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What models had the larger front bearings?
Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2014 10:14 am
by polov8
I got a pair of hubs last week to put on my freshly built coilovers, and immediately discovered that my hubs take the small bearrings, and the spindles on my coilovers take the larger bearings. My initial thoughts, having a lathe, were to machine the hubs a bit to take the larger bearing, but whilst that would work on the outer bearing, which is currently a gnats under 40mm and needs to be 45.2mm, the inner bearing is currently 50.3mm and needs to be 59.1mm which means there'd be sod all metal left to hold it in place.
All this means I now:
a, Need to know what cars had the bigger bearings so I can find and purchase some (if you have some, please let me know!)
b, Have some front hubs for sale (are these the ones 2002 owners need to fit bigger brakes?)
This is now stopping me fitting my coilovers and that is REALLY annoying!

Re: What models had the larger front bearings?
Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2014 11:01 am
by Peter V.
The small bearings are for the 4 cylinders standard versions.
For example the 320/6 has the large bearings. So you need to find hubs for the 6 cylinders and the bearings also because they would fit your coilover spindel.
Re: What models had the larger front bearings?
Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2014 11:10 am
by polov8
ok, time for a wanted ad........
Re: What models had the larger front bearings?
Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2014 11:21 am
by nas80
Andy, gsf reckon that they have them
http://m.gsfcarparts.com/414bm0072
Re: What models had the larger front bearings?
Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2014 12:12 pm
by polov8
Thanks Nas, but in recent years my experience of GSF is such that they are the last resort! I'm quite happy to use used ones, as they'll be blasted and epoxied before fitting regardless. Also, hadn't factored on £92 for what is a minor item.
On the plus side the bearings came today, and they're SKF which fills me with hope!
Re: What models had the larger front bearings?
Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2014 7:10 pm
by nas80
Yea I know. Tried drilla?
Re: What models had the larger front bearings?
Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2014 8:27 pm
by polov8
No, but ironically, he's where the ones I have came from! Might have to hit him up again...
Re: What models had the larger front bearings?
Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2014 5:42 pm
by polov8
So I tried GSF, and they do indeed list the hubs on their website, so I reserveda set and went to pick them up today, lo and behold, they're E30 ones. So yeah, my lack of faith in GSF is fully justified, yet again! Still on the lookout
Re: What models had the larger front bearings?
Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2014 2:06 am
by nas80
Yep totally justified.
Re: What models had the larger front bearings?
Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2014 8:01 am
by Jeroen
I tried the BMW Classic link from our
Parts Directory and it says bearings are 11 euros (mind you haha) for either inner or outer bearing. Why go through a lot of hassle if -apparently- you can get them from the dealer at not too silly money? And I heard BMW and SKF closed most opportunities to get them elsewhere. Worth the Q if they're on stock atm!
Re: What models had the larger front bearings?
Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2014 8:37 am
by polov8
Jeroen wrote:I tried the BMW Classic link from our
Parts Directory and it says bearings are 11 euros (mind you haha) for either inner or outer bearing. Why go through a lot of hassle if -apparently- you can get them from the dealer at not too silly money? And I heard BMW and SKF closed most opportunities to get them elsewhere. Worth the Q if they're on stock atm!
I have the bearings, it's the hubs to put them in that I'm lacking! They're SKF too.
Re: What models had the larger front bearings?
Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2014 9:27 am
by Jeroen
Ah ok, nothing wrong with a used set of hubs I guess, no one?
Re: What models had the larger front bearings?
Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2014 11:22 am
by nas80
try the German ebay perhaps? have you tried W&N or for a laugh asked the dealers?
Re: What models had the larger front bearings?
Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2014 12:23 pm
by Peter V.
There must be a lott of people who had a 320/6 or 323i?
Re: What models had the larger front bearings?
Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2014 5:24 pm
by polov8
nas80 wrote:try the German ebay perhaps? have you tried W&N or for a laugh asked the dealers?
Tried the dealer, but a pair would cost as much as my bilsteins did! Not tried W&N but will if the couple of possible leads don't come to anything, cheers.
Peter V. wrote:There must be a lott of people who had a 320/6 or 323i?
I bet a lot of people with 320/6's binned them along with the struts when upgrading to 323i struts!