E90 Front lower control arm bushes leaking, need replacing

[livinginasia]

Hi All

Looks like my oil filled bushings have given up the ghost, and from various posts I have seen on forums, people are recommending replacing the OEM ones with HD Meyle ones instead and a new arm to go with them.

Anyone have any experience with these? Is this a better bet than OEM? Any recommendation as to where to buy them?

Thanks everyone

[Swervin_Mervin]

Just get some new Lemforder arms from Car Parts 4 Less. They're OEM AFAIK and include the hydrobearing.

[livinginasia]

Thanks Mervin, you are a star.

[helix402]

Gen BMW are the best, Lemforder are not ok but not as good as they used to be.

[livinginasia]

helix402 said:

Gen BMW are the best, Lemforder are not ok but not as good as they used to be.

Thanks Helix, that’s interesting to hear, I will ask BMW for a quote before ordering and see if there is much of a price difference, Lemforder seem to be £88 each.

Thanks again

[helix402]

helix402 said:

Gen BMW are the best, Lemforder are not ok but not as good as they used to be.

Sorry, meant they are ok.

[shogun001]

Can you post up what BMW quote you please? Just out of curiosity...

[livinginasia]

Absolutely, waiting for a call back from them now.

[SebringMan]

Like Helix I'd go for BMW if you can. Lemforder and Febi are either as good as the dealer or not much better than the cheaper offerings.

I've had Lemforder stuff die quickly in a couple of cases.

[livinginasia]

shogun001 said:

Can you post up what BMW quote you please? Just out of curiosity...

Quote came back at £288 for a pair including fitting. This is in Thailand so I have no idea how that compares with the UK but would be interesting to know. They seem to be around £90 each on Uk websites so seems this is expensive, but when you are over a barrel there isn’t much you can do.

[Patrick Bateman]

SebringMan said:

Like Helix I'd go for BMW if you can. Lemforder and Febi are either as good as the dealer or not much better than the cheaper offerings.

I've had Lemforder stuff die quickly in a couple of cases.

Why is this? BMW use Lemforder parts so what's the story there?

[helix402]

Parts made for BMW by Lemforder are a higher quality than than those made by Lemforder and sold as aftermarket.

The quality difference seems to have increased recently.

[4rephill]

Patrick Bateman said:

SebringMan said:

Like Helix I'd go for BMW if you can. Lemforder and Febi are either as good as the dealer or not much better than the cheaper offerings.

I've had Lemforder stuff die quickly in a couple of cases.

Why is this? BMW use Lemforder parts so what's the story there?

If BMW have a contract with Lemforder to make parts for them, there will be a clause in the contract stating that they can only supply that exact part, made to that exact specification, to BMW only ( BMW are not going to pay Lemforder to make parts for them, and then allow them to sell the exact same parts to the public for a lot less money - That wouldn't make any business sense)

Lemforder aren't going to risk losing such a lucrative contract for the sake of a few sales to the public, but probably have an agreement that they can manufacture and supply a pattern part to the public that isn't to the same quality as the BMW part.