Alpina B8 #64 of 93 Limo

[Scooter]

Next onto the front suspension. I don't have as many photos of this, but I'm replacing a lot:

• Control arms and bushings
• Inner and outer tie rods
• Sway bar bushings
• Sway bar end links

Old sway bar parts



Tie rod removed





And this is where I got stuck for a bit. I replaced the control arms in my wife's 2000 330i before, so I thought this would be similar....not quite. The ball joint separator I usually use didn't fit under the shock, so I had to go out and buy a pickle fork to remove the control arms. Once removed I noticed the control arms used offset bushings which is where I got confused and had to do research.

Before I started I looked at the control arms. They are the serviceable type found on non-M suspension, so I assumed it was all non-M in the front. The parts brochure for the car (from Alpina) is usually pretty good about specifying Alpina specific or M specific items. However, there is no mention of the front suspension being M components. Further, this car left the BMW factory in 1995. The 1995 BMW M3 uses the standard control arm with offset bushings and all models after, have a different control arm with centered bushings and different sway bar end links. Ugh, so I had the wrong control arm bushings. Also, I couldn't find the offset bushings already pressed into the "lollipop." I went back and forth trying to decide if I was going to spend the money on the special tool to remove and install the bushings on the control arm, but in the end decided to since I can use it on both my car and my wife's, and it will pay for itself after one use.

This is pretty much where I'm at now. I got the tool after waiting for 3 weeks. Basically, everything is still disassembled.

Oh, I also noticed a few cracks in the brake lines, so I have purchased all new brake lines as well. I don't feel like doing these myself, so I'll have the shop do it when I take the car for an alignment after the front has been reassembled.

[Scooter]

No photos because the battery on my phone installed, but I installed the new tie rods last night. I'll probably get the sway bar back in tonight, and I might get the bushings on the control arms as well, but we'll see.

[Scooter]

Sway bar is in, but I didn't do the end links. I think it will be easier to install the control arm bushings with them out.



Brake calipers back on.

[Stirling]

You've been busy, Scooter! Thanks for keeping us up-to-date.

[Scooter]

Happy to keep the documentation on the car going somewhere!

I sheared a bolt for the end link connection to the control arm on Tuesday night, so went to BMW and got new hardware. I probably should have done this anyway. I got new hardware for everything else I worked on. Then last night I got everything reassembled and got the car back on the ground.

I purchased the expensive Bav Auto control arm pushing press to get the bushings on the control arm. It was a bit fiddly to get set up to press the bushing on. I'm sure this was mostly because I was lying on the garage floor under the car. If it was up higher on a lift, I'm sure it would be easier. Anyway, happy I coughed up the money for it because it made the work go smooth.

Next, need to modify a 14mm hex key so I can access the diff fill plug. Then drain and fill diff and transmission. Next oil change and finally off to the shop for alignment and brake line replacement.