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ECS BMW Control Arm Replacements & Upgrades

Control arms, and their integrated ball joints, are some of the most crucial components on a BMW suspension. The control arms literally control the wheel and suspension as they go through their range of motions. They do more than just keep the alignment in a constant spec - they are a vital locating component for the suspension itself. A faulty or worn control arm or ball joint is a very dangerous and potentially life-threatening problem so make sure they are inspected and replaced at regular intervals.

Most control arms for BMWs consist of an inner and outer ball joint made of plastic, rubber, Delrin, or metal and covered in grease with a rubber boot to seal it from the outside. The ball joint rotates and spins as the control arm goes through its movements and that will wear the ball joint and make it loose. The grease inside the housing can also get used up, evaporate, or become contaminated from moisture and foreign particles. As the ball joint becomes worn it can result in excess movement within the housing. Your steering and handling will become less precise and there is usually a light clunking or clicking sound. In rare and extreme cases the ball joint can separate from the control arm completely, leading to a total loss of suspension and steering control. You should have the ball joint play checked annually and replace them every 3-4 years. Most track organizations will not allow a car if they are older than three years.

Control arms also take abuse from impacts and handling forces. Aluminum control arms will generally bend and prevent an accurate alignment. Steel control arms will crack and fracture and require close inspection annually and replacement every 3-4 years.

We sell OE BMW, OEM, and performance upgrade control arms from proven manufacturers. The control arm is so important to a BMW suspension that we insist on only top quality brands and designs and will never sell a control arm based on price alone. We also have upgrade packages with superior designs and better bushing options and we have bundled these together with valuable package savings.

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ECS Tuning Performance Adjustable Rear Control Arm Set - E36 E46 Z4 E...
affirm Starting At 0% APR - Subject To Eligibility. See Lending Terms
Earn 5% back in Turner Rewards on orders placed 10/28-10/31. Redeem 11/27-12/1. Terms & conditions apply
ECS - Corporate Logo
T#:376801
Part#: 002608ECS01
Ships on Jun 30, 2026
Sale - Save 35% $ 449.99

This product was last offered at the strikethrough price on
05-02-2026

$ 292.49 USD
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Sale - Save 35%
$ 449.99

This product was last offered at the strikethrough price on
05-02-2026

$ 292.49 USD
Free Shipping

Stock rear lower control arms offer very little adjustment for alignment, especially in lowered vehicles, due to their use of an eccentric bolt. These aftermarket performance control arms from ECS Tuning are designed for maximum adjustability, allowing you to maximize handling and minimize tire wear.

To ensure maximum reliability, ECS Tuning's control arms are constructed from strong, lightweight 6061-T6 aluminum and feature a 303 stainless steel center turnbuckle that offers over 8 degrees of fast and precise camber adjustment. The inner bushing is a stock style serviceable OEM bushing for long life and inexpensive maintenance.

Features:

Durable construction suitable for the daily driver and track car alike
8+ degrees adjustment range for dialing in any suspension and wheel/tire setup
Center located adjuster for maximum clearance during adjustment
OEM-style bushing for long life and inexpensive service
Black anodized 6061-T6 aluminum with 303 stainless steel turnbuckle
Includes new hardware
*With the exception of the stance community, most enthusiasts will need no more than a few degrees of adjustment range. Total adjustment often is dependent on wheel/tire clearances.

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E82/E9X Rear Lower Aluminum Trailing Arms (Pair)
affirm Starting At 0% APR - Subject To Eligibility. See Lending Terms
ECS - Corporate Logo
T#:363261
Part#: 001258ECS01
In Stock
Sale - Save 30% $ 389.99

This product was last offered at the strikethrough price on
05-02-2026

$ 272.99 USD
Free Shipping
Sale - Save 30%
$ 389.99

This product was last offered at the strikethrough price on
05-02-2026

$ 272.99 USD
Free Shipping

The rear lower control arms on E82/E9X models are the weakest link in the rear suspension. The arm is made from folded sheetmetal and it bends and deforms easily. Not only will it deform from potholes and curbs, tow truck drivers love to hook onto them without realizing how weak they are. We have seen other race teams complete the box section to make them stronger. A bent arm will throw off the geometry in the suspension, potentially affecting handling and tire wear. These aluminum arms are both lighter and stronger than the factory sheetmetal arms and is the best solution for chronic bending of the stock arm. These are a direct replacement to your stock arms with no changes needed to your alignment. New high-grade hardware is included.

Note: the stock arm is designed from the factory to be intentionally weak. These arms will bend so that something else in the suspension does not break. Our race cars used the stock sheetmetal arm but we replaced them often. We found that it was better to finish a race with a bent arm than not finish due to a catastrophic failure. The ECS arms are still designed to be the weakest link but are far stronger than the factory arm and will not bend as easily.

This item fits the following BMWs:

2008-2013 E82 E88 BMW 128i 135i 1M Coupe
2006-2011 E90 BMW 325i 325xi 328i 328xi 330i 330xi 335i 335xi M3 - Sedan
2007-2011 E91 BMW 325i 325xi 328i 328xi - Touring Wagon
2007-2013 E92 BMW 328i 328xi 335i 335is 335xi M3 - Coupe
2007-2013 E93 BMW 328i 335i 335is M3 - Convertible

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ECS Rear Trailing Arm Bushing Limiter Set
affirm Starting At 0% APR - Subject To Eligibility. See Lending Terms
ECS - Corporate Logo
T#:362987
Part#: 003301ECS01AKT
In Stock
Sale - Save 5% $ 86.99

This product was last offered at the strikethrough price on
05-02-2026

$ 82.64 USD
Free Shipping
Sale - Save 5%
$ 86.99

This product was last offered at the strikethrough price on
05-02-2026

$ 82.64 USD
Free Shipping

The E36/E46 rear trailing arm bushings (RTABs) wear out faster than any other bushing on the car. Worn RTAB will cause excessive toe alignment change and give a 'loose' or 'floaty' feeling in the rear handling. One of the reasons for this is that they over-extend during motion, stretching and twisting the rubber in all directions. These shims sit on either side of the bushing and limit the amount of extension from the bushing. Not only will you get more life from your RTAB but these will help stiffen the bushing during cornering. But during normal driving you will still have all of the comfort of the stock rubber bushings. These part about these bushings is how easy they are to install - simply slide them in place during your bushing install. They can be added to pre-installed bushings too by dropping the trailing arm and removing the cage around the bushing.

Works with stock rubber bushings only (not urethane or Delrin).

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