What bushes are recommended

General E30 related discussions -
Please put technical questions in E30 Tech Help forum below

Moderator: martauto

Post Reply
German-Whips
E30 Zone Camper
E30 Zone Camper
Posts: 1157
Joined: Wed Jul 14, 2010 11:00 pm
Location: Berkshire

Tue Jul 15, 2014 9:53 am

The bushes on my recently acquired 325i cab are past their best it seems. It's quite crashy, small successive potholes and bumps cause juddering in straight line driving, whilst cornering can seem unstable at times. The car has been stood for a while before I bought it, so perished rubbers may be the problem I'd imagine!


The problem I'm faced with is selecting which bushes to choose to fit. I've got 2 options in mind:

1) Fit good quality replacement rubber bushes from the likes of ECP

2) Go for Powerflex bushes

Being a Cab, I'm looking for a mixture of good firm handling characteristics whilst maintaining adequate levels of comfort.

What would you guys recommend fitting? Is it really worth going to the Powerflex ones? Or should I stick to replacement rubber bushes?
User avatar
Brianmoooore
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 49358
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm

Tue Jul 15, 2014 9:55 am

OEM rubber every time! Plastic rubbish would ruin it.
User avatar
GB69
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 245
Joined: Fri Oct 21, 2011 11:00 pm
Location: Washington / Sunderland
Contact:

Tue Jul 15, 2014 9:57 am

Strongflex I use on mine, or Powerflex.
German-Whips
E30 Zone Camper
E30 Zone Camper
Posts: 1157
Joined: Wed Jul 14, 2010 11:00 pm
Location: Berkshire

Tue Jul 15, 2014 10:29 am

Brianmoooore wrote:OEM rubber every time! Plastic rubbish would ruin it.
That's the impression I was under. I'm mainly looking to get a good balance between comfort and performance, so I guess OEM spec would be more than enough.

Would bushes from ECP be of sufficient quality, or shall I get my mechanic to source the bushes from elsewhere to get a better quality rubber?
G-Bear
E30 Zone Squatter
E30 Zone Squatter
Posts: 1632
Joined: Wed Mar 12, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: Hertfordshire

Tue Jul 15, 2014 11:06 am

ECP supply lemforder and febi. Which are of good quality.
User avatar
reggid
E30 Zone Squatter
E30 Zone Squatter
Posts: 1977
Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Oz

Tue Jul 15, 2014 11:26 am

lemforder
E30 325is with M20B31
User avatar
harry_p
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Posts: 5313
Joined: Thu Oct 12, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: norfolk

Tue Jul 15, 2014 11:50 am

For a cabby, or a normal road car then I'd just go for oe spec rubber.

Poly bushes only really if you like to drive quickly and accept the extra noise / vibration they give in exchange for tighter wheel control.

I would check the balljoints in the lower arms for play tools that can cause the wheels to shimmy over imperfections in the road.
cheers,

harry
HairyScreech
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Posts: 6265
Joined: Sun Jan 21, 2007 11:00 pm

Tue Jul 15, 2014 1:07 pm

They e30 doesn't exactly have massive amounts of rubber in the suspension anyway.

There are only a few places poly makes any difference and they have a significant effect on comfort for a road car.

Not worth it unless you are heading for the track.
2.8 development thread http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&t=170822

m3.3.1 m20 thread - now running, chip needed - any volunteers?
http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... =viewtopic&
Post Reply