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      04-25-2022, 04:04 PM   #1
drwankel
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TRW has moved tension strut manufacturing to Malaysia

For anybody looking to replace their tension struts (sometimes referred to as a control arm), I have a PSA for you.

The tension struts were manufactured by TRW as the OEM supplier for the car in Germany. You can buy them as TRW branded, which is the exact same part as the OEM with the BMW stamp scratched off for about 1/3 of the price as the actual OEM ones.

I was speaking to German Auto Solutions about monoballs, and they informed me that all of the right side tension struts are coming out of Malaysia, and they are not quite the same. Their supplier (FCP euro) has listed the items as out of stock, as the left and right side are now mismatched and they are trying to get this sorted out. Presumably the left side will also come out of Malaysia once German made stock is depleted.

I made an order through bimmerworld for the tension struts as they were reasonably certain that they had German made arms in stock, but could not visually confirm. (I really really should have had them visually check, but the guy on the phone did not have the ability to get to the warehouse and quickly check).

I placed an order and when they arrived, I got a German made left tension strut, and a Malaysian made right. I called every place I could find and everyone had the Malaysian right arms. I finally found someone who had a German right side, 1 left in stock, visually confirmed to be the German arm.

For anybody needing arms right now, be VERY careful. I wouldn't want to mix and match these arms. It might be totally fine, but that's just not how I roll. Left and right need to be identical.

Anyway- I took some photos and wanted to share so people could see the differences:

Visually, here's what I can see:
  • The metal of the arm itself is different. Process to make the arms is likely different.
  • There is no stamping anywhere on the Malaysian arm other than what side its for.
  • Yellow safety sticker is missing.
  • Ball joint has a different cover on it, not sure if its the same ball joint or not.
  • The bushing metal center does not have any stamping on it.
  • The nut for the ball joint is a nylon locknut, whereas the Malaysian one has just a regular nut.

This is just what I can tell without opening the bag. Haven't measured anything. Very curious what the story is going to be for the official OEM arms.
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      04-25-2022, 04:14 PM   #2
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Actually looking at it again- there is a few other things I just noticed as well. The metal on the Malaysian arm is thicker and a slightly different shape as it approaches the ball joint compared to the German arm.
(found a picture of a German right to compare)

The ball joint does appear to be different. The bottom plate of the ball joint is visually different.
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      04-27-2022, 02:46 AM   #3
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Good to know! We should all grab a set soon if possible
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      04-28-2022, 05:00 PM   #4
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I got my German right tension strut in, and took a picture of it next to the Malaysian version, so you can get a better like/like comparison. Difficult to get a decent picture with them still in the bag.
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      05-04-2022, 03:13 AM   #5
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Apparently I bought these at the right time then. Both sides are German from GAS, order placed April 4th.
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      05-19-2022, 03:58 PM   #6
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Does this only affect the TRW ones or it will affect the genuine 'bmw stealership' versions as well?
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      05-19-2022, 04:22 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by e92zero View Post
Does this only affect the TRW ones or it will affect the genuine 'bmw stealership' versions as well?
For now, I would say no. I'm sure BMW has stock of these arms, but its unclear what will happen after that stock is depleted.

For now, if you want the german arms, OEM is likely the only way unless you can find someone that has old stock of the german arms.
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      05-25-2022, 01:52 PM   #8
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Has anyone purchased a set of TRW very recently and can confirm if vendors are still shipping out mismatched sets?

I had emailed GAS recently on whether their inventory had matched arms and had not received a response yet.
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      05-25-2022, 05:25 PM   #9
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Where's the proof that the new ones are worse?
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      05-25-2022, 06:53 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TboneS54 View Post
Where's the proof that the new ones are worse?
I never said they were worse.

I said they are different, and at this point an unknown variable. They could be better, but we have no data.

The bigger concern at this point is you have no choice but to mix and match arms at this point unless you go OEM, as I don't think anybody has Malaysian left arms yet.

FCP euro has halted sales and currently de-listed the TRW arms over this matter.
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      05-25-2022, 07:11 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by drwankel View Post
I never said they were worse.

I said they are different, and at this point an unknown variable. They could be better, but we have no data.

The bigger concern at this point is you have no choice but to mix and match arms at this point unless you go OEM, as I don't think anybody has Malaysian left arms yet.

FCP euro has halted sales and currently de-listed the TRW arms over this matter.
I ordered a set from ECS tuning and they were the German ones but that was rolling the dice cuz they were back ordered for like a week
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      05-25-2022, 07:33 PM   #12
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I recently replaced all my arms, I never looked at the boxes for where they were made but have a few arms leftover, one says Czech Republic one says Europe. I also have been told, just recently funny enough, that with the European Union and some other obscure laws over there, goods aren't always made where the packaging states they are. Source was the CEO of Motorcar parts of America, a company that manufactures aftermarket oem style car parts.

Edit: looks like the CZ arm was packaged 21st week 2021 and the EU one is 46th week 2019
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      05-25-2022, 09:23 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SAMM3Y View Post
I recently replaced all my arms, I never looked at the boxes for where they were made but have a few arms leftover, one says Czech Republic one says Europe. I also have been told, just recently funny enough, that with the European Union and some other obscure laws over there, goods aren't always made where the packaging states they are. Source was the CEO of Motorcar parts of America, a company that manufactures aftermarket oem style car parts.

Edit: looks like the CZ arm was packaged 21st week 2021 and the EU one is 46th week 2019
@SAMM3Y you just happened to buy the extra arms for future usage or?

Will the packaging be damaged if you took a look and compared them to the notables stated above for the arms made in Germany ("OE Spec")?
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      05-25-2022, 10:09 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EMKOOP View Post
@SAMM3Y you just happened to buy the extra arms for future usage or?

Will the packaging be damaged if you took a look and compared them to the notables stated above for the arms made in Germany ("OE Spec")?
The arms SAMM3Y posted is a rear suspension arm.

That being said- I'm really curious if those two rear arms are identical or not.

The design changing with the Malaysian tension strut arms is the odd bit.
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      05-25-2022, 10:53 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by asma123 View Post
I ordered a set from ECS tuning and they were the German ones but that was rolling the dice cuz they were back ordered for like a week
Congrats on getting German arms.

I'm kind of curious what kind of reseller pushback there has been. ECS I'm sure sells a ton of these arms. They are commonly used as an upgrade on the regular 3 series. FCPeuro delisting the arms tells me there has to be some sort of conversation going on in the backend.
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      05-25-2022, 11:00 PM   #16
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I purchased all the arms as a package together, I didn't use the new toe arms, they're new in the box, I can open them and take some pics if you're interested.
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      05-25-2022, 11:45 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by asma123 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by drwankel View Post
I never said they were worse.

I said they are different, and at this point an unknown variable. They could be better, but we have no data.

The bigger concern at this point is you have no choice but to mix and match arms at this point unless you go OEM, as I don't think anybody has Malaysian left arms yet.

FCP euro has halted sales and currently de-listed the TRW arms over this matter.
I ordered a set from ECS tuning and they were the German ones but that was rolling the dice cuz they were back ordered for like a week
@asma123 When was your order put through?
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      05-25-2022, 11:47 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SAMM3Y View Post
I purchased all the arms as a package together, I didn't use the new toe arms, they're new in the box, I can open them and take some pics if you're interested.
I didn't realize yours were for the rears until OP mentioned.

No need to open them up since I'm looking into the front arms thank you sir.
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      05-26-2022, 01:55 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EMKOOP View Post
@asma123 When was your order put through?
Ordered 04/26 shipped 05/06

Where are you located?
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      06-24-2022, 12:40 PM   #20
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Post TRW: German v Malaysian Considerations...

Quote:
Originally Posted by drwankel View Post

The tension struts were manufactured by TRW as the OEM supplier for the car in Germany. You can buy them as TRW branded, which is the exact same part as the OEM with the BMW stamp scratched off for about 1/3 of the price as the actual OEM ones.

I was speaking to German Auto Solutions about monoballs, and they informed me that all of the right side tension struts are coming out of Malaysia, and they are not quite the same. Their supplier (FCP euro) has listed the items as out of stock, as the left and right side are now mismatched and they are trying to get this sorted out. Presumably the left side will also come out of Malaysia once German made stock is depleted.

Very curious what the story is going to be for the official OEM arms.
Looks like there's 'three' control arm source possibilities:

https://youtu.be/-LBx04UeYLI
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      06-24-2022, 03:50 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by smokinjoe64 View Post
Looks like there's 'three' control arm source possibilities:

https://youtu.be/-LBx04UeYLI
Sort of.

The regular non M arms aren't really an option unless you are going to have monoballs installed in them, due to them having an oil filled bushing instead of the solid rubber bushing in the TRW //M arms. You absolutely would not just want to swap a stock TRW arm for a non-M arm if you arent touching the bushings.

Last I spoke to GAS, they were considering just moving to the non M arms and selling monoballs pre-installed in that only, due the TRW Malaysian issue.

That video was an interesting watch. Thanks for sharing.
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      07-20-2022, 10:13 AM   #22
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Since FCP is showing these in stock, are they the ones made in Malaysia?
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