How to Replace Control Arm Bushings on a BMW 3 Series

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The E30, E36, and E46 3-series BMWs all have a similar front suspension setup. The control arm is connected to the chassis via a control arm bushing. The OEM bushings are made of rubber and wear out over time. For this reason, Condor Speed Shop has developed an upgraded bushing utilizing UHMW, a stronger, more durable material, to replace the factory rubber bushings or aftermarket polyurethane bushings. 

The Short Answer

Replacing control arm bushings is a relatively simple process using the appropriate tools and will take an experienced DIYer 2-4 hours to complete. For this job, you must have access to hand tools (no special tools required), including a socket set, breaker bar and/or impact gun, a hydraulic press or bushing removal tool, a jack, jack stands, and protective gloves and eyewear.

To replace bushings on the BMW E30, E36, and E46 chassis, you must first safely lift the front of the vehicle to gain access to the suspension components underneath. On the E46 chassis, you may need to remove the lower cross-member reinforcement and under-car splash guard panels to gain access to the control arm bushings. Remove the 2 bolts securing the carrier to the subframe. Using a rubber mallet or bushing removal tool, remove the control arm bushing and carrier from the control arm itself. Once the carrier is fully removed, you can use a press or bushing removal tool to uninstall the worn bushing and install the new bushing. Inspect and clean all mating surfaces before installing the new Condor control arm bushings. We suggest you inspect the tie rods and ball joints on the control arms. Replace if necessary. Installation is the opposite of removal.

Understanding Control Arm Bushings and When to Replace Them

You may not have guessed, but control arm bushings are an integral part of your BMW's steering system. In the case of the E30, E36, and E46 chassis, other than the tie rods, they are the second most important link connecting the front steering and suspension components to the chassis. Symptoms of failing control arm bushings include:

1. Play or wobble within the steering wheel

2. Tramlining

3. Inconsistencies over bumps

4. Poor handling

5. A generally vague driving feel

These symptoms can all be due to excessive play within the rubber or a severely worn bushing, leading to a lack of steering response and variable alignment while driving. (show photo if possible) 

For these reasons, the material used for our control arm bushing kits is vital to the longevity of the parts. Unlike OEM rubber and polyurethane blends, solid UHMW will not wear over time. It is a self-lubricating plastic requiring no maintenance over its lifetime. Due to its superior strength, the shape of the bushings will not expand or deform, leading to consistency in handling and improved driveability over the lifetime of the vehicle.

Installation Guide and Tips

Though replacing control arm bushings is a straightforward job, there are a few things to consider when doing so. It is a good idea to inspect surrounding components and replace them if necessary. Some of these components could include the entire control arms themselves and their ball joints, tie rods, sway bar end links, and any hardware associated with those parts. 

Some of the more strenuous parts of the job for DIYers replacing their control arm bushings may include stubborn, hard-to-remove bolts and the process of pressing the old bushings out of the carriers. The use of a hydraulic press will make this process much easier. Once replacement bushings are installed successfully, you will notice an immediate improvement in steering feel; however, we recommend getting a 4-wheel alignment as soon as possible after the job is complete. 

Solutions from Condor Speed Shop 

Our specialized line of products for BMWs has always included control arm bushings due to their important impact on performance and drivability. For this reason, we offer them in a few different variants to suit everyone from the daily driver to professional-level race & drift cars. 

UHMW Control Arm Bushings

For the E30, E36, and E46 chassis, the UHMW control arm bushings are part of our classic collection and are available with centered holes (OEM Geometry in most cases) or offset holes within the bushing (M3 geometry in some cases). The offset holes increase the caster, adding more straight-line stability and increasing camber while turning. This simple mod is responsible for a performance and grip advantage and is popular for non-M street and track cars.

Solid Control Arm Mounts (TrackCab)

We also offer Solid Control Arm mounts, also known as “Trackcabs” or Treehouse CABs. Due to their heavy-duty billet design, they are a must-have mod for performance-oriented BMW track cars. They are an efficient bolt-on solution that replaces the OEM carriers, eliminating the need to press bushings in and out of the stock lollipops. Trackcabs have a smaller footprint and create additional clearance under the car for larger exhaust systems usually found in V8 swaps. They are also available in both centered and offset geometries for additional caster.

E46 control arms are similar to the E30 and E36 in design and function, but they utilize a unique hex-style end where their control arm interfaces with the bushing. The size of this hex can vary slightly based on the control arm brand, so we offer two insert options for proper control arm fitment. Hex inserts are offered in 21mm and 23mm sizes. It is best to confirm the size of the hex end here before ordering.

Conversion Control Arm Bushings

For more specialized builds, we also offer a few different conversion control arm bushing options. For the E30 chassis, we developed a 5-lug conversion trackcab that allows for the correct caster geometry when swapping out the original E30 4-lug hubs for the E36 5-lug/5x120 bolt pattern. This front suspension swap will open up a great deal of OEM and aftermarket wheel options for the E30, and our conversion CABs are the ideal solution to ensure the correct geometry when swapping over. 

For E30’s and E36’s looking to add more negative camber in the front end, we developed our E46 Conversion CABs. They are designed to work with E46 control arms. With the correct supporting modifications, they will add a significant amount of negative camber, increase track width, and also create room for more steering angle, a popular mod for drifters. Available as an upgrade for the OEM carriers, or as a billet Trackcab.

For E46 owners looking to install aftermarket angle kits designed for the E30 and E36 chassis, we developed our E36 Conversion bushings. They are designed to be installed in OEM carriers and allow the use of an OEM or aftermarket E36 control arm (with a round end). These are a popular choice for most aftermarket drift angle kits offered for this chassis. The bushings are also available in centered or offset geometry to help further dial in front-end suspension setups.

Why Choose Condor Speed Shop?

All of our products are designed with performance, longevity, and superior driveability as the top priorities, and our specialized line of control arm bushings is just one example of our efforts to provide the best aftermarket and performance options for classic BMWs. We manufacture all of our bushings right here in the USA at our headquarters in Oakland Park, Florida. We take great pride in the many racers, drifters, rally drivers, and enthusiasts who have run our products to great success. For more information on our complete line of control arm bushings, as well as our full catalog of performance BMW products, please visit our collection today.