MOT failure on anti-roll bar mount

Sat Jul 28, 2012 9:51 am

Hi

My 325i Touring has failed the MOT on a couple of things. One is the 'offside front Anti-roll bar linkage insecure'.

Apparently I need to have the mount (where it is attached to the wishbone) replaced. Can anyone help me identify the correct name part number for this? And where I can get one?

The garage is booked up for a month, so I have to get this done myself.

Thanks

Sat Jul 28, 2012 9:55 am

It'll be a drop link, not sure onthe part number, but mention this to a parts supplier and they will know straight away what you need. BMW euro car parts will have these..

Sat Jul 28, 2012 10:06 am

Thanks for quick reply - one of these?

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/BMW_3 ... 2eb&000016

Sat Jul 28, 2012 10:09 am

It could also be where the ARB bolts to the cross member.

Sat Jul 28, 2012 10:19 am

You need to find out exactly which bit has failed before ordering anything, and when you do a) don't buy Q drive, and b) don't buy from ECP - use their sister site, www.carparts4less.co.uk instead.

Sat Jul 28, 2012 10:22 am

Thanks all.

Garage man said to take pictures in to him and he would tell me which one to get.

So there is the drop link - what are the other candidates?

Sat Jul 28, 2012 10:25 am

Part # 2/3/4/5 on the diagram
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do ... 10&lang=en

I've had the mounting tab for the ARB shackle on the cross member snap off before, that was a pain to fix so hopefully it's not that.

Sat Jul 28, 2012 10:29 am

Best thing to do is get under it and have a look. There are not many parts to be lose or worn down there, I always try to get clarification of what is exactly the issue with fails as the tester can only choose from a multiple choice drop down and some times it gets lost in translation. The part you have linked to is the ARB drop link, which is the most likley to have failed, but don't buy a a Q-Drive part they a cr4p!

Sat Jul 28, 2012 10:42 am

sometimes the tester will chalk up the offending part, but the bit which attaches to the wishbone is defo a drop link..

do both, replacing one will cause the other, less worn but ok one, to be butchered in no time

Sat Jul 28, 2012 11:22 am

Right - it isn't the drop link itself. Go back and check was good advice...

It's a U-shaped bracket that connects the drop link to the wishbone.

Hopefully that makes sense, cause i'm off to try and buy one!

There's a badly scanned copy of the mechanic's sketch here:

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/8952182/325i%2 ... bly004.jpg

Sat Jul 28, 2012 11:25 am

I have one of those sat in front of me on my desk you can have. Its has a bit of surface rust but i can bang it in the post if you can wait till monday.

Sat Jul 28, 2012 1:02 pm

scjimbo wrote:I have one of those sat in front of me on my desk you can have. Its has a bit of surface rust but i can bang it in the post if you can wait till monday.

The postage cost on these is comparable to a new one from BMW (the last time I bought one).
The rear ones are dirt cheap, and the front ones only slightly dearer.

Sat Jul 28, 2012 1:57 pm

well the offer is there jools, If its needed PM me mate.

Sat Jul 28, 2012 3:32 pm

Just got back from getting one - £5 from a breakers.

I'd already left before I saw your message, but thanks a lot for the offer - really generous of you.

Thanks to all for advice.

Now if anyone knows where to get hold of an original style gearknob (round top rather than rectangular)...

Sat Jul 28, 2012 6:29 pm

If you're changing the U brackets you may as well fit new ARB bushes at the same time.

Just be careful when you're doing them back up - My previous E30 crossmember let go here and had to be replaced - and I've seen this on several others.

**edit 0- just realised what bracket you mean

**

Sat Jul 28, 2012 8:45 pm

jools5000 wrote:Just got back from getting one - £5 from a breakers.

Considerably more than new from BMW!

Sat Jul 28, 2012 9:04 pm

Brianmoooore wrote:
jools5000 wrote:Just got back from getting one - £5 from a breakers.
Considerably more than new from BMW!

I recall them being about £3 each + about 27p for the bottom nut.

Thu Aug 09, 2012 9:02 am

You should also change the bolt. I had a rattle from the front suspension on my car for ages and I eventually tracked it down to the drop links being worn and the bolts that link them to the anti roll bar and the bracket you've replaced on the wishbone as well as the bracket. Since replacing them all I've not heard a single rattle.