Z4M inner tie rods

[lelandr]

Hi all, I tried a search, but no luck.

I have a Z4M Coupe that I'm converting into a track rat. Unfortunately, the right inner tie rod ball joint is shot. Guess what happens to be unavailable from BMW right now, with no current eta? That's right, the right tie rod assembly.

The outer rods are available, the lefts are available, so I guess that I could build one at significant expense provided that the left and right inners are the same.

Got me thinking: are the Z4M inner tie rods shared with any other cars? Maybe the standard Z4? Those inners are available.

I can find no-name rebuilt on Rock Auto, but I'm not too thrilled with that for obvious reasons.

Thanks!
Lee

[maupineda]

You can use non M, or even e46 M3 items. I went with the former

[lelandr]

Originally Posted by maupineda

You can use non M, or even e46 M3 items. I went with the former

Thanks for the info. Is it just the inner tie rods that are the same, or is it the whole assembly? They all have separate numbers for some reason.

Thanks again!

[maupineda]

Originally Posted by lelandr

Thanks for the info. Is it just the inner tie rods that are the same, or is it the whole assembly? They all have separate numbers for some reason.

Thanks again!

the whole assembly is interchangeable, my thought is that the part numbers are different due to the spec of the ball joints perhaps, but I noticed no difference at all, and the parts were physically the same when put side by side (inners and outers)

[Vanne]

pretty sure the e46 unit is different in regards to the bend in the outer tie arm. (which is why the part number differs)m I am not sure about length, but i wonder if thats the same? the e90's inner's that i am using are about 2 inch's longer than our e86 ones, but bolt up exactly the same. Eirther way, as maupineda said, they are interchangable, and both will fit on our cars. Id give you my old e86 ones, but they have a lot of kms on them and your prob better off getting new ones.

[belcom]

Just get the whole unit. Why mess around with halves?

https://m.eeuroparts.com/Parts/46573...t-32107837836/

These guys have it in stock.

Just got mine last week from fcpeuro

[rsutoratosu]

I looked at this last week.. inner is different, outer is the same between Non M and M; different part # off realoem. Also doesn't look like you can just get the inner part..

FCP is back order, best bet Belcom link above.

[lelandr]

To circle back around to this topic, I ordered the non-M tie rod kit from FCP: https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...-32106777504kt.

The Z4M ones from BMW were not available from an retailer for the right side for the foreseeable future.

I installed these last night (replacing whole suspension), and they appear to be a perfect match for the factory Z4M units. Using a Mitutoyo caliper, I took many dimensions of the old and new tie rods, and can't find any differences outside of manufacturing or supplier variances. They are identical in all dimensions as far as I can tell.

I guess that it is possible that the ball joints could be different, but they don't appear to be. As this is going to be a track rat, we will find out quickly if these are up to the challenge.

The only difference is the replacement boots. While the factory boots are shorter and taper to the rod diameter, the new boots are more like standard BMW boots with a rubber insert on the outer end.

Thanks for your help!

[lelandr]

Originally Posted by rsutoratosu

I looked at this last week.. inner is different, outer is the same between Non M and M; different part # off realoem. Also doesn't look like you can just get the inner part..

FCP is back order, best bet Belcom link above.

How is the inner different? I spent an hour last night trying to determine any differences between the original and the new non-M ones.

[rsutoratosu]

Beats me.. the whole thing has a different part number

Non M - fitment page says all regular z4, etc.
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...96898l#fitment


M - fitment page says M only
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...837836#fitment

If you look on real oem, the other tie rod has same part number for left and right but nothing listed for inner. They wouldn't use different part number unless its different.. Its possible they're exactly the same, but I dont have a M, so I wouldn't buy one to try out for a Non M.

[rsutoratosu]

But if it fits it fits.. no one will stop you from using it.

[rsutoratosu]

https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=36112

Same conclusion.. the same.

[rsutoratosu]

https://www.e46fanatics.com/threads/...-non-m.993343/

For no real reason.. they reach the same conclusion.. fits and works

[belcom]

Perhaps the ball joints are of different quality and higher tolerances on the M tie rod?

Lower control arms are a good example of this. M version has different ball joints in it.

[rsutoratosu]

Maybe.. its a bit more in price.. unless someone is willing to send it in to do some metal analysis.. life's mystery.

[B328iC]

Full right side Tie rod assembly.
https://www.eeuroparts.com/Parts/465...t-32107837836/

[Vanne]

The different part numbers would correlate to the different bends in the outer rod.

[breener96]

good info

[lelandr]

I have an update on this. I did snap some pix, but I will need to upload them another time.

I ordered a set from the standard Z4 from FCP. I laid the new and old tie rods out next to each other and they are the same. To further verify, I checked the dimensions of various points radially and axially using a Mitutoyo caliper and the Lemförder arms are within 10µm in every dimension.

Unless the ball joints themselves are different, there is no difference in these components.

The only difference at all is that the Febi boots are cylindrical while the factory boots are tapered toward the outside at the ends.

[Coi]

Has anyone else tried this and taken photos? Parts look similar in listings. Wanted to check before I spend $500 on genuine BMW tie rods for my Z4M (mine are seized). Can get a Lemforder regular Z4 set (apparently made in Germany) for under $140.

Z4M parts are
32107837836 - right
32107837835 - left

The regular Z4/E46 parts are
32106777504 - right
32106777503 - left

The E46 M3 ones are also available from Lemforder for under $200. They look similar too but other forum posts (related to rack swaps) say they are longer than those for non-M E46/Z4 to accommodate a wider track. Ball joints don't seem to be a different at all can't say for sure just based on photos.
32112228786 - right
32112228785 - left

RealOEM has the same part numbers for the outer tie rods for Z4M and standard Z4/E46 so that would indicate that the inner tie rod is the only difference (if there is any). Ball joints must be the exactly the same then.
32106774221 - right
32106774220 - left

[86Zed]

I completed this job on my Z4M last winter myself using Lemforder 32106777504kt from FCP Euro - discussed above to be for the standard non-M Z4 cars, however identical and works with all.

Could complete the job 3x over before I match the price of the BMW stamped "M" kit.

[Coi]

Originally Posted by 86Zed

I completed this job on my Z4M last winter myself using Lemforder 32106777504kt from FCP Euro - discussed above to be for the standard non-M Z4 cars, however identical and works with all.

Could complete the job 3x over before I match the price of the BMW stamped "M" kit.

Thanks for the reply and the reassurance. I'll also get the same non-M Z4 kit with the boots then.