[S68 X5MC]

Email from Kevin:

"Upper” control arm adjuster
# 194516-4J

New “Lower” arm adjuster
# 194616-6K

With lower arm has the key advantages :
Easier to fit ( no strut removal)
Easier to adjust (on align rack UNDER LOAD).
Bigger adjustment range

Also forward facing thrust arm bushes ( Camber adjustable) replaces the soft rubber / air voided bushes with Mono ball/ Self align significantly improving brake and steering response #196016K !"

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New Web Links:

K-Mac Upper:

https://k-mac-camber-kits.com/produc...adj-194516-4k/

K-Mac Lower:

https://k-mac-camber-kits.com/produc...k-g05-f90-f95/

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FCP Euro Upper Control Arms:

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...er-31106883116

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...883115#fitment

[BadBoostedBMWM3]

As for those arms, are those the replacement arms for wrecked vehicles, meaning they have more positive camber?

[S68 X5MC]

Originally Posted by BadBoostedBMWM3

As for those arms, are those the replacement arms for wrecked vehicles, meaning they have more positive camber?

https://e89.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1942359

[PacShakur]

If someone posts a detailed installation this will go a long way for a lot of us deciding on this solution or the M50i control arms.

[M4D_Classy]

I have the newest version of K-Mac bushings for F-95 on the way now. Will post pictures once they come in. After talking a lot with experts over the last week, the G05 UCA is the “best” way to go, but K-Mac bushings are a solid/easier way to go. Only downside i’ve heard from the K-Mac community is some instances of creeking. Talked to owners with over 30k miles on theirs with no complaints - just some mention of that creeking.

What I’ll say about K-Mac, probably some of the best customer service I’ve had from any company. Kevin is a rockstar and always answers the phone, and responds quickly through email. Amazing product support.

[S68 X5MC]

Has anyone installed these yet? Any pictures of the install?

https://k-mac-camber-kits.com/produc...k-g05-f90-f95/

[Ibspeedracer]

I have 2 set of them (front caster thrust arm adj bush & front camber upper wishbone) arriving in about a week followed by installing them on my two F95s both with KW adj lowering springs and spacers on stock Comp 21in/22in set ups. I’ll get the alignments dialed in hopefully eliminate the excessive front tire wear and (supposedly) improve steering & breaking. I’ll report back then…

[S68 X5MC]

Originally Posted by Ibspeedracer

I have 2 set of them (front caster thrust arm adj bush & front camber upper wishbone) arriving in about a week followed by installing them on my two F95s both with KW adj lowering springs and spacers on stock Comp 21in/22in set ups. I’ll get the alignments dialed in hopefully eliminate the excessive front tire wear and (supposedly) improve steering & breaking. I’ll report back then…

You only needed one type of the K-Mac bushings to correct alignment. Did you just order two types to see if it'll tighten up the steering? I'm just curious.

[azm3]

Originally Posted by S68 X5MC

You only needed one type of the K-Mac bushings to correct alignment. Did you just order two types to see if it'll tighten up the steering? I'm just curious.

Looks like he has a pair of F95's, trying a different set on each!

[Ibspeedracer]

I have two (2) F95’s and both have the KW//Spacer combo that even when NOT “slammed” in how lowered they are, cannot align well enough to minimize/eliminate dramatically excessive inside front tire wear. Additionally, there is more oversteer feel which wasn’t there as much when stock. These two (2) kits installed on the front should hopefully do the job. We shall see?

[S68 X5MC]

Originally Posted by azm3

Looks like he has a pair of F95's, trying a different set on each!

Yeah his last comment never came up from the question post I made.

[azm3]

So I have been hearing a clunking sound the last week and finally got it up on a lift today. Found the nord washer on one side of the passenger upper control arm was completely stripped. The bolt was torqued to 50 lbs as per the instructions and somehow it still slipped free and has been turning. Enough to tweak the camber and toe to the point of total inner tire destruction.

With teeth:


Without teeth:


Alignment:



Spoke with Kevin on this and he did not have much to say except that he recommends the lower bushing kit more for this reason. I have a replacement washer / bushing inbound.

[Ibspeedracer]

AZM3: I finally received the K-MAC kits for my F95s but reading your explorer here is concerning! I’m scheduled to have it installed. Obviously going with the non-M but still factory upper control arms is an option in lieu of the K-Mac kit so now that you’ve gone through the install do you suggest the Kmac or factory non-M parts?

[S68 X5MC]

Originally Posted by Ibspeedracer

AZM3: I finally received the 2 K-MAC kits for my 2 F95s but reading your explorer here is concerning! I’m scheduled to have both of F95s dropped off next week at EAS in Anaheim for the KMac installs but now 2nd guessing it. Obviously going with the non-M but still factory upper control arms is an option in lieu of the K-Mac kit so now that you’ve gone through the install do you suggest the Kmac or factory non-M parts?

If this doesn't work, I'll buy the control arms at the top of this page. But, it better for the K-Mac lower bushings at $520 with shipping.

[azm3]

Originally Posted by Ibspeedracer

AZM3: I finally received the 2 K-MAC kits for my 2 F95s but reading your explorer here is concerning! I’m scheduled to have both of F95s dropped off next week at EAS in Anaheim for the KMac installs but now 2nd guessing it. Obviously going with the non-M but still factory upper control arms is an option in lieu of the K-Mac kit so now that you’ve gone through the install do you suggest the Kmac or factory non-M parts?

Even if the nord washer did not strip on the upper bushings, these upper bushings are not ideal as you really cannot adjust and tighten them much without removing the strut, so aligning under load is not easy.

I would recommend the 50i arms in lieu of the upper bushings, will make life a lot easier.

[Ibspeedracer]

I’ll be looking forward to your results from this coming weekend install you mentioned. If you 2nd the “so so” reaction I’m seeing here too, before installing them, I’ll switch to BMW non-M factory pieces in lieu of these. Any shared comments and/or suggestions is always appreciated.

[BadBoostedBMWM3]

Originally Posted by azm3

So I have been hearing a clunking sound the last week and finally got it up on a lift today. Found the nord washer on one side of the passenger upper control arm was completely stripped. The bolt was torqued to 50 lbs as per the instructions and somehow it still slipped free and has been turning. Enough to tweak the camber and toe to the point of total inner tire destruction.



Spoke with Kevin on this and he did not have much to say except that he recommends the lower bushing kit more for this reason. I have a replacement washer / bushing inbound.

Hi, roughly how many miles do the bushings have installed?
And, my Lower kit said 135 ft-lbs but Kevin called me to say 150 ft-lbs was the proper amount.

50 ft-lbs seems very low or did you mean to say 150?

[S68 X5MC]

Originally Posted by BadBoostedBMWM3

Hi, roughly how many miles do the bushings have installed?
And, my Lower kit said 135 ft-lbs but Kevin called me to say 150 ft-lbs was the proper amount.

50 ft-lbs seems very low or did you mean to say 150?

150lb? This company needs to get their shit together. Sending wrong kits, their writing is atrocious, and still sending kits out with wrong torque specs.

Thanks for posting that, because I just got my lower kit in (see the picture about two posts above) and the torque spec is 135lb on the paper. So 150lb it is when I install this kit some time soon.

[BadBoostedBMWM3]

Originally Posted by S68 X5MC

150lb? This company needs to get their shit together. Sending wrong kits, their writing is atrocious, and still sending kits out with wrong torque specs.

Thanks for posting that, because I just got my lower kit in (see the picture about two posts above) and the torque spec is 135lb on the paper. So 150lb it is when I install this kit some time soon.

Agreed, albeit Kevin is easy to get ahold. Mine said 110 at first. Then, 135 by email. Then 150 (over the phone, so no physical ability to paste). I’m not posting anything YET because it is still at my local BMW dealership. They actually installed them for me because I’ve known a manager for almost 20 years, meaning it gets a lot pushed through fot me.


Having said all of that, I’ll let you make your decisions on the lower bushings.

[Ibspeedracer]

Before starting to go down this rabbit-hole with K-Mac I’ve requesting EAS to switch to using the factory parts suggested in early posts of this thread.

[azm3]

These KMAC upper bushings are a terrible design. They are tough to adjust , they squeak, they clunk and they shave metal from the body. I do not believe these will hold under aggressive driving long term.

I threw in a set of the FCP Euro upper control arms yesterday, $322.55 shipped, problem solved. These KMAC upper bushings are going in the garbage...

Originally Posted by S68 X5MC

FCP Euro Upper Control Arms:
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...er-31106883116
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...883115#fitment

[K-MAC]

Hi

Background is, as emphasised on instruction sheet - it’s all about ensuring “after Wheel Alignment” that the 2 bolts are fully tightened. Simple as that (135 ft/lbs rock solid fully clamped lower arm kit, 60 ft/lbs for upper).

Design in production now 31 years. Well and truly proven also in all out heavy V8 Competition racing.

“Kit providing adjustment” - Fixing it right the 1st time. Up to 2 degrees extra Positive or Negative Camber change !

More then enough to resolve costly premature tire wear issues or Track days - dial in extra Neg. Camber to reduce understeer (plus additional Track width).

Remember all OEM are center hole bushes - tightening is not critical. But “adjustable” - K-MAC feature hardened teeth “internal bushes” along with hardened teeth “outer washers” ALLOWING ESSENTIAL FULL CLAMPING AFTER WHEEL ALIGNMENT.

THEN SECURING OF THE “FAIL SAFE LOCK SYSTEM”. RESULT LONG TERM MAINTENANCE FREE NOISELESS OPERATION !

K-MAC ALIGN
Kevin

AUDI to VOLVO - K-MAC Experience Resolving OEM Suspension Shortcomings (and Costs) Since 1964 !