TRW-Meyle (vs Lemforder) Front Suspension

I am shopping for Front Suspension for my 98 528i:
- Thrust Arm
- Control Arm etc etc.

I know Lemforder is the OEM supplier but it is on the expensive side. Lemforder is about $130/each.

But autohausaz.com lists these items by TRW-Meyle for only $102 each:
http://www.autohausaz.com/search/pro...int%20Assembly

Any experience with TRW-Meyle brand?

Originally Posted by cn90

I am shopping for Front Suspension for my 98 528i:
- Thrust Arm
- Control Arm etc etc.

I know Lemforder is the OEM supplier but it is on the expensive side. Lemforder is about $130/each.

But autohausaz.com lists these items by TRW-Meyle for only $102 each:
http://www.autohausaz.com/search/pro...int%20Assembly

Any experience with TRW-Meyle brand?

I would put trw and lem in the same rating, I have seen many lemforder parts with trw stamped in the ball joint and trw makes alot of parts for bmw.
If you get sent a meyle from them at 100.00each that is to much as we sell the meyle for 85.00 and the trw for 129.00. There are plenty of people who do like meyle but I can tell you for the last 2 years that we have been selling meyle we have had 1 tie rod come back because it would not thread on to a center link and that is it.

Meyle seems to be second-rate, at best. My Meyle tie rod only lasted 20k, whereas the original TRW lasted 90k.

In addition, the forging near the idler arm joint was such that I could not get the puller into the joint. I had to remove the idler arm along with the tie rod, and file the metal away to get the puller to fit. When I had earlier removed the original TRW part, the puller fit properly.

Max,

Did TRW and Meyle get "married" recently?
I thought TRW is TRW and Meyle is Meyle.

But if you click on my link above (autohausaz), then the brand name is TRW-Meyle?

Originally Posted by cn90

Max,

Did TRW and Meyle get "married" recently?
I thought TRW is TRW and Meyle is Meyle.

But if you click on my link above (autohausaz), then the brand name is TRW-Meyle?

No, By placing the 2 above brands as they did ,That means when you order that part you could get one or the other of the above brands.

Which version? Appears Meyle makes oem and HD version (heavy duty), or do they only offer the "improved" versions?

This is a listing of their improved HD offerings:

http://www.meyleusa.com/improved_bmw.htm

http://www.meyle.com/html/uploads/te...9_12.04_en.pdf

Originally Posted by cn90

Max,

Did TRW and Meyle get "married" recently?
I thought TRW is TRW and Meyle is Meyle.

But if you click on my link above (autohausaz), then the brand name is TRW-Meyle?

Check with Autohausaz...they may be implying you will get either brand, depending on what is available. A few times when I have ordered, I have gotten a different (but acceptable to me) part brand than what was posted.

Originally Posted by cn90

Max,

Did TRW and Meyle get "married" recently?
I thought TRW is TRW and Meyle is Meyle.

But if you click on my link above (autohausaz), then the brand name is TRW-Meyle?

CNN
autohausaz say OR TRW OR Meyle
The good thing you can send it back if you don't like
RM european has 5% discount is going on and they do care good staff ( i cant say the same about autohausaz all time ) as well as ECS and EAC
stay away from Meyle and TRW is as good as LMFRD
GL
I

Thanks!

http://www.bavauto.com/shop.asp
sells the control arm w/o bushing and you can buy
Separate HD bushings: PN 31 12 9 068 753

EAC Tuning is doing similar thing as well:
http://eactuning.com/e39-thrust-arms...ngs-p-453.html

Anyone with experience with HD bushing?
Also when they sell control arm w/o bushing, what brand of control arm do they use?

There is good feedback from folks here using the EAC Tuning with the HD bushing already installed. Save yourself the labor and get the arms with the bushing and ball joint installed, ready to bolt up.

Originally Posted by cn90

Thanks!

http://www.bavauto.com/shop.asp
sells the control arm w/o bushing and you can buy
Separate HD bushings: PN 31 12 9 068 753

EAC Tuning is doing similar thing as well:
http://eactuning.com/e39-thrust-arms...ngs-p-453.html

Anyone with experience with HD bushing?
Also when they sell control arm w/o bushing, what brand of control arm do they use?

Are you looking for the control arms (first post) or the thrust arms?

Just a note, If you get an arm without the bushing, Jared at EAC will press them in for you. I pressed my HDs bushings in my Control Arms myself and it was a b*tch... I'm glad to have Jared take care of it moving forward...

I am using the HD CA bushings and they are smooth and quiet.

Max,

I am doing the whole front end, so looking at both upper and lower control arms.
(BTW, BMW complicates things by calling these different names! They are basically the equivalent of an A-Arm of a Volvo or Honda, just split the A-Arm into 2 and called diff names!!!).

BlackBMWs,
Pricing is an issue!

TRW Thrust Arm is about $100
TRW Thrust Arm + HD bushing is $280 per pair!

Lemforder Thrust Arm is about $135
Lemforder Thrust Arm + HD is $320 per pair!

I need to call Jared at EAC Tuning!!!

Originally Posted by cn90

Max,

I am doing the whole front end, so looking at both upper and lower control arms.
(BTW, BMW complicates things by calling these different names! They are basically the equivalent of an A-Arm of a Volvo or Honda, just split the A-Arm into 2 and called diff names!!!).

BlackBMWs,
Pricing is an issue!

TRW Thrust Arm is about $100
TRW Thrust Arm + HD bushing is $280 per pair!

Lemforder Thrust Arm is about $135
Lemforder Thrust Arm + HD is $320 per pair!

I need to call Jared at EAC Tuning!!!

Hey CN90,
how about bma auto parts, did a quick search for you, seems they have good pricing:
http://www.bmaparts.com/ShopByVehicl...0Joint&mode=PA

Totally understand the pricing issue.

Diff Q for you, didja find a source for nuts and bolts? You need me to get and send you some?

Originally Posted by BlackBMWs

Totally understand the pricing issue.

Diff Q for you, didja find a source for nuts and bolts? You need me to get and send you some?

Thanks!

Actually I will get them from my local BMW dealer. They are inexpensive a few dollars each.

Now I am even more confused.

Thrust Arm Bushing for 6-cylinder.
PN is 31129068753
Apparently it is not fluid-filled (Basically a solid piece of rubber or polyurethane or whatever, but not fluid).
Part #5:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...17&hg=31&fg=05

Thrust Arm Bushing for 8-cylinder.
PN is 31121092609
Apparently it is fluid-filled.
Part #6:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...64&hg=31&fg=05

What's the confusion? the thrust arms are also in different positions on the two suspensions.

BTW, the HDs for the 540i's and X5's are back to solid, non-fluid.

Originally Posted by cn90

Now I am even more confused.

Thrust Arm Bushing for 6-cylinder.
PN is 31129068753
Apparently it is not fluid-filled (Basically a solid piece of rubber or polyurethane or whatever, but not fluid).
Part #5:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...17&hg=31&fg=05

Thrust Arm Bushing for 8-cylinder.
PN is 31121092609
Apparently it is fluid-filled.
Part #6:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...64&hg=31&fg=05

The bushing (oem) for the thrust arm is fluid filled for the I6. The lower control arm bushing (oem) is not fluid filled for the I6.

Here are the pics: I6 Control Arm Install (Thrust)

Halfway down you will see the oem bushings (new) that were removed from the metal sleeve. The fluid leaked all over my work table and you cannot see it in the pics. However, you will see the guts. My suggestion is to suck it up if you can and get the Lemfoerders.

Does anyone here have a used thrust arm from an I6 and can cut up the bushing to see if there is fluid or not.
If it is rubber, then I will go with Lemforder and forget about the HD bushing.

Originally Posted by cn90

Does anyone here have a used thrust arm from an I6 and can cut up the bushing to see if there is fluid or not.
If it is rubber, then I will go with Lemforder and forget about the HD bushing.

I would buy the Lemfoerder arms with the Meyle HD bushings pressed into them from Jared.

OEM bushings suck because the breaks IMO.

Thanks a million Michel!!!
You are the man. Wow, tons of pics!

I just left a message for Jared at EAC Tuning!

Just curious for those who leaks from the bushing, approx. how many years and miles when it leaks?
My bushing looks dry at 102K (but maybe all the fluid is gone so it is bone dry now LOL....)

Originally Posted by cn90

Thanks a million Michel!!!
You are the man. Wow, tons of pics!

I just left a message for Jared at EAC Tuning!

Just curious for those who leaks from the bushing, approx. how many years and miles when it leaks?
My looks dry at 102K (but maybe all the fluid is gone so it is bone dry now LOL....)

The bushing can look dry, but after taking it out, you can see the leaks...

Originally Posted by cn90

Just curious for those who leaks from the bushing, approx. how many years and miles when it leaks?
My looks dry at 102K (but maybe all the fluid is gone so it is bone dry now LOL....)

Too many variables to say. It depends on your driving habits and the road quality. Mine were replaced at around 65k and now at 122k they still look fine. They are oem.

I recently installed Bilstein PSS kit and imagine with the way I am taking corners, I will trash the thrust bushings in short order now...

Originally Posted by cn90

Thanks a million Michel!!!
You are the man. Wow, tons of pics!

I just left a message for Jared at EAC Tuning!

Just curious for those who leaks from the bushing, approx. how many years and miles when it leaks?
My looks dry at 102K (but maybe all the fluid is gone so it is bone dry now LOL....)

No problem man.

There are a couple of pics of my controls with a view from the bottom of the bushing side. You will notice there are some black stains - that is the fluid that leaked out. This happened at 60K miles and they were shot way before that.