Help - H&R kit + ARB's failed MOT

[jamesc]

Hi,

Just taken my car to be MOT'd after fitting the H&R Cup kit (60/40) and also H&R ARBs, and it failed on both front wheels hitting the roll bar at full lock. The inside back of the tyre hits the bend in the roll bar.

Here is a slightly blurry picture:


Wheels are standard 15" BBS and all the bushes at the front have been changed.

Any suggestions how I can fix this?

Also the other failure point was the headlamps pointing too low now as well.

Thanks,
James

[M5pilot]

What setting have you got the ARB's on?

Eibach and H&R are notorious for fouling the chassis or something atleast when on the most stiffest setting.

The stiffest setting is usually too much aswell seeing as the bar is so much thicker in the first place.

Make sure the ARB's are fitted correctly also. Are the centered correctly?

[jamesc]

They are currently on the middle setting, I don't think changing to the softest will help. The bar is pretty much in the middle as both wheels are touching on opposites of lock.

I'm pretty sure the bar is fitted correctly, not really anyway to get it wrong?

I had thought about fitting spacers on the front wheels just to get through the MOT? Not sure how big I would have to go to overcome this though, and would probably need longer wheel bolts....

James

[jaistanley]

An anti roll bar isn't a requisite for an MOT... It just has to be clear and in good working order if fitted.

Take it off for a day.

Just my lazy tuppence!

Jai

PS If you have a 325/320 you could fit the 1.9 Z3 rack (with conversion pipes etc) as it has lock limiters. Bit of a long-winded way round it though but would improve steering response massively.

[Jon_Bmw]

Will a couple of wheel spacers help? Just for the day again.

[DanThe]

Or two steelies

[Martinaston]

How about fitting a roll bar that doesn't hit the wheels ?

[Jhonno]

H&R roll bars dont foul on mine.. 16" BBS with 205/50's on the middle setting

[jamesc]

How about fitting a roll bar that doesn't hit the wheels ?

Yeah, you buy a roll bar kit advertised for a 325 for your 325 and you would think it would fit.....

I tried some 6mm spacers and they didn't work.

I might go down the z3 rack route, seems like the next logical upgrade anyway. More money to spend, ho hum.

James

[fistagon]

Turner Motorsport in the US do a rack stop kit; basically a pair of rubber rings that sit at either end of the rack to reduce its travel. Maybe a bit of a mission to sort out...but as part of a longer term solution it may be worth considering. I'm toying with trying them out myself to stop my wheels from wrecking up my undertray!

[Martinaston]

Personaly i'd ask for my money back, what about some old wheels with narrow tyres just to get you through the MOT.
Doesn't cure it but gets you moving for now.

[Jhonno]

How about fitting a roll bar that doesn't hit the wheels ?

Yeah, you buy a roll bar kit advertised for a 325 for your 325 and you would think it would fit.....

read my post - mine fit fine with no rubbing so its not a case of they fit poorly everytime, it depends on the setup i guess..

[jamesc]

Yeah I think I will try and get some smaller wheels to get me through the test. Luckily I have a few weeks to sort it out, I'm going to get underneath at the weekend and check that it is actually hitting both sides like the MOT place has said.

Cheers,
James

[jamesc]

read my post - mine fit fine with no rubbing so its not a case of they fit poorly everytime, it depends on the setup i guess..

It is a bit strange. There must be a explanation - its not touching by a little, its denting into the tyre quite a lot. Hopefully when I get underneath I will be able to sort something out. I was hoping someone else had encountered the same thing!

James

[Martinaston]

Can you not hear/feel it when you turn the wheel ?

The originals start to bend before they come out the bush so they make the bush look like it's already worn.
If yours is sold as a kit to sit in its own stiffer bushes then it may be longer across the centre section to make it easier to fit

[Simon]

Would some M3 offset solid bushes help? Maybe move the wishbone just enough to stop the rubbing?

[jamesc]

Yes you can hear it, but it only happens at the very extremes of lock, so doesn't occur very often - plus I haven't had the bars on the car all that long.

[jamesc]

Would some M3 offset solid bushes help? Maybe move the wishbone just enough to stop the rubbing?

Already got them

[Simon13]

this is very strange i have an almost identical setup to this but with Hartge roll bars.

same diameter as H&R and same setting and never had probs with 15 bbs


got me that has

[Dan318-is]

You or someone else must have fitted them wrong mate

sure you put the links on the right side?

bars on the rite ends?!

weird! (unless you werent supplied e30 ones?!)

[Martinaston]

318-is
take a closer look at the pic's

[Dan318-is]

not the links then

bizarre!

[Martinaston]

I think it may be your offset bushes jamesc, the roll bar is probably ok (just) without them

[M5pilot]

I'm totally lost on this aswell.

Cotty180 has them aswell and I don't think he has Eccentric bushes. Maybe it's worth asking him if he has a problem?

Never heard of this problem and alot of these bars have sold.

Sal

[massive]

Your car may have suffered extensive frontal damage at some point in its life and not been put back 100% right

Otherwise are you 100% sure the wheels are the correct offset, I know you said they are standard bbs but you never know.

Good luck

[paulg390]

Hi, not sure this helps but we have the H&R cup set up + H&R ARBs set to medium on our 318is and its absolutely fine with either 17" alpinas and 15" OZs....

[Bob_S]

you say you have the eccentric bushes on, not implying your stupid but are they on the right way up? if they are wrong way up they will pull the wheels in at the back and not push them out