E39 M5 bushes...

[broster]

Hello all!

I have an e39 m5 and and looking at doing several upgrades to it, pss9's braided brake lines, new discs and pads alround, supersprint cat back, but one thing I am stuck on is the bushes, looking at powerflex for most, does anyone know the diameter of the standard arb's? Also is it better to fit the X5 bushes to the bottom arms or the powerflex?

Many thanks

[Roan]

Stick with OEM bushes. I've just replaced F&R ARB bushes with OEM ones - 27mm front and 16.5mm rear and AFAIK Powerflex don't make the 16.5mm rear anyway. X5 bushes are the way to go for the thrust arms too, the Powerflex ones are a bh to fit and more suited to track use. Check out M5Board as it's been discussed to death there.

[broster]

Ok, thanks for that, I'll get ordering tomorrow!

[StreetDragster]

Hi,

I have Powerflex bushes in my M5, they do make them int he correct diameter for the rear anti roll bar.

I paid £126 for the kit from Larkspeed, the FARB is 27mm, the RARB is 16.5mm.

Fitting wise, they were nice and easy, certainly easier to fit than the OEM ones as with Powerflex you don't need a press, whereas OEM definately need some force to refit, as do the X5 bushings.

As mentioned, this has been done to death on the M5 board, so probably best to check over there.

Driving wise, whilst the car definately did have more feel of the road, its not substaintial, the cars steering and handling is much better, and i would happily fit them again. No noises either as other makes commonly report when running Urethanes.

Hope that helps

Matt

[broster]

Ended up doing the following;
X5 bottom arm bushed
New genuine front arb bushes
New genuine drop links
New genuine track rod end

Also gave the car a complete checl over and inspection 2, needs new rear bushes too, got those, plan to do gear oil, diff oil and exhaust all at the same time as the rear bushes.

Had my E60 gear leaver fitted to, loads better that std!
Cheers for the suggestions!

[T111PAA]

Hello broster,

any pics of the E60 gearstick?...sounds like a nice mod, was it easy to fit?

[broster]

wasnt to hard to fit, would deffo recommend using a ramp tho, makes life so much easier, i didnt fit it myself, just watched. was the first one we have fitted tho so next time it will be easier.

pleanty on m5board about it:
http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e39-m5-e52-z8-dis...

should give some more info for you!

[T111PAA]

thanks for that!...where did you get yours from as thats a mod i wanna do...

[broster]

www.jam-sport.co.uk, they have it in their bmw section.

[StreetDragster]

I have the E60 one too, like you say, a great mod.

I had the prop shaft and the exhaust off at the time, so fitting was easy, i also replaced all the bushes in the gear linkage mechanism and it dramatically improved gear change feel.
Still damn notchy though, although i believe this is down tot he design of the gearbox.

Thanks

Matt

[T111PAA]

Thanks for that broster....so did you change your actual gear stick and gaiter too?...seen some nice suede ones in threads.