Lower Front Control Arms

[Feffman]

Good Day All:

Is anyone running aftermarket adjustable tube-style lower front control arms on their M3? If so would you please offer some insight if they helped handling or front grip. Thank you in advance.

Feff

[FBloggs]

Do you mean Factory replicas or the tube steel items?

when replacing mine, I bought a BMW unit for the left side and could not source the right side. I ended up buying a lemforder right side.
we are told that some of these cheaper replicas from 3rd party are simply BMW with the lettering ground off but the lemforder seemed to be less robust than the BMW unit.

Never used the steel tube units, but optimising the front geometry seems to be the claims.
I imagine they would satisfy the track brief, but not the driving brief.

[Feffman]

Do you mean Factory replicas or the tube steel items?.......

Updated original post to reflect input on adjustable tube-style lower control arms. I tried to find a face-palm emoji for my mistake, but no luck.

Feff

[SteelGreyM]

Curious as to what your looking to gain from it

[Feffman]

Curious as to what your looking to gain from it

Correct the roll center for the lowered race car and dial out the last bit of under steer.

Roll Center Correction Explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQIxW4ivbak

Feff

[SteelGreyM]

Correct the roll center for the lowered race car and dial out the last bit of under steer.

Roll Center Correction Explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQIxW4ivbak

Feff

Great video thank you. Unfortunately, I can’t help you with your situation. Good luck

[bjz!]

Good Day All:

Is anyone running aftermarket adjustable tube-style lower front control arms on their M3? If so would you please offer some insight if they helped handling or front grip. Thank you in advance.

Feff

Helps a lot when you brake if you have the rear control arm support adjustable.

[Tonggi]

Correct the roll center for the lowered race car and dial out the last bit of under steer.

Roll Center Correction Explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQIxW4ivbak

Feff

curious if you ever did anything to fix roll center? Notice any benefits? Interesting read, not sure if I'd even benefit from this since I dont recall this as an option years ago. (or maybe we didnt knnow any better)

[Feffman]

curious if you ever did anything to fix roll center? Notice any benefits? Interesting read, not sure if I'd even benefit from this since I don't recall this as an option years ago. (or maybe we didn't knnow any better)

Yes, I did a complete front end swap to the Bimmerworld Tubular Race Control Arms (https://www.bimmerworld.com/E46-M3-R...trol-Arms.html) and the VAC Bump Steer Correction (https://store.vacmotorsports.com/vac...-m3-p3748.aspx) which allowed me to dial out the last bit of understeer on the M3. The car absolutely sticks in the corners.

Feff

[stash1]

Yes, I did a complete front end swap to the Bimmerworld Tubular Race Control Arms (https://www.bimmerworld.com/E46-M3-R...trol-Arms.html) and the VAC Bump Steer Correction (https://store.vacmotorsports.com/vac...-m3-p3748.aspx) which allowed me to dial out the last bit of understeer on the M3. The car absolutely sticks in the corners.

Feff

Curious, did you ever consider the VAC race front tubular control arms? It's a shame that nobody offers (that I'm aware) a street friendly version of these tubular arms.

[CrookedCommie]

Curious, did you ever consider the VAC race front tubular control arms? It's a shame that nobody offers (that I'm aware) a street friendly version of these tubular arms.

I bought these, they mistakenly shipped two pass side arms, and they weren't built correctly and would not accept the center bearing and stud. Ended up having to fight them with a Paypal dispute to get a refund, even after I shipped everything back per their instructions. Waste of nearly 3 months. Along with one of their older bump steer tie rods breaking on me while on track, I'm no longer considering anything VAC.

[Chas3n]

Steve Dinan’s new company offers them. Although at quite the price.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[bigjae46]

Yes, I did a complete front end swap to the Bimmerworld Tubular Race Control Arms (https://www.bimmerworld.com/E46-M3-R...trol-Arms.html) and the VAC Bump Steer Correction (https://store.vacmotorsports.com/vac...-m3-p3748.aspx) which allowed me to dial out the last bit of understeer on the M3. The car absolutely sticks in the corners.

Feff

Didn't realize they are steel. I remember they used to be aluminum which scares the crap out of me. Then not a terrible deal considering the price of replacement OE and lemforder arms right now.

Do you run less negative camber now?

[Feffman]

....Do you run less negative camber now?

Running:
-3.9 Front
-2.0 Rear

[stash1]

I bought these, they mistakenly shipped two pass side arms, and they weren't built correctly and would not accept the center bearing and stud. Ended up having to fight them with a Paypal dispute to get a refund, even after I shipped everything back per their instructions. Waste of nearly 3 months. Along with one of their older bump steer tie rods breaking on me while on track, I'm no longer considering anything VAC.

Ahhh, faaaak! Good info, thanx for the reply!