Replacing lower control arms....again.... what brand lasts ?

[Mp5]

I have put at least 2-3 sets of lower control arms on myself and I,m only getting 30k miles out of them is that normal?
I,m not getting dealer parts they are from FCP euro.

What brand will stand up to our wonderful roads?

This time I will spend more to get a decent set.
I,m liking R.AUTO because of choicehttp://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframecatalog.php?ck[ID]=0&ck[idlist]=0&ck[viewcurrency]=USD&ck[PHP_SESSION_ID]=ou9esqbkgehmokfcn4fhooj757




Related Parts Choose for Me to Minimize Cost
2001 BMW 325I 2.5L L6 : Suspension : Control Arm Price
MOOG Part # BMTC3936 Steering Type: Control Arm
Rear Axle, Left and right
* Stocked in outlying warehouse--shipping delayed up to 2 business days
$55.79

BECK/ARNLEY Part # 1015411 {Click Info Link for Alternate/OEM Part Numbers}
Rear Lower

$62.79

DORMAN Part # 520919 {Click Info Link for Alternate/OEM Part Numbers} Control Arm w/Ball Joint
Front Left Lower

$65.79

DORMAN Part # 520920 {Click Info Link for Alternate/OEM Part Numbers} Control Arm w/Ball Joint
Front Right Lower

$65.89

ULTRAPOWER Part # K80527
Control Arm w/Ball Joint Except 4 WHEEL/ALL WHEEL DRIVE,PROBLEM SOLVER - FRONT LEFT LOWER; SPORT WAGON

$68.79

ACDELCO Part # 45D3459 {#19264303}
ARM,FRT LWR CONT LEFT HAND; COMPLETE ARM WITH BALL JOINT

Choose:
* Stocked in outlying warehouse--shipping delayed up to 5 business days
$73.79

ULTRAPOWER Part # K80528
Control Arm w/Ball Joint Except 4 WHEEL/ALL WHEEL DRIVE,PROBLEM SOLVER - FRONT RIGHT LOWER; SPORT WAGON

$75.79

MOOG Part # RK80527 R-Series; Complete Arm w/ Ball Joint
Front Left Lower
$83.79

MOOG Part # RK80528 R-Series; Complete Arm w/ Ball Joint
Front Right Lower
$83.79

FLENNOR Part # FL630F Steering Type: Control Arm
Left and right, Rear Axle

* Stocked in outlying warehouse--shipping delayed up to 7 business days
$84.99

MEVOTECH Part # MK80527 {#K80527} Control Arm and Ball Joint Assembly; Suspension Incl Bushings
Front Left Lower; Body code E46

$88.79

ULTRAPOWER Part # MS10191
Control Arm w/Ball Joint 4 WHEEL/ALL WHEEL DRIVE,ASSEMBLY - FRONT RIGHT LOWER - E46 BODY; SPORT WAGON
Control Arm w/Ball Joint 4 WHEEL/ALL WHEEL DRIVE,FRONT RIGHT LOWER - E46 BODY; SPORT WAGON

$88.79

ULTRAPOWER Part # MS10190
Control Arm w/Ball Joint 4 WHEEL/ALL WHEEL DRIVE,FRONT LEFT LOWER - E46 BODY; SPORT WAGON
Control Arm w/Ball Joint 4 WHEEL/ALL WHEEL DRIVE,ASSEMBLY - FRONT LEFT LOWER - E46 BODY; SPORT WAGON

$88.79

MEVOTECH Part # MK80528 {#K80528} Control Arm and Ball Joint Assembly; Includes Bushings
Front Right Lower; Body code E46

$89.79

BECK/ARNLEY Part # 1015107 {Click Info Link for Alternate/OEM Part Numbers} Control Arm w/Ball Joint
Front Left Lower

$97.79

BECK/ARNLEY Part # 1015108 {Click Info Link for Alternate/OEM Part Numbers} Control Arm w/Ball Joint
Front Right Lower

$97.79

FAI Part # SS049
Front Axle - Left - Lower;Without bush; Control Arm (Only 4 Remaining)

$97.79

FAI Part # SS050
Front Axle - Right - Lower;Without bush; Control Arm

$97.79

RAYBESTOS Part # 5071303 Professional Grade - Complete Arm w/ Ball Joint
Front Right Lower

$99.79

DEEZA Part # BWH106 Premium Quality; Includes Ball Joint; Bushings not Included
Front Left Lower
E46; FRONT LEFT; LOWER (ALUMINIUM) EXCEPT X SERIES; From 02.98; To 02.05; SALOON-COMPACT-COUPE-CONVERTIBLE-TOURING-M3; 31121094465; 31126751317; 31126752717; 31126758519; 31126770247

$100.79

DEEZA Part # BWH107 Premium Quality; Includes Ball Joint; Bushings not Included
Front Right Lower
E46; FRONT RIGHT; LOWER (ALUMINIUM) EXCEPT X SERIES; From 02.98; To 02.05; SALOON-COMPACT-COUPE-CONVERTIBLE-TOURING-M3; 31121094466; 31126751318; 31126752718; 31126758520; 31126770248

$100.79

RAYBESTOS Part # 5071302 Professional Grade - Complete Arm w/ Ball Joint
Front Left Lower

$100.99

MOOG Part # BMWP4738 {#BMWP4738P} Steering Type: Control Arm
Front Axle Left
Front Axle, Left, Lower
* Stocked in outlying warehouse--shipping delayed up to 2 business days
$109.79

MOOG Part # BMWP4739 {#BMWP4739P} Steering Type: Control Arm
Front Axle Right
Front Axle, Right, Lower
* Stocked in outlying warehouse--shipping delayed up to 2 business days
$109.79

MOOG Part # K80527 Complete Arm w/ Ball Joint
Front Left Lower
$118.79

MOOG Part # K80528 Complete Arm w/ Ball Joint
Front Right Lower (Only 2 Remaining)

$118.79

FAI Part # SS6214
Front Axle Left;With bush; Control Arm

$123.79

FAI Part # SS6213
Front Axle Right;With bush; Control Arm

$123.79

ACDELCO Part # 45D3460 {#19264304}
ARM,FRT LWR CONT RIGHT HAND; COMPLETE ARM WITH BALL JOINT

* Stocked in outlying warehouse--shipping delayed up to 5 business days
$126.79

FLENNOR Part # FL563G Cone Size [mm]: 14,4; Steering Type: Control Arm
Left, Lower, Front Axle

* Stocked in outlying warehouse--shipping delayed up to 7 business days
$126.79

FLENNOR Part # FL562G Cone Size [mm]: 14,4; Steering Type: Control Arm
Right, Lower, Front Axle

* Stocked in outlying warehouse--shipping delayed up to 7 business days
$126.79

MOOG Part # BMWP8861 Mounting Type: Hydro Bearing; Steering Type: Control Arm
Front Axle, Left, Lower
From 2/2001
* Stocked in outlying warehouse--shipping delayed up to 2 business days
$128.89

MOOG Part # BMWP8862 Steering Type: Control Arm; Mounting Type: Hydro Bearing
Front Axle, Right, Lower
From 2/2001
* Stocked in outlying warehouse--shipping delayed up to 2 business days
$128.89

MOOG Part # BMTC5164 Steering Type: Control Arm
Front Axle Left
for vehicles with sports suspension
* Stocked in outlying warehouse--shipping delayed up to 2 business days
$179.79

MOOG Part # BMTC5165 Steering Type: Control Arm
Front Axle Right
for vehicles with sports suspension
* Stocked in outlying warehouse--shipping delayed up to 2 business days
$179.79

Control Arm Bushing

[HellrotE36]

Pelicanparts.com

Lemfoerder control arms ONLY unless you get OEM BMW. They're $175 a piece but worth it

[CylonRed]

IMHO - they should last a lot longer - get quality parts and they should last. A cheap part is rarely a good part.

[worthington]

Originally Posted by HellrotE36

Pelicanparts.com

Lemfoerder control arms ONLY unless you get OEM BMW. They're $175 a piece but worth it

Yep. There may be other brands that've worked out for some people, but I'd go Lemf or OE on a BMW every time.

[Fishey]

Originally Posted by HellrotE36

Pelicanparts.com

Lemfoerder control arms ONLY unless you get OEM BMW. They're $175 a piece but worth it

Never had problem from Lemfoerder/Febi(Bilstein) or Mayle control arms.

[HellrotE36]

I did have one Febi balljoint wear quickly once, the outer that went into the spindle got a LOT of play within a few months, could have just been a bad flaw. Meyle I have had good luck with.

[billybilly2]

And with meyle hd you get replaceable ball joints

[tpevan]

I've been using Meyle HD for the last 60k+ miles. Worked out great!

FCP Euro for the most part sells pretty cheap quality/China made products. Steer clear of anything made by URO Parts or Carlyn. Only stick to the known quality parts like Lemfoeder for anything ball joint or suspension related.

[Roman]

Meyle HD ftw. But e46s were never cursed with the retarded rubber isolated balljoint like nonM e36s were. With those if you're stupid enough to not switch to Meyle HD, you have to do lemforder or oem bmw, anything else will wear thru that rubber isolator sleeve in no time (about 6 months til my e36 started lane changing by itself on the highway again, baljoints solid and tight as new, rubber isolators completely trashed). Or you could get Meyle HD arms to begin with, they are the cheapest lca option for an e36 (like 98a pop from ecs), never worry about stupid rubber **** wearing out too soon and the baljoints are replaceable and cheap. Kind of a no brainer.

Don't forget to upgrade to poly or at least solid rubber lcabs too.

[t96_grh]

One more thumbs up for Meyle HD from me.

FCP does indeed have some pretty low quality parts, some are even "no-name". You can always contact them and have them clarify the brand.

[bmwohio]

Some good advice here with Lemfoerder and Meyle.

Try www.autohausaz.com

[Abstracteknics]

Originally Posted by Roman

Meyle HD ftw. But e46s were never cursed with the retarded rubber isolated balljoint like nonM e36s were. With those if you're stupid enough to not switch to Meyle HD, you have to do lemforder or oem bmw, anything else will wear thru that rubber isolator sleeve in no time (about 6 months til my e36 started lane changing by itself on the highway again, baljoints solid and tight as new, rubber isolators completely trashed). Or you could get Meyle HD arms to begin with, they are the cheapest lca option for an e36 (like 98a pop from ecs), never worry about stupid rubber **** wearing out too soon and the baljoints are replaceable and cheap. Kind of a no brainer

Don't forget to upgrade to poly or at least solid rubber lcabs too.

Actually, e46ers were also cursed with the rubber iso ball joints. I just replaced both FCAs and FCABs with Meyle HDs for $355 shipped and a 4 year warranty. They even pre installed the FCABs on the control arms, so all I had to do was bolt it on.

But anyway Meyle HDs for the reasons Roman mentioned.

[Mp5]

Ordered some Lemfoerders and just put them on...its hard to see inside the joint to see if they are better engineered or not so time will tell.
I paid $256 shipped for the pair so a nice deal too

[Sylviab]

You may have a try on HexAutoParts.com, i just received the LCAs for my E46.

95$ Front Lower Control Arms with Ball Joint & Bushing Package Include:

(1) LH (Driver Side) Front Lower control arm
(1) RH (Passenger Side) Front Lower control arm
(1) LH (Driver Side) Bushing with bracket
(1) RH (Passenger Side) Bushing with bracket