Suspension Bits
 

Al lright can anyone definitively tell me are the Lemforder suspension parts sold by AutoHaus AZ, Bav auto, Pelican, ECS, etc. any different than the OE ones from BMW. There is quite a bit of difference in pricing between the Lemforder branded suspension components vs the BMW branded suspension components. I know Lemforder makes them for BMW but just wondering if the BMW unit will have greater longevity? Let the remarks begin

If you want longevity, start by replacing all the parts you can with Powerflex poly parts (the rubber with void deflect like crazy and crack/rip/dry out).

I bought the entire kit from ECS Tuning and got a discount of around 30% (they run the full kit deal for a few weeks each year).

Well known and confirmed that Lemforder is an OEM supplier for many of those parts.

I can't say with 100% certainty they are exactly the same and will last as well as BMW branded OE.

But that is the presumption I make.

There was a time I would check how OE parts looked compared to the OEM equivalent via high res pics online, usually on ECS Tuning. I would look at small details like the parts markings, location of casting marks, shape of the joint boots, color of the boot clips, stuff like that. The OEM usually looked identical to OE as far as I could tell.

Interested to hear everyone's thoughts on this too.

I second power flex. I'm going to go with poly everything and lemforder, coupled with adjustable rear control arms (likely the Megan's I posted in the other thread) and coilovers. Should be good for a good long while.

I am not going with the ploys due harness and moans/groans when the temp gets cold. I am okay with the rubber ones. I just wanted to know does anyone think the Lemforder suspension pieces are the same as the ones that BMW sell through their dealer network?

I've yet to hear any moans/groans with over 2 yrs after install (could be a Texas weather thing).

I used a full package of the Powerflex lube on each pair, lubed the chilled metal sleeve OD and heated bushing bore (ID) pre-assembly, then lubed the bushing "friction face" (flat surface around sleeve bore) & sub-frame surface the friction face rotates on. A total of 4 surfaces need to be lubed pre-assembly.

The sleeve chilling & bush heating actually creates a larger "gap" between the parts, this keep the lube in the area during assembly.

Powerflex uses a proprietary copper base lube/blend, and stresses that although basic copper lube looks identical, its use WILL cause creaks/moans/groans.

You aren't going to notice a significant bump in NHVs with poly suspension bushing like you would with drivetrain mounts.


As for lemforder, I don't have any for the X5 yet but on my e30 they look pretty much the same as OE BMW ones. But to be fair there isn't much room for variation. The lemforder are probably exactly the same short of a BMW stamp and fancy box.

+1 on the lack of increased NVH.

Having tracked the X (alone & with up to 4 passengers), I am AMAZED at the difference between rubber vs poly. Mid-corner bumps (like turn 17 (Sunset Bend) at Sebring) don't cause vehicle direction or F/R grip balance change. Steering corrections during braking/turn-in/apex bumps/on throttle reduced by over 50%.

One of my passengers last year was an E39 M5 owner from France (tracks the M5 on Michelin Sport Cup tires), he was AMAZED at the track perf of the E53 (thought we were going off-track and rolling entering turn 1 brake zone at over 110mph, WOT/no-lift from turn 7 (hairpin) to turn 10 (Cunningham) had him speechless), told me he sees it in a totally different light now.

I think you will find that Lemforder replacement parts will meet the life cycle that you expect.

:iagree: and to piggyback our discussion the other day, its usually a 50% savings or more to use the OE supplier branded part that is in the OEM (Lemforder) brand box, with suspension parts there really most likely is no noticeable difference between "Genuine BMW" Lemforder and "Lemforder box" Lemforder suspension bits.