E30 Zone

hi folks my e30 failed its mot on a few things including rear subframe bushes and i was just wondering if powerflex was the best thing to fit , anyone beg to differ

Powerflex is not the best to fit, unless its a track car?
Standard bushes FTW

DanThe wrote:Powerflex is not the best to fit, unless its a track car?
Standard bushes FTW

Lemforder from Eurocarparts around £19 each delivered and are what you'd get from BMW.

I've got powerflex but if doing it again I'd fit OE Lemforder

are oem (lemf) easy to fit or a mare?

if you haven't got the tool to do it, migh be easier to take the whole axle off, but if you have it's a piece of piss to do it on the car.......

no tool but do have garage facilities

well if you've got the time then taking the axle off would be easier, then you can burn, drill, chizzel the old ones out bit of fairy liquid and stamp the new ones in! getting the bushes out of where they mount into the body is a bit tricky though!!!

I used Powerflex in the rear beam of my last E30. I took the axle down and replaced the four training arm bushes also. I did not notice the ride been overly harsh afterwards, but I was running a mild enough bilstein streetline kit, so the car wasn't overly low or hard. I assume the Powerflex will be a lot easier removed if and when the time comes! but that may be the only real benefit.

Start soaking the Hex-bolts thriugh the sills that hold the rear beam plates on in penetrating fluid now.

They are a beeyatch to undo and will almost certainly snap unless you put some prep work into them first. You need a proper hex-key that fits very tightly or it will just round off and you'll end up having to grind them off and replace with normal nuts and bolts ( which isn't such a bad thing TBH )

Standard bushes FTW.

If you don't have the special tool then drop the beam off and do the trailing arm bushes at the same time - also worth taking a look at the brake pipes whilst the beam is off.

I don't know how to put a link up but if you do a search for " diy rear beam bush puller " it's one I made up in about 20 minutes and works a treat .

Getting the old stuff out is the problem with changing rear bushes. A simple puller made from threaded bar and large washers will pull the new ones in with little trouble.
Since the work involved in removing the bushes is the same for either type of replacement, you may as well fit the real thing rather than aftermarket plastic rubbish.