BMW F30 Suspension Diagnostic & Maintenance Guide (Struts, Bushings, Control Arms, & More)

►One of the highlights of the BMW F30 is its suspension and handling. However, being ten years old now, most of the examples out there will need to have their suspension overhauled. In this BMW F30 suspension diagnostic and maintenance guide, Gareth Foley, FCP Euro's BMW Catalog Manager, covers all of the topics of the suspension, including:
00:00 - Intro
03:30 - BMW F30 Front Struts
05:12 - BMW F30 Front Sway Bar
06:00 - BMW F30 Sway Bar End Links
07:13 - BMW F30 Rear Control Arms
09:00 - BMW F30 Divorced Shock & Spring
09:12 - BMW F30 Shock Mounts
10:15 - BMW F30 Rear Sway Bar
10:47 - BMW F30 Subframe Bushings
11:29 - BMW F30 Vibration Damping Bushings
11:57 - BMW F30 Differential Mounts
12:34 - BMW F30 Control Arm Cowl
13:16 - BMW F30 Unique Bushing Hardware
15:51 - Wrap-up

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[smaarof]

Great F30 suspension set-up video! Will use this as a checklist in my final service as my F30's warranty is expiring soon. Thanks!

[RickCT]

This is such a high quality educational video. So helpful. Another reason FCP is the best!

[dariusGarage]

I know there aren't too many customers in this segment for you guys... BUT if you have the time and opportunity I would greatly appreciate a similar style of video (buyers & maintenance guides) for the F01, F10, and F13 platform. What are common failures and when to expect these failures? Thanks!

[Beardypilotman]

I’ve had a major creak develop from the rear when manoeuvring left and right in my F33, especially around 30mph so I’ll be using these vids to replace ball joints and bushings (hoping it’s these). Thanks for the great videos!

[claudioagmfilho]

Hi there, i am all the way from Recife in Brazil South America, and I really liked your video, very informative and all, thank you for sharing it with us…

[deltalight]

There’s so much knowledge in the video
For most used F30s, what replacement/upgrades will you recommend in priority order?

[purplepurplesaurasne]

I've been using these videos as a suppliment to the Bentley book for my go-to on a '14 F34, seriously great stuff.

[hamsterdangler]

I am going to have to get under my F31 2013, the inside tyre edge suddenly wore away and a chunk of rubber was ripped out and tyre blew. I thought that might have been caused by too much toe in, but took it to have the geometry set, but the tyre is still rubbing on rough roads, there was no obvious play on the rear wheel but I have to try a pry bar yet, but is there possibly a most likely place I should look which may have caused this issue, it may save me a lot of time. Thanks for your clear informative video.

[rovert]

Love these videos! Could you do one about performance/aftermarket options for suspension? (Shocks, springs, and sway bars)

[nycshelbygt]

Exceptional and very timely video on the BMW F3X suspension Gareth. Need an explainer on the F3X upgraded lower control arm (LCA) and thrust arm/tension strut by using F8X M3/M4 OEM/OE components and/or monoball inserts. The M3/M4 thrust arm/tension strut is very narrow and requires custom spec'ed spacers to fit. Metric AL/Steel spacers are hard to find in the US. M3/M4 LCA is just a bolt-on upgrade on the F3X that only requires the headlight arm to be changed and a good wheel alignment to dial-in the extra negative camber. Rear suspension upgrade options would also be helpful. Most BMW F3X suspensions drive like jello compared to an ///M car. Simple upgrades like the M3/M4 LCA swap make a huge difference.

WARNING: BMW F3X X-Drive models can only use the monoball insert upgrade, and not the F8X M3/M4 LCA/TS upgrade.

[xtornado]

Great video, from time to time i hear klicking noise in cabin when i go slow or even just simple start and go in city traffic, i was replace sway bars (put new lamforder like oem) but this noise come again from time to time, also i was noticed if i tilt car left-right something adjust and after that noise is gone for some period of time, i hear noise in fron left part. Do you maybe have some recommendation/sugestion? Also note, no visable issues with any of bushings or oil leaks from joints

[tainos]

Awesome video me being a new BMW f30 owner now I know what to look for.😁👍

[elmoneyyy]

Do you guys have a video on how to remove/replace the front bumper reinforcement bar along with the brackets?

[steveng]

On e92 was popular to swap out the front control and trust arms with m3 ones… is that the case on the f32 chassis, swapping out with m4 control arms? The bushing on the trust arms weren’t moulded into the arms if memory serves me correctly. 👍🏻🇬🇧

[thegeneral]

my struts on my 2014 328D stick through also which is different than in the video. Did you get any responses on if the struts are blown through the hub

[ScoopRolla]

3:57 my strut pushed through the knuckle on my f30 like you said. I only changed the axle. Was I supposed to change the strut and knuckle as well ? My car is driving fine but when I hit about 70mph I get a traction control blink and feel my wheel moving funny. Can’t really explain. But if I let off the gas I can hit gas again and be fine.

[garydavis]

Changing the rear shocks on the newer F30, the little air dam on the control arms has to be moved in order to pull the lower shock mount bolt out.

[ilidanStormrageTv]

Best ever video made for suspension problems, thanks a lot man!!! 🎉🎉🎉

[platzangst]

Awesome video. Could u please do one for BMW F11 as well?

[joshua]

hello I was curious I just got a 2015 x5 50i and wanted to see what suspension I actually have. You mentioned a vin decoder could help do you have a good one that you would recommend?