You are currently viewing our forum as a guest, which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our community, at no cost, you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is free, fast and simple, so please join our community today!
Thinking about refreshing my front suspension and weighing the option of going with OEM strut plates ($70) or IE Fixed plates ($180). Like the idea of dialing in a little more camber, but don't like the idea of having to replace/overhaul on a regular basis. I have about 110k on my original plates/bearings with no issues. Can I expect as much out of the IE units? I have heard of people having some major issues with them. Anyone out there with a lot of miles on the IEs? Real world data needed. Thanks!
2 years so far... maybe 20K miles. No issues... no abnormal tire wear. Mostly a short hwy commute with occassional back-roads romps. A few auto-x events as well. From what I've read, the actually rubber mount is a heavier duty version of the OE mount (from a 3 series?) welded to a custom plate.
I've installed these on 3 cars (mainly in an attempt to prevent mushrooming). The only one that ran into trouble was when the car owner didn't heed the warnings to have the car aligned immediately (as after initial installation, the tires will be toed out a bit). He wore out his front tires PDQ as a result. One of the other cars has closer to 50K on them.
__________________ "Market research is bunk... the public don't know what they want, it is my job to tell them" - Sir Alec Issigonis
They'll certainly last longer than the OEM top mounts IMO. The major issues with IE plates, if i recall, is for the adjustable race plates only.
The design of the IE fixed plates is quite good. I've worked with many different top mounts for a variety of cars (and helped design a few) and the IE plates are a nice simple solution that looks very sturdy to me.
33K on mine & they are holding up well. IMO these should last longer than the stock strut mounts, they are very beefy. You will love the benefits of the increased negative camber.
I think it's a standard BMW bearing on IE's mounting plate. I have 25K of hard driving on mine with a couple of track days mixed in there. Still working perfectly.
I've been running mine since 2006 and approx. 32,000 miles and no problems. The bearings are replaceable. They are supposedly a little bit more heavy duty than the stock BMW ones are. That's good, as my car had a burnt out bearing at 17,000 miles before I went with the IE plates. Not to mention, you get some great protection from tower damage. I love mine and highly recommend them.
__________________ ~Lilith~ 2005 MINI Cooper S **Enjoy Your New Home**
I have not heard of any failures with the fixed plates from I.E.. Any of the failures have been from the I.E. adjustables. The bearing used is from a BMW "Z" series which is a much heavier car. I do not believe that the bearings are replaceable in the fixed series. The plates are much beefier than stock and should have no problems out lasting the stock ones. As mentioned you will love the additional negative camber and the extra support from mushrooming.
Steve
The only one that ran into trouble was when the car owner didn't heed the warnings to have the car aligned immediately (as after initial installation, the tires will be toed out a bit).
I've been thinking about getting these as well. Do you align the car to normal specs?
I've been thinking about getting these as well. Do you align the car to normal specs?
We had it aligned to std specs (1/16" toe-in, IIRC) with the understanding the camber would be out. We took the car to a shop that does track/auto-x alignments and corner balancing, so they did not have a problem doing what was asked. One friend took his car to a garage that wanted to align the car "to spec", which was obviously not possible with the IE plates, so do some research to find your shop before doing the work (if DIY) or find a shop to do the install & alignment that won't be phased with installing non-standard parts.
Another word of warning: if your car has some miles on it and you live in the 'salt belt' then the tie-rod ends may be seized and adjustment will be difficult. The first car I installed these on had over 100K miles on it and the tie-rods were so thoroughly frozen with rust, we had to replace both outer and inner rod ends.
__________________ "Market research is bunk... the public don't know what they want, it is my job to tell them" - Sir Alec Issigonis
Another word of warning: if your car has some miles on it and you live in the 'salt belt' then the tie-rod ends may be seized and adjustment will be difficult. The first car I installed these on had over 100K miles on it and the tie-rods were so thoroughly frozen with rust, we had to replace both outer and inner rod ends.
That's a good word from IanF. Also note if the shop uses heat to break the tie rods free for adjustment, make sure they let them COOL on the alignment rack or the cooling down may pull the toe out of spec. I've seen it happen.
IE fixed plates come with the Z4 strut bearing...still a BMW part.
FYI...adding more neg camber will increase toe in, not toe out. If the steering rack were in front of the axle centerline more neg camber would increase toe out.
__________________ Damn it Jim! I'm a doctor, not a scientist! Puresilver 05 JCW Blackleather Anthracite BBS RGR Chrono Xenon Coldweather HarmonKardon iPod
IE fixed plates come with the Z4 strut bearing...still a BMW part.
FYI...adding more neg camber will increase toe in, not toe out. If the steering rack were in front of the axle centerline more neg camber would increase toe out.
Yeah... I was wondering about that... the one friend who didn't get his car aligned right away experienced really bad inside wear... but wouldn't toe-in cause more outer wear?
__________________ "Market research is bunk... the public don't know what they want, it is my job to tell them" - Sir Alec Issigonis
Because the tires are being pushed somewhat sideways. After I installed the IE plates I was amazed at how the front end pushed. The tires actually squealed at slow speed going around corners. Once the alignment was done all was well & everything became happy.
Don't try & skip the alignment part of the install.
~Lilith~ 2005 MINI Cooper S **Enjoy Your New Home**
2005 MCSa HB/HB, Alta CAI+silicone tube, 15% pulley, RMW cam, 4-1 header, Milltek catback, Brisk plugs, JCW injectors, Vitessepro tune, Alta IC diverter, H-Sport comp RSB, Powergrid rear endlinks, Koni yellows+springs (Sport kit), Megan RCAs, IE fixed camber plates, Carbotech Bobcat (front), Hawk HPS (rear), ss lines, 16x7 SSR type-C rims, m7 STRP, S2K antenna, Euroshelf
2006 CR/B MCS JCW, RMW (Newman) Cam and RMW Street Header, JCW Suspension, H&R 19mm rear anti-sway bar, IE fixed camber plates, Mason Engineering lower strut brace, Continental ExtremeContact DW Tires, Red interior, Chrome, HK, RMW Tune, 223 WHP / 200 WTQ
...I know you know that Andrew, just adding to the commentary.
