Rear beam bushes

[Dino D]

So ahead of my car going for corner weighting, alignment and suspension height adjustment it was suggested I check over al bushes etc for wear, damage etc and replace.

Everything is good but the mechanic noticed very slight wear on both rear beam bushes. He says the beam is sitting slightly lower but there is no lateral movement and no moxie when going over his ramps (where he usually hears it).
He says the bushes can be tough to get out and requires a special tool which they don't have.

Has anyone changed these bushes and can share their experience?

My car is a 2.8 if makes any difference.

[Deano1712]

Yes I made a tool to remove them - I have it still in the garage somewhere. The standard bushes are rubbish. If you change them fit poly bushes. Its one of the best modifications you can do to a Z3. Makes the rear much more planted and predictable.
http://www.iemotorsport.com/bmw/Z3-susp ... mount.html

[Brian H]

On my list of jobs to do, I think my near side bush has had it. I was going to wait for winter but don't fancy lying on the cold ground, hmmm maybe a job to do in the next few weeks.

[Dino D]

Yes I made a tool to remove them - I have it still in the garage somewhere. The standard bushes are rubbish. If you change them fit poly bushes. Its one of the best modifications you can do to a Z3. Makes the rear much more planted and predictable.
http://www.iemotorsport.com/bmw/Z3-susp ... mount.html

I like the sound of that!

How many hours do you reckon it should take a garage who has the tool?
I'll need to find a garage who has the tool or maybe I can rent your tool?
Is it a very complex job that will require a BMW specialist or is it ok with a 'general' mechanic? My local garage are good and honest so happy to let them do it if possible.

I also have Poweflex (purple) diff mount bush that's not been fitted. Would it be a good time to do as the diff will need to come out or not?

[BladeRunner919]

I did it at home, so any mechanic should be able to do it. It's just undoing bolts and then dong them back up - nothing specialist or complicated.

[Del]

If you ever travel to the Bristol area, the BMW specialists (see attached) have a special jig to "whip 'em out" and replace quickly and cost effectively.
http://www.redish-motorsport.com/Z3Mroadster.html

[Dino D]

I did it at home, so any mechanic should be able to do it. It's just undoing bolts and then dong them back up - nothing specialist or complicated.

How did you get the bushes out?
My mechanic just mentioned that they do not have the required tool.

[BladeRunner919]

I did it at home, so any mechanic should be able to do it. It's just undoing bolts and then dong them back up - nothing specialist or complicated.

How did you get the bushes out?
My mechanic just mentioned that they do not have the required tool.

A lot of effort/heat. If I did it again I'd make a tool like this:

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh ... uber-cheap!

[Dino D]

I did it at home, so any mechanic should be able to do it. It's just undoing bolts and then dong them back up - nothing specialist or complicated.

How did you get the bushes out?
My mechanic just mentioned that they do not have the required tool.

A lot of effort/heat. If I did it again I'd make a tool like this:

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh ... uber-cheap!

A lot if heat and effort is going to cost me via a garage without the tool for sure!

Was it an ideal time to do the diff mounting bush too (as far as I understand the diff comes out for this job anyway?)

[Dino D]

Just checked the bushes I have and I already have Powerflex Purple Rear Beam Bushes (PFR 5-311) in the garage, not the diff mounting bush as I thought.
Just wondering if I'm going to pay out for labour is it with doing other bushes in there at the same time.

[Brian H]

Well I did the rear beam bushes yesterday, admittedly I did have the correct tool to do the job, I managed to get them out without fully removing the whole rear beam which was a bonus. 4 hrs to drop the rear beam and extract the bushes, 10 mins to put the new ones back in (powerflex). With the wheel arch lines off I have a bit of cleaning underneath the wheel arches today and then back on the road.

[Deano1712]

Well done! How does it drive now? Do you notice a difference?

[Brian H]

I'll let you know in a few days Deano, just want to treat a few little areas behind the rear wheel trim with some stone-chip.

[Brian H]

Took the car out today, first time after I changed over the rear beam bushes, the new bushes were powerflex, a few observations:-

There is now very little/no play in the rear beam, on the old bushes there was approx 25/30mm of vertical movement in the bushes give or take a few mm.
The car feels a lot firmer at the back, when driving the car with the old bushes in tact I was not aware of a loose feeling however the car now feels solid.
With the firmer bushes now in place? I can now hear a small whining noise (the diff maybe?) under acceleration, it is not a loud noise but it is there. I will monitor this but it could just be a trait of now having solid beam bushes.

It will be interesting to see if some of the body roll I had has now disappeared.

[siwilson]

Won't help body roll, but will reduce rear end steer and will protect your diff mount bracket.

FWIW I would not touch the diff mount bush. Leave that stock as you don;t want any movement in the rear beam transferred to the diff mount if you can help it. Let the new rear beam bushes take all the strain.

I had my Ireland Engineering bushes installed in 2006 by Munich Legends. Clearly they have all the tools and charged me 2.5 hours labour. Today that would be £207 including the dreaded V.A.T.

Very interested in ta writeup of the corner weighting. I have KWv3 with ride height set by tape measure. I have often wondered what difference corner weighting would make.

[Joycey]

I can second what Brian is talking about. I have written a guide on changing those bushes on the.org fourm.

I fitted powerflex to my M and fitted the OEM bushes to another zed.

If anyone needs help with these bushes or any bushes in the rear end im willing to help any zed owners on here.

Lee