The age-old question: Meyle HD Control Arms vs. ZHP

[Stu]

I plan on doing a big suspension overhaul some time next year - shocks, control arms, UUC Gen. 2 FCABs, tie rod ends.

Which will have the best steering feel? ZHP or Meyle HD? I almost want to buy ZHP control arms again because I feel that's a big part of this car, and I wanna keep it as ZHP as possible. What do you all think?

[danewilson77]

Buy the ZHP control arms.

[Hornung418]

ZHP Arms.

Horney...via TT.

[bimmerscott]

On other BMWs, I've had Meyel bushings wear out prematurely. Supposedly they've pushed to improve quality in the last year or so, but I'm not willing to find out. Go with the factory parts.

[Sockethead]

Someone at Bimmerfest said that Meyle has moved their manufacturing out of Germany.. can't remember where but their quality sucks now... I hope it's not true but they seem to have a lot of failures posted on many forums.

ZHP control arms are more like M3 than standard BMW...

[Hornung418]

Twas me, Rob :biggrin.

Horney...via TT.

[Sockethead]

Twas me, Rob :biggrin.

Horney...via TT.
haha really? Gawd, my memory sucks...:scratchinghead

[danewilson77]

I had actually always heard Meyle HD quality was really good. My "ZHP arm" comment above was because it's a ZHP. Did not know there were quality control issues now. I always used them on the 325i ZSP. Never had a problem.

I always pointed people to the below video....


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6wTXQCXRNM

[Hornung418]

Meyle's production plant moved from Germany to Turkey.

Horney...via TT.

[Stu]

I had actually always heard Meyle HD quality was really good. My "ZHP arm" comment above was because it's a ZHP. Did not know there were quality control issues now. I always used them on the 325i ZSP. Never had a problem.

I always pointed people to the below video....


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6wTXQCXRNM

Yeah, that video is basically the reason for this question. I am looking for the stiffest and most precise steering feel and I figure I could get that from Meyle HDs, buuuut...I've also never tried new ZHP arms. I think I'll just stick with ZHP.

[elric]

Zell ... just a FYI .... I can get the ZHP Control Arms ... 31122282121 & 31122282122 ... for $500 plus shipping.

[echo46]

I think you have to go with the ZHP control arms as the ZHP control arms are beefier than the standards. You are used to that monster suspension, dont mess with it.

[Stu]

Zell ... just a FYI .... I can get the ZHP Control Arms ... 31122282121 & 31122282122 ... for $500 plus shipping.

I'll be PMing you in the future :)

[cakM3]

BP went with Meyle HD control arms and he has to replace them already....I would stick with ZHP control arms.....OEM brother!

[Nomar06]

When your shopping for the ZHP arms try to contact these guys.....http://myworld.ebay.com/laurel_bmw_westmont/

I bought the set for my car about a month ago for $310 shipped.

[danewilson77]

When your shopping for the ZHP arms try to contact these guys.....http://myworld.ebay.com/laurel_bmw_westmont/

I bought the set for my car about a month ago for $310 shipped.

That's a great price Nomar.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[az3579]

Last year I put in Meyle HD arms and bushings. The arms themselves are actually beefier than the ZHP arms. Wish that was indicative of durability.
Right now I'm looking at replacing them because the car is *almost* unsafe to drive. The CABs are shot already, less than a year later.


Zell ... just a FYI .... I can get the ZHP Control Arms ... 31122282121 & 31122282122 ... for $500 plus shipping.

Is this an "anytime" price or a special deal? Is it also extended to anyone?? At the moment I'm looking at paying $600-620 for a pair and that's the discounted price... absolutely brutal.

[elric]

Last year I put in Meyle HD arms and bushings. The arms themselves are actually beefier than the ZHP arms. Wish that was indicative of durability.
Right now I'm looking at replacing them because the car is *almost* unsafe to drive. The CABs are shot already, less than a year later.



Is this an "anytime" price or a special deal? Is it also extended to anyone?? At the moment I'm looking at paying $600-620 for a pair and that's the discounted price... absolutely brutal.

BP ... this is a 'anytime' price for the entire family. Trying to setup my own online parts store.

[cakM3]

That's awesome Jeff! :thumbsup

[danewilson77]

BP ... this is a 'anytime' price for the entire family. Trying to setup my own online parts store.

Excellent.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[webster]

Last year I put in Meyle HD arms and bushings. The arms themselves are actually beefier than the ZHP arms. Wish that was indicative of durability.
Right now I'm looking at replacing them because the car is *almost* unsafe to drive. The CABs are shot already, less than a year later.



.

damn. i put Meyle HD CABs on in February. logged probably 5k miles since then. now you have me worried...

[kayger12]

Fwiw, I installed the Meyle HD CABs 18,000 miles ago (March of '11). They are just as good as the day I installed them.

Not sure when they moved production to Turkey, though.

[terraphantm]

For anyone who needs new control arms and bushings - buy the "Value Line" set for the M-sports II cars (part number 31122158894). The kit includes the M-sport II / ZHP control arms and bushings. Thebmwpartstore.com has that kit for $485 shipped.

Same kit as seen here http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/31122158894/ES1906512/

[Hornung418]

Jesus that's expensive! Nice fond either way.

This post brought to you by Uncle Clark's Anti-gravity Cream. Put some on your Super Collider just before the Big Bang.

[terraphantm]

Jesus that's expensive! Nice fond either way.

This post brought to you by Uncle Clark's Anti-gravity Cream. Put some on your Super Collider just before the Big Bang.

It's actually pretty cheap compared to buying the items separately. Buying the control arms (31122282121 and 31122282122) and bushings (31126783376) separately would cost you almost $750. Even if you buy the control arms through the "BMW Performance" kit (31120429578) along with bushing part number above, you'd be paying about $600.

The "Value Line" kit represents a $120-270 savings for the exact same parts.

[Hornung418]

Hmm. I found Lemforders for $200 a pop and Febis for $150. If I were to buy that how much could I sell the bushings for? I have AKG 75D FCABs.

This post brought to you by Uncle Clark's Anti-gravity Cream. Put some on your Super Collider just before the Big Bang.

[terraphantm]

Hmm. I found Lemforders for $200 a pop and Febis for $150. If I were to buy that how much could I sell the bushings for? I have AKG 75D FCABs.

This post brought to you by Uncle Clark's Anti-gravity Cream. Put some on your Super Collider just before the Big Bang.

I'm assuming those prices are from Pelican? If you already have different FCABs, you may as well go with Lemfoerder I suppose - but be careful. Visually the ZHP and non-ZHP arms look nearly identical - I know people have gotten the non-ZHP variant from Pelican even with the ZHP part number.

Bushings... $100 would be reasonable based on the lemfoerder price, but I don't know what the demand for OE bushings is (I personally preferred them to Meyle.. but I know many don't).

[echo46]

I put Meyle HD CABs on my ZHP and they have been good so far. However, are we sure this stuff is even made in Turkey? I just did shocks, struts and mounts on my e36 and used the Meyle strut and shock mounts. While there was Turkish writing on the package it also said "Product of China.". WTF. I think I am off Meyle stuff and either back to BMW or Lemforder.

[Sockethead]

It's a shame that companies sacrifice quality for cost... in this day, it's not the product that matters, it the shareholders. It was a sad day for me when I found out that even Sears is moving the Craftsman tool production to China

[das boots]

Hmm. I found Lemforders for $200 a pop and Febis for $150. If I were to buy that how much could I sell the bushings for? I have AKG 75D FCABs.

This post brought to you by Uncle Clark's Anti-gravity Cream. Put some on your Super Collider just before the Big Bang.

Where did you purchase your Lemforders at that price????

[Hornung418]

Didn't purchase anything yet. Found em on eBay by searching the part numbers ending in 21 and 22.

[az3579]

It's actually pretty cheap compared to buying the items separately. Buying the control arms (31122282121 and 31122282122) and bushings (31126783376) separately would cost you almost $750. Even if you buy the control arms through the "BMW Performance" kit (31120429578) along with bushing part number above, you'd be paying about $600.

The "Value Line" kit represents a $120-270 savings for the exact same parts.


Wow, that's shocking... I can't believe it's so much cheaper...