BahnStormer
New member
This weekend I decided to replace the front wheel bearings on the M3.. After plenty of research it appears as though the only available aftermarket options for front wheel bearings for the car (as well as for the Z4 Ms) are made by either FAG (Germany) or Timken (USA).
I ordered a pair of Timken bearings from a really reputable aftermarket BMW spares shop, only to discover that as soon as I opened the box, 'Topran, Germany' was written on the top. I've used Topran in the past in my Golf2 GTi and haven't had any real issues, but also know they're not a particularly top-tier brand..
Unfortunately as I needed the car urgently I decided to fit the Topran part to the car temporarily to get it mobile, I mean, how bad could it be right?
Firstly, notice how the Topran only has 1 brake disk fastening bolt hole compared to the OEM which has 2
Secondly, notice how the OEM has 3 brake disknlocating stubs, compared to the Topran which has none
Then, as I proceed to tap the bearing onto the shaft, low and behold the ABS sensor ring flies off!
As an attempt to continue, I glued on the ring, hammering it on making sure that it's never gonna come off..
I then try again, I then fit the bearing and then begin to torque the 46mm bolt to the required 290Nm.. at around 50Nm I notice the hub no longer wants to spin..
I then take off the hub again to inspect, only to notice this..
If you look around the axle shaft, there is a brass dust ring which is there to protect the bearing from the elements. It's supposed to locate into the ring engineered into the bearing.. but notice in the above picture that the Topran doesn't even have this indentation whereas the OEM FAG does. The Topran bearing was pressing against this brass ring upon torquing, causing it to bite against the axle and not allowing rotation.
If you had to try and drive your car like this, you'd destroy the bearing housing within minutes, rendering the bearing as scrap metal..nevermind the danger..
This basically means that there is no way you can get the Topran part to fit onto the axle without modifying the dust ring (and who would want to do that)..
To be honest it really surprises me how companies can supply and sell parts which simply will never work on a car, and reputable companies too!
This isn't a thread about ranting about quality, merely an opportunity to inform those considering to fit a Topran bearing never to do so. Learn from my expense :=):
I ordered a pair of Timken bearings from a really reputable aftermarket BMW spares shop, only to discover that as soon as I opened the box, 'Topran, Germany' was written on the top. I've used Topran in the past in my Golf2 GTi and haven't had any real issues, but also know they're not a particularly top-tier brand..
Unfortunately as I needed the car urgently I decided to fit the Topran part to the car temporarily to get it mobile, I mean, how bad could it be right?
Firstly, notice how the Topran only has 1 brake disk fastening bolt hole compared to the OEM which has 2
Secondly, notice how the OEM has 3 brake disknlocating stubs, compared to the Topran which has none
Then, as I proceed to tap the bearing onto the shaft, low and behold the ABS sensor ring flies off!
As an attempt to continue, I glued on the ring, hammering it on making sure that it's never gonna come off..
I then try again, I then fit the bearing and then begin to torque the 46mm bolt to the required 290Nm.. at around 50Nm I notice the hub no longer wants to spin..
I then take off the hub again to inspect, only to notice this..
If you look around the axle shaft, there is a brass dust ring which is there to protect the bearing from the elements. It's supposed to locate into the ring engineered into the bearing.. but notice in the above picture that the Topran doesn't even have this indentation whereas the OEM FAG does. The Topran bearing was pressing against this brass ring upon torquing, causing it to bite against the axle and not allowing rotation.
If you had to try and drive your car like this, you'd destroy the bearing housing within minutes, rendering the bearing as scrap metal..nevermind the danger..
This basically means that there is no way you can get the Topran part to fit onto the axle without modifying the dust ring (and who would want to do that)..
To be honest it really surprises me how companies can supply and sell parts which simply will never work on a car, and reputable companies too!
This isn't a thread about ranting about quality, merely an opportunity to inform those considering to fit a Topran bearing never to do so. Learn from my expense :=):
