[simpleM3]

Can someone let me know if their kit came with an extra 10mm nut to install the leveling rod that came with their kit. The bottom of the stock leveling rod is secured to the lower control arm by a clip. The rod that comes with the M3 kit does not have a clip and appears to require a nut in order to secure it to the new arm. I didn't get an extra nut with my kit. I only have the stock one which I will use to secure the top. Was I supposed to get one or what did you guys use?

Thanks in advance

[simpleM3]

Bump

[parabmw]

also can you reuse the stock nuts for the control arm and tension rod?

[Casca]

Originally Posted by parabmw

also can you reuse the stock nuts for the control arm and tension rod?

I'm most likely going to reuse old hardware so long as it is steel. For nuts, I'll probably reuse regardless of material. Will be using red or maybe just blue thread lock and torqueing before it dries though.

I reuse lug bolts all the time. I am constantly taking my wheels off and remounting with the same lug bolts and I don't even put any thread lock on it. Doesn't seem to be a problem.

I am entertaining maybe drilling holes into the fasteners to make it so I can safety wire everything as well. Will be completely re-doing my suspension and the fastener cost alone is a pretty good bit of money and I am not really sure it needs to be new even though BMW says so. I reuse hardware for multi-million $$$ aircraft regularly and there are no problems.

[avocet]

Originally Posted by simple335i

Can someone let me know if their kit came with an extra 10mm nut to install the leveling rod that came with their kit. The bottom of the stock leveling rod is secured to the lower control arm by a clip. The rod that comes with the M3 kit does not have a clip and appears to require a nut in order to secure it to the new arm. I didn't get an extra nut with my kit. I only have the stock one which I will use to secure the top. Was I supposed to get one or what did you guys use?

Thanks in advance

mine had a new nut with the arm.

I would imagine any auto parts shop will have a suitable nut.

around here(Canada) there would be a good chance of finding a small metric ss or plated nut that would work.

ps its 51 cents(motorcycle shop... but same bmw p/n):

http://www.bmwmcchattanooga.com/prod...129904876.html

[Jdub679]

Originally Posted by parabmw

also can you reuse the stock nuts for the control arm and tension rod?

Agree with what Casca said. I asked my shop if I should purchase the hardware kit from ECS for the upgrade (about $40 of nuts and bolts). He said that they don't generally need it.

[simpleM3]

Thanks for the info

[Casca]

Originally Posted by Jdub679

Agree with what Casca said. I asked my shop if I should purchase the hardware kit from ECS for the upgrade (about $40 of nuts and bolts). He said that they don't generally need it.

Reading more about threadlocker, I don't think I will use red threadlocker at all. Just a tiny bit of blue to a good bit of blue.

If I do use red threadlocker, it's going to be on a bolt that has an 18mm head on up and the thread area has to be easily heatable once installed as well as be easily accessable for a big breaker bar. Still debating it. Most likely, just blue.

I went through realOEM and placed in the "shopping cart" every single hardware that I will remove in order to do the front suspension (including tie rods and other things, not just arms), the rear suspension, subframe, everything and was looking at just under $200. And that is useing bmwmercedasparts.com . If I was sure it needed new stuff, OK. But I don't think so. Would love to hear other peoples thoughts.

[romanonj]

Mine didnt come with 10mm nut either. Local autoparts had it, so thats where I got it from. Since this is not a load bearing nut, no need to use thread locker. I just had the front wheels off and checked the nut, it is nice and tight.

As for control arms mounting bolts, if reusing hardware apply a tiny bit of loctite sealant to the thread.

[simpleM3]

Found a nut in my toolbox, works like a charm. Thanks for the input.