You probably won't be able to track this car because it won't pass the "broomstick" test that carries need to pass with most clubs. Some clubs don't care, but they tend to be lax on lots of safety rules, so be careful.

That said, there are many selections for upgraded bushings from OEM soft to almost as hard as steel. Look through a recent Roundel to see some ads, or check out aftermarket places like Pelican, Bimmerworld, Turner.

 

Thanks, I was able to track my E36 M3 Cabrio years ago when it was new so I’ll just have to check. I know where and how to obtain the bushings, I was hoping for some real world advice on the direction to take.

 

Local capitol area chapter CCA does not allow Cabrio w/o roll bars at their events AFAIK. I haven’t even tried to bring my e43 m3C to track. However, I understand summit raceway and perhaps other tracks may allow them like Friday night at the races.

 

Don't want to sacrifice ride quality or end up with binding? OE rubber RTABs are the best. They last a long time too considering our cars' performance. With that, you could add aftermarket 'limiters' which will not only tighten things up by their 'limiting' function but will at the same time make the bushings last longer.

Poly, spherical, solid, etc.... they all have a negative impact on NVH to varying degrees. When you hear people say 'it doesn't ride any harsher' - they probably have a bunch of other solid bushings, coilovers, loud exhausts, etc. Anyone who claims that anything other than OE/M rubber RTAB has no impact on ride quality is either senile or lying, no offence. I've had two types of Poly (powerflex 'street' and 'race') version and they both sucked!

PS. Depending on your mileage, just replacing your old, worn out bushings with fresh OEM parts could make a huge difference. Add in the limiters and you will likely be more than happy, especially if the rest of your suspension is stock or close to being stock.

 

Don't want to sacrifice ride quality or end up with binding? OE rubber RTABs are the best. They last a long time too considering our cars' performance. With that, you could add aftermarket 'limiters' which will not only tighten things up by their 'limiting' function but will at the same time make the bushings last longer.

Poly, spherical, solid, etc.... they all have a negative impact on NVH to varying degrees. When you hear people say 'it doesn't ride any harsher' - they probably have a bunch of other solid bushings, coilovers, loud exhausts, etc. Anyone who claims that anything other than OE/M rubber RTAB has no impact on ride quality is either senile or lying, no offence.
PS. Depending on your mileage, just replacing your old, worn out bushings with fresh OEM parts could make a huge difference. Add in the limiters and you will likely be more than happy, especially if the rest of your suspension is stock or close to being stock.

^this. while reading this I thought it was one of my old posts. 90% is exactly what I tell people. and what I’d say again to OP.

 

Front: powerflex
rear: I did write a review on poly vs rubber a few years back. Search my thread for this. Keep in mind that many people here swear that poly is bad for RTAB's and that you need to reinforce your chassis/RTAB mounts. They say: rubber or spherical.

 

Front: powerflex

Worst advice possible. Powerflex FCAB has the worst reputation of all FCAB products, period. Just google it and you'll see how many people had catastrophic failures with these.

Google Search

 

PS. You should learn to search... this has been covered in detail many times. Here's the most recent thread: Question about RTAB Limiters vs Poly Bushings

 

PS. You should learn to search... this has been covered in detail many times. Here's the most recent thread: Question about RTAB Limiters vs Poly Bushings

I appreciate your input and your judgement/scolding.

 

Z4m fcab and z4m rtab with limiters. That is my suggestion

 

Z4m fcab and Z4m rtab with limiters. That is my suggestion

the Z4M and M3 use the same rtab.

 

Turner or SDW monoball, no NVH increase.

 

Turner or SDW monoball, no NVH increase.

even the companies say they increase NVH. that’s just inherent with monoball. (although SDW a little less than Turner’s).
not sure how you can say “no NVH increase”

 

Personally, I'll only use poly bushings in a few cases. On the M, it's sway bar and differential bushings.

Even if I was a sometime track day guy, rubber bushings last longer and have good enough performance for the vehicle.

If it were a track only car and I knew I'd be in and out of stuff alot and looking for the last tenth of a second, then I'd go poly.

 

Stay OE. Poly bushing are a downgrade that people get suckered into. The NVH increase is real, as are the failures.

You aren't building a track-only car. The convertible weighs 341 lbs. more than the coupe. Thats two fat chicks in the back seat. Performance isn't going to improved with bushings. Don't kid yourself with the "upgrade" fantasy.

There is a reason that 90% of BMWCCA chapters ban convertibles from participating in their HPDEs. It wasn't a random thought. The majority of HPDE Instructors won't participate in a vert. That isn't random either.

 

There is a reason that 90% of BMWCCA chapters ban convertibles from participating in their HPDEs. It wasn't a random thought. The majority of HPDE Instructors won't participate in a vert. That isn't random either.

that’s not because of weight. it’s because there’s no roof/roll cage for protection.

 

Denial is more than a river in Egypt. Even though verts have popup rear headrests designed to deploy in rollovers, I wouldn't consider then safe for more than possible rollovers on the track.

 

Pop-up headrests dig to gravel traps easily - bringing their effectiveness to zero. They also won't help when the car rolls and there is loose debris (tire walls, your own car parts etc).

 

I have been very happy with E46 M3 RTAB on my 2001 E46 330Ci. They are just a bit firmer. I used to have poly limiters installed, and had them removed 2 months later. I have decided I agree with the school of thought that limiters hinder the intended movements (3-axies) designed into the suspension geometry by BMW.

 

I'm going to ditch the poly on mine for the Camry Moog spherical soon.

 

I installed the moog camry mono ball about 6 months ago and so far I love them