BMW Control Arm Replacements & Upgrades for BMW Z3 (1996-2002)

This E36 or Z3 front control arm is a direct replacement for the original part and is the OEM Lemforder brand.

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. 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. For a street-driven car we advise yearly inspection and a full replacement every 3-4 years. For track-driven cars these should be inspected before every event and replaced every two years.

We also recommend replacing the bushings when changing the control arms. The bushings are mounted at the back of the control arm and located the arm to the frame rail on the car. The stock bushings are rubber and will wear out sooner than the control arms themselves. With the control arm off the car now is the perfect time to also replace the bushings.

Control arms begin to wear over time, leading to sloppy control of your vehicle. Anything from knocking, steering vibration, or even loss of vehicle control could occur. An OEM replacement from Lemförder is the perfect option to restore control and suspension quality.

OEM Lemförder is an engineering company that focuses on high-quality, precision manufacturing of critical suspension and steering components. Providing exceptionally high quality parts directly to BMW, as well as 50+ other big name automotive companies, such as Mercedes and Audi, their history of reliability and variety of offered parts makes them one of the biggest names for a go-to OEM parts provider. Lemförder parts place an important emphasis on design, production, and assembly, ensuring maximum reliability. They even coat all parts possible with corrosion protection for extended longevity.

As a leading source of high performance BMW parts and accessories since 1993, we at Turner Motorsport are honored to be the go-to supplier for tens of thousands of enthusiasts the world over. With over two decades of parts, service, and racing experience under our belt, we provide only quality performance and replacement parts.  All of our performance parts are those we would (and do!) install and run on our own cars, as well as replacement parts that are Genuine BMW or from OEM manufacturers. We only offer parts we know you can trust to perform!

This item fits the following BMWs:
1992-1995 E36 3 Series 325i, 325is & 325ic
1993-1999 E36 3 Series 318i, 318is & 318ti
1996-1998 E36 3 Series 328i, 328is, 328ic, 323is & 323ic
1996-2002 Z3 Roadster/Coupe including 1.9, 2.3, 2.3, 2.5, 2.8 & 3.0 (no M)

Control arms begin to wear over time, leading to sloppy control of your vehicle. Anything from knocking, steering vibration, or even loss of vehicle control could occur. An OEM replacement from Lemförder is the perfect option to restore control and suspension quality.

OEM Lemförder is an engineering company that focuses on high-quality, precision manufacturing of critical suspension and steering components. Providing exceptionally high quality parts directly to BMW, as well as 50+ other big name automotive companies, such as Mercedes and Audi, their history of reliability and variety of offered parts makes them one of the biggest names for a go-to OEM parts provider. Lemförder parts place an important emphasis on design, production, and assembly, ensuring maximum reliability. They even coat all parts possible with corrosion protection for extended longevity.

One common weak point in the E36 3-series model range is in the mounting and ball joints of the suspension. The front suspension ball joints in particular are prone to wearing out quite quickly thanks to a soft material in the ball joint itself, leaving you in a potentially dangerous situation. At best, worn ball joints and bushings will give you poor steering feedback and clunking noises. However, loose or worn ball joints will have excessive play which will drastically reduce the effectiveness of the steering and suspension. In extreme cases, the ball joint has been known to pop free of the control arm, resulting in total steering loss.

Meyle has addressed this problem with a higher-grade metal in their HD ball joints, similar to those used on the E36 M3. The metal will not wear or fatigue nearly as fast as the standard ball joints. The lifespan is greatly extended. A side benefit of the stiffer joint is better steering response. The metal will not flex or deflect like plastic, rubber, or any other material. The lack of play will mean sharper steering, restoring much of the car's precision and fun-to-drive character. Meyle is a German brand in business since 1958 and all of their products are TUV approved and meet or exceed ISO standards.

We supply the Meyle HD control arms as a set with new M3 rubber control arm bushings. You can choose bushings with either a centered hole (same as stock original) or with an offset hole (adds caster and camber). The stock rubber bushings (manufactured by Boge) will be perfect for most people but if you're looking for an upgrade, the offset bushings will give the car quicker steering response. The solid rubber mounts last longer and give better feedback than the original web design.

All Meyle HD parts come with a 4-year, unlimited mileage warranty.

Features:

• 4 Year Warranty

• All metal ball joints are more reliable and longer lasting than stock

• Bushings are solid rubber rather than fluid filled, providing longevity and handling feel improvements

Package Options:
Bushings without control arm brackets.
Bushings pre-installed into new control arm brackets

Applications:
1992-1999 E36 318i, 318is, 323i, 323is, 325i, 325is, 328i, 328is, including all sedan, coupe, and convertible models.
1995-1999 E36 318ti Compact and hatchback models
1996-2001 Z3 1.9, 2.3, 2.5, 2.8, 3.0

Eliminate the most common sources of suspension slop with our all new Turner Suspension Refresh Kits that feature only OEM parts! We do not include any "cheap parts" in our refresh kits to ensure long-lasting reliability and noise-free suspension.

This Level 2 kit replaces:

Subframe Bushings
Shock Mounts & Reinforcement Plates
Polyurethane Diff Bushing
Rear Trailing Arm Bushings
Sway Bar End Links
Hardware