched out RTABs or RACP failure.

[trudriv3r]

How many ball joints did you order? There should be 4 in the rear. Outer, upper and lower in each trailing arm. Typically, OE is used.
For trailing arm bushings, typically used is OE with limiters which can be had for $55 altogether or upgrade to monoball around $265.
Get the upgraded diff bolts part# 23001222891 if you haven't already. You either get a new rear diff cover or e36 rear diff mounts pressed in part# 33171134872.
Also, check/refresh the rear outer/inner cv boots, repack with fresh grease, new axle nuts and e12 bolts.
Also, might as well do new wheel bearings and rear hubs if needed.

Here is what I ordered and have on hand (not installed), with the link and quantity for each:

Subframe Bushings - https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...46rearmountkit - Qty. 1
Sway Bar Bushings - https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...mw-31352229756 - Qty. 2
Tie Rod Assembly - https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...em-32112228785 - Qty. 1
Tie Rod Assembly - https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...-32112228786-1 - Qty. 1
Sway Bar Links - https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...-31351095694my - Qty. 2
Sway Bar Links - https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...z4-33552283743 - Qty. 2
Stabilizer Bar Bushings - https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...z4-33552282682 - Qty. 2
Control Arm Bushings - https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...m-33326770824l - Qty. 2
Control Arm Bushings - https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...em-33321092247 - Qty. 2
Trailing Arm Ball Joint - https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...46-33326775551 - Qty. 2
Differential Bolt - https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...lt-23001222891 - Qty. 2
Differential Bushing - https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...nt-33172282484 - Qty. 2

Engine Mount - https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...nt-11812283798 - Qty. 2
Guibo - https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...5-26112226527l - Qty. 1
Transmission Mount - https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...m3-22322282340 - Qty. 2

Still Need to Buy:
Front Control Arm Kit - https://www.ecstuning.com/b-uro-part...122229454~uro/

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-uro-parts/front-lower-control-arm-left/31122229453~uro/

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-bremmen-parts/front-control-arm-housing-set/3112222962xkt/

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-powerflex-parts/performance-polyurethane-control-arm-bushing-set/pff5-4601m3x2~pf/

Trailing Arm Monoball Kit - https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...ign-works-rtab (If I get this, do I still keep and install the Trailing Arm Ball Joints I already have?)

CV Boot Kit - https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...kn-33217840673 - Qty. 2
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/vai...er-33217840674 - Qty. 2

Differential Cover Bushings - https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...co-33171134872 - Qty. 2

Rear Shock Mounts - https://www.bimmerworld.com/Suspensi...0-E36-E46.html

Front Shock Tower Reinforcement Plate - https://www.rogueengineering.com/Fro...XE8X_p_27.html

Part number for E12 Bolts and how many?

Would there be anything additional for this suspension refresh?

[trudriv3r]

I'm thinking punched out RTABs or RACP failure.

RACP failure?! Yikes, definitely hope that is not true. Is there any coming back from that if it is the case?

[Halftim3]

You need 2 more trailing arm ball joints and yes you still need it if your order the syncro design rtabs.

You only need 1 front diff mount, not 2.
Rear diff mount/cover you need 2.

e12 rear axle bolts part# 33211227664
12 total

rear axle nuts 33411133785

Hth