*** Australian Chat Thread ***

are RTABS -Rear Trailing Arm Bushes right?
I will be doing a suspension overhaul, new springs, shocks, and few bushes, interested to know which ones i should get.
Anyone have any experience with Pedders bushes?

Originally Posted by Adriano323

are RTABS -Rear Trailing Arm Bushes right?
I will be doing a suspension overhaul, new springs, shocks, and few bushes, interested to know which ones i should get.
Anyone have any experience with Pedders bushes?

Yes.
Lemfoerder are OEM & you can get them from pelicanparts.com for US$12ea.
Don't know about the Pedders ones, however my mechanic strongly advised me to avoid the urathane bushes as they sqeal like buggery.

Originally Posted by BMW //MPOWER

Yes.
Lemfoerder are OEM & you can get them from pelicanparts.com for US$12ea.
Don't know about the Pedders ones, however my mechanic strongly advised me to avoid the urathane bushes as they sqeal like buggery.

Urethane can be a pain. But yeah when greased right not a problem.

Thats excelent, thanks heaps, i didnt want to pay 100sumfin for bushes as ive seen on the us websites

Originally Posted by BMW //MPOWER

Yes.
Lemfoerder are OEM & you can get them from pelicanparts.com for US$12ea.
Don't know about the Pedders ones, however my mechanic strongly advised me to avoid the urathane bushes as they sqeal like buggery.

as you may have read, i am looking at buying a E46. reading the forum there were a lot of Sub-frame issues in the US was it the same in Aus? Also are ther any other obvious things i should be looking at when buying a 2001/2002 325i?

thanks for your help.

Originally Posted by AliG

as you may have read, i am looking at buying a E46. reading the forum there were a lot of Sub-frame issues in the US was it the same in Aus? Also are ther any other obvious things i should be looking at when buying a 2001/2002 325i?

thanks for your help.

It's not the subframe... It's the subframe mounting points & yes i would reccomend you make sure they are checked as part of a pre-purchase inspection. If your in Melbourne, Worx can do this for you.

certainly get your Rtabs done !!! mine cost me a set of rear tyres due to uneven wear !!! killed em in only 12000k........

I have pedders bushings, they are not too shabby so far! Although now i need a lower control arm, which i ordered today from pelicanparts

Originally Posted by BMW //MPOWER

It's not the subframe... It's the subframe mounting points & yes i would reccomend you make sure they are checked as part of a pre-purchase inspection. If your in Melbourne, Worx can do this for you.

yes after reading all the thread i have picked that up its the mounting points, i was thinking of taking it to local BMW to get it checked but after reading the stories about BMW denying the problem they might not be the best people to look at this issue. i did have a look under the car myself but it looked different to the mounting points in the pictures, it is a SEDAN not coupe.

does anyone know of a reliable person to check them in Newcastle, NSW or in Sydney.

A few guys have used Phil Lim at Kelray Automotive in Asquith and report good things about him.

Or try Bavarian in Caringbah (www.bavarian.com.au) - again, good things to be heard about them. There are more, but this is what I remember...

Originally Posted by AliG

yes after reading all the thread i have picked that up its the mounting points, i was thinking of taking it to local BMW to get it checked but after reading the stories about BMW denying the problem they might not be the best people to look at this issue. i did have a look under the car myself but it looked different to the mounting points in the pictures, it is a SEDAN not coupe.

does anyone know of a reliable person to check them in Newcastle, NSW or in Sydney.

its not always easy to spot... u generally have to take the muffler off..

as it occurs more often on the left, well the passenger side on a RDH car

thanks for the feedback guys, the one in Asquith is the closet to me (about 100km drive) so i will make an appointment with them when i get the e46 sedan.

from all the threads i have read under the Aus forum, most of the cars seem to be coupes, is it becasue we have a larger percentage of coupes here or is the mounting point (sub frame) issue usually more prominent in the coupes?

Originally Posted by AliG

thanks for the feedback guys, the one in Asquith is the closet to me (about 100km drive) so i will make an appointment with them when i get the e46 sedan.

from all the threads i have read under the Aus forum, most of the cars seem to be coupes, is it becasue we have a larger percentage of coupes here or is the mounting point (sub frame) issue usually more prominent in the coupes?

It's because all the sedans are driven by senior citizens!
(flame suit on)

its more likely to happen in an early manual..from what ive seen

e.i. 323 or 328

also high powered cars, M3's are also prone..


dont stress too much on it, BMW will usually replace it for free

Originally Posted by YGOAMG

its more likely to happen in an early manual..from what ive seen

e.i. 323 or 328

also high powered cars, M3's are also prone..


dont stress too much on it, BMW will usually replace it for free

But it will fkn take forever.

^^ ofcourse lol... why would they do it quick.. when its costing them... hope it dosnt happen to mine (touch wood)

Haha, this is true. But after hearing today that it's going to take another week+ after this long; I'm pretty over it.

I just want my car back.

^^ WTF.. u still havnt got ur car back... i though u got it back ages ago..

how long havnt u had it?

Originally Posted by Ballistic325

A few guys have used Phil Lim at Kelray Automotive in Asquith and report good things about him.

Or try Bavarian in Caringbah (www.bavarian.com.au) - again, good things to be heard about them. There are more, but this is what I remember...

FTW Phil is fantastic..... a wealth of knowledge and dare I say cheap also !!

Thanks for the feedback looks like Phil is going to be my new best friend