e39 M5 Suspension Arm Variances

[Patrick Bateman]

Can anyone say what the differences are between the following arms?



The cheaper ones have the date as up to 7/2000 and the more expensive arms are from 12/2001. Both have the same description and details otherwise.

[Gruber]

£18.60.

[Patrick Bateman]

Dick

[Gruber]

[Gruber]

If the pictures are accurate, the design of the shoulder joint, where the bolt protrudes, looks to differ slightly. One appears to stand a little more proud than the other.

Does realoem suggest any difference in standard part numbers?

[Depthhoar]

I've had terrible problems ordering the correct suspension components for my E39 M5 and E39 530d from that outfit. Poor and sometimes inaccurate descriptions of components, as well as confusing replication.

Try unpicking/make sense of the suspension arms for the front axle which are at the top of the web page you've produced as a screenshot. Confusing, isn't it?

I've sent innumerable incorrectly supplied parts back to these people. They also tried to offload some second-hand parts onto me recently (they'd definitely been fitted to another vehicle, slightly modified, driven around for a while then removed and returned: road muck and oxidation clearly evident when I received them as "new").

I try to shop elsewhere now.

[Patrick Bateman]

There was a change from 7/2000 although I'm not sure in what way although vaguely recall something about them previously coming without the ball joints? It's just eurocarparts under a different name, can't say I've ever had any problems with them apart from receiving an extra set of brake pads before.

The pictures for the front axle upper left/right are wrong but other than that the rest tie in.

I was going to get the upper rear control arms from allgermanparts as there are no Lemforder ones on ECP/CP4L.

Can anyone tell me if the site isn't working for them?

http://www.allgermanparts.co.uk/index.php

All day I've been unable to view components after selecting a model.

[Depthhoar]

Have a look at the Lemforder (aka ZF) webcat catalogue for some clarification. It does seem that the two arms listed in your screen shot are for vehicles on different sides of 07/2000. Febi-Bilstein webcat catalogue also useful for confirming parts and part numbers.

Sometimes it's possible to decode ECP's own part numbers from the part listing on the Lemforder webcat, though not always.

Lemforder webcat catalogue here: https://webcat.zf.com/
Febi-Bilstein webcat catalogue here: https://cars.febi-parts.com/vehicle.php

[stevesingo]

bmwfans.info shows one type for all model years.

http://bmwfans.info/parts-catalog/E39-Sedan/Europe...

My experience is that non OEM suspension parts don't last as well as BMW stuff. False economy IMO.

[Trustmeimadoctor]

lemforder are bmw oem

[Depthhoar]

Trustmeimadoctor said:

lemforder are bmw oem

Yes indeed.

This is one of the front control arms (the bent one) that came off my M5 with the BMW marking. Also note the (faint) 'Contitech' marking on the rubber hydro bearing.



Below is a pic of the reverse side of the same arm showing the Lemforder 'owl in a triangle' logo. Note the BMW logo on the reverse side of the rubber bush/bearing.



BMW use many different approved parts suppliers since it doesn't make economic sense to manufacture every component themselves; this is an arrangement that is poorly understood by most of the motoring public.

[Those 'in the know' can make sensible savings buying carefully selected parts from the likes of Lemforder but without the expensive BMW branding, and it will almost certainly be the same part as BMW OE. The only exception to this seems to be electronic stuff like sensors (cam, crankshaft etc) where OE from the dealer seem more reliable. Also read somewhere that E39 M5 dampers are a different spec to what is available from ZF (Boge/Sachs) in the aftermarket. Apparently, BMW were supplied with 'captive' dampers for this particular vehicle and have different ride characteristics to what is available direct from Boge/Sachs via other outlets.]

Below are some shots of the centre tie rod and left outer tie rod that came off the same M5. Both original fitment from new and clearly marked TRW - another OE supplier. If you look carefully you'll see the BMW roundel on the opposite side to the TRW branding (bit faint).

Centre tie rod:


Outer tie rod:

Edited by Depthhoar on Friday 15th August 11:30

[Patrick Bateman]

Yeah as far as I've ever seen the only place you're definitely getting the right dampers is through BMW, directly or indirectly (bmminiparts).

[Trustmeimadoctor]

dampers i can understand being a different spec oem to oem manufacturer 3rd party replacement

but with things like arms and droplinks etc it wouldnt be economical to make a oem one and a slightly worse oem quality one

[Schermerhorn]

When the 'angel eyes' facelift appeared on the E39 models (M5 included) was there a suspension difference or variation?

It might explain the differences in parts and OEM numbers (assuming parts were actually upgraded and not just re-numbered from old to new numbers).

I work in the trade and see this happening all the time, especially with the VAG cars and the aluminium multi link suspension set up.

[Patrick Bateman]

The only difference I can see with those arms going by the BMW description is the arm coming 'with rubber mount' when the older ones did not. Not sure if the ball joints alone were replaceable once upon a time.

Is www.allgermanparts.co.uk not working for anyone else when attempting to search for parts?

I might have to end up going for the TRW upper rear arms as that's the only site I can find that sells Lemforder ones. I take it TRW and Lemforder are more or less interchangeable and of the same quality anyway?