SPL front arms - headlight adjustment rod, is it really needed?

kyippee · 10-08-2020, 12:31 AM

Hey Everyone,

I'm looking at getting SPL arms up front and Bimmerworld has a kit that saves a bit of money vs. buying the 3 pairs of arms separately:
https://www.bimmerworld.com/BimmerWo...onversion.html

I'm confused about how some of the individual product pages talk about headlight levelling arms being missing. Do I really need them? Will there be some error codes or headlight levelling problems? I'm o.k. with the car not dynamically moving headlights up or down, as I believe I can just adjust manually under the hood.

Lower wishbones have a street version that include the rod. I assume race version (without rod) is included in the kit and will call BW to confirm: https://www.bimmerworld.com/SPL-Race...-Race-E9X.html

Tie rod ends include the rod:
https://www.bimmerworld.com/SPL-Race...s-E82-E9X.html

Upper control arms don't have the rod, don't see a street version:
https://www.bimmerworld.com/SPL-Race...s-E82-E9X.html

slicer · 10-08-2020, 07:02 AM

Get the street version of the front LCA (lower wishbones). Everything other than the headlight level sensor mount is the same.

Not sure what you are referring to when you say the "rod" associated with the other parts. The headlight adjuster only applies to the main LCA. All other parts only have one version.

kyippee · 10-08-2020, 12:08 PM

Thanks slicer ! I am definitely not knowledgeable about these parts.

The part that confuses me on the upper control arms is this part: "Designed for track/racing use only. There is no mounting position for a headlight adjusting rod." Does that mean the stock upper arms have a position for it and this SPL part doesn't? Seems weird foes they to write that in.

I also got confused with the tension arm monoballs. I don't see an SPL front tension arm. Is it correct that I'd still need to buy a tension arm w/monoballs like the GAS brand one? (I am replacing)

//steve\\ · 10-08-2020, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyippee

Thanks slicer ! I am definitely not knowledgeable about these parts.

The part that confuses me on the upper control arms is this part: "Designed for track/racing use only. There is no mounting position for a headlight adjusting rod." Does that mean the stock upper arms have a position for it and this SPL part doesn't? Seems weird foes they to write that in.

I also got confused with the tension arm monoballs. I don't see an SPL front tension arm. Is it correct that I'd still need to buy a tension arm w/monoballs like the GAS brand one? (I am replacing)

No, there is a SPL front tension arm. It's totally straight unlike the OE part that's all twisted. In the bundle you linked it's the skinny long arm.

kyippee · 10-08-2020, 12:33 PM

Thanks Steve! The site must be confusing me or I'm just clearly rushing things while working. The name changes between bimmerworld and SPL site.

I confirmed over the phone w/bimmerworld that it is indeed one part that needs the headlight rod. (lower wishbone - race version linked here https://www.bimmerworld.com/SPL-Race...-Race-E9X.html)

It would need to be ordered in the street version to have the rod. Swapped out race for street version during my call to order.

10-08-2020, 12:31 AM	#1
kyippee Lieutenant Colonel 1082 Rep 1,617 Posts Drives: E92 M3, Supra MK5, F44 235GC Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (0)	SPL front arms - headlight adjustment rod, is it really needed? Hey Everyone, I'm looking at getting SPL arms up front and Bimmerworld has a kit that saves a bit of money vs. buying the 3 pairs of arms separately: https://www.bimmerworld.com/BimmerWo...onversion.html I'm confused about how some of the individual product pages talk about headlight levelling arms being missing. Do I really need them? Will there be some error codes or headlight levelling problems? I'm o.k. with the car not dynamically moving headlights up or down, as I believe I can just adjust manually under the hood. Lower wishbones have a street version that include the rod. I assume race version (without rod) is included in the kit and will call BW to confirm: https://www.bimmerworld.com/SPL-Race...-Race-E9X.html Tie rod ends include the rod: https://www.bimmerworld.com/SPL-Race...s-E82-E9X.html Upper control arms don't have the rod, don't see a street version: https://www.bimmerworld.com/SPL-Race...s-E82-E9X.html
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10-08-2020, 07:02 AM	#2
slicer Major General 3086 Rep 6,812 Posts Drives: GT3 Cup, X7, G80 M3 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Wisconsin - Instagram - @slicer_m iTrader: (39)	Get the street version of the front LCA (lower wishbones). Everything other than the headlight level sensor mount is the same. Not sure what you are referring to when you say the "rod" associated with the other parts. The headlight adjuster only applies to the main LCA. All other parts only have one version. __________________ Past BMW's: E36M3, E46M3, E90M3, E92M3(x2), i3, F31 330i Touring, F87 M2CS, F97 X3M, G05 X5, Fall-Line E46 with S65 Swap Current BMW's: G07 X7, G80 M3 (LSB on Tartufo) Race Car: Porsche 992 GT3 CUP INSTAGRAM - @Slicer_M
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10-08-2020, 12:08 PM	#3
kyippee Lieutenant Colonel 1082 Rep 1,617 Posts Drives: E92 M3, Supra MK5, F44 235GC Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (0)	Thanks slicer ! I am definitely not knowledgeable about these parts. The part that confuses me on the upper control arms is this part: "Designed for track/racing use only. There is no mounting position for a headlight adjusting rod." Does that mean the stock upper arms have a position for it and this SPL part doesn't? Seems weird foes they to write that in. I also got confused with the tension arm monoballs. I don't see an SPL front tension arm. Is it correct that I'd still need to buy a tension arm w/monoballs like the GAS brand one? (I am replacing)
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10-08-2020, 12:33 PM	#5
kyippee Lieutenant Colonel 1082 Rep 1,617 Posts Drives: E92 M3, Supra MK5, F44 235GC Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (0)	Thanks Steve! The site must be confusing me or I'm just clearly rushing things while working. The name changes between bimmerworld and SPL site. I confirmed over the phone w/bimmerworld that it is indeed one part that needs the headlight rod. (lower wishbone - race version linked here https://www.bimmerworld.com/SPL-Race...-Race-E9X.html) It would need to be ordered in the street version to have the rod. Swapped out race for street version during my call to order. Last edited by kyippee; 10-08-2020 at 01:37 PM..
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