Aftermarket Suspension Failure!

[BMWjason]

Installed these Beck Arnley sway bar links on the rear of my 2007 E70 with Adaptive Drive. Failed after 2 days. Beck Arnley sent replacement, failed within a day. This can be fatal if this comes loose while taking a corner at excessive speed. It's obvious that aftermarket suspension parts are not tested properly.

[gregg3gs]

Whats the function of this link (camber or toe)?

[BMWjason]

Function of adaptive sway bar link is to control body roll and yaw to a lesser extent. The adaptive drive uses a lightning fast Flex-Ray bus system which makes adjustments in milliseconds, also with electro-hydraulic force. This is where the unpredictable danger lies when the link fails. No warning lights came on. Just heard a loud bang when taking a corner and feeling the rear-end jerk.

[X5ists]

Holy molly, get OEM then

[JCL]

Originally Posted by BMWjason

Installed these Beck Arnley sway bar links on the rear of my 2007 E70 with Adaptive Drive. Failed after 2 days. Beck Arnley sent replacement, failed within a day. This can be fatal if this comes loose while taking a corner at excessive speed. It's obvious that aftermarket suspension parts are not tested properly.

Well, it may be better to say that they either not designed, or manufactured, or tested properly, since testing likely won't be done on a 100% sample in any case. The smaller sample may have passed the test. Or as you imply, maybe there is no testing at all.

What was the reason to select these links instead of the OE part?

[JCL]

Originally Posted by X5ists

Holy molly, get OEM then

Beck Arnley is reportedly an OEM to major automakers.

Perhaps you mean get original Original Equipment, ie in a BMW box. That's what I'd do.

[X5ists]

Originally Posted by JCL

Beck Arnley is reportedly an OEM to major automakers.

Perhaps you mean get original Original Equipment, ie in a BMW box. That's what I'd do.

Yup BMW on the box $$$

[conedoctor]

Odd that they have the joint in a tension setup.

[BMWjason]

Honestly, lets face it, OEM BMW parts are superior, their tested. BMW OEM parts for the most part are only slightly more expensive when bought online, and you know they were specifically designed and tested for your vehicle. The only aftermarket parts I could ever recommend for a 4.8 are Denso Iridium Power IK20L's and Akebono Brake Pads.

[BMWjason]

And To answer JCL, I purchased them thinking that Beck Arnley was an OEM rebox, and for time constraints. Beck Arnley is usually OEM quality, not in this case. I will say Beck Arnley did respond to my email when I reported this failure.. Lesson learned