Is there L / R on Control Arm? I think I got 2 Rights. Okay to use? - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

CWY_M5 · 10th August 2007, 05:09

So I received the control arms from Vines, still waiting for my Thrust arms from Vines.

I open up the box, to see two IDENTICAL control arms.

The stock arms has the bumps, channel grove where height sensor goes in, and stickers on "opposite" ends.

The vines I got are identical. I suspect they will fit, but the bump and channel groove will be facing front for the right side, and facing rear for the left side. Anything else won't work??

Chino

M540i · 10th August 2007, 06:29

If you checked RealOEM.com and checked the part numbers for your car, you would find that the Left and Right do carry two different part numbers. Though I cannot say with certainty whether or not the Vines Control Arms that you purchased would work/ are interchangeable. If you follow the link to RealOEM, you will note the different number at the end of the listed part number/ they list a left and right side part number. http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...64&hg=31&fg=05 If you want quicker results rather than the tried and true method of attempting and failing, send LCSman a Private Message. He could offer a little bit more insight on these, as I seem to recall him recommending them in the past. That would lead me to believe that he has personal experience with thei products. On a side note, where did you purchase those from? I have been looking at getting those. If I couldn't find them by doing a simple search, I was just going to purchase the Bavarian Autosport control and thrust arms with their polyurethane bushings pressed in. Hope this helps.

CWY_M5 · 10th August 2007, 06:36

ebay - Vines Auto. Or you can go on Vines Auto website (google it).
I have seen people saying good things about them, but so far, I'm less than impressed.

1. order delay, I paid for them on 7/21, still don't have everything. And that's with email exchange and promises of shipping within 2 days
2. Still don't have thrust arm, shipped separate, via slowest GROUND, due to arrive next week.
3. Got the identical arm

From the looks, I really hope they are really good quality. There is a cut on the control arm (both of them) that I do not see on the OEM ones. I'll take picture later. Let's hope quality is good.

See pictures below. Left is brand new VINES arm, Right is OEM arm. Do you see the cut I'm talking about?