How To Replace Rear Trailing Arm Bushes on a BMW E89 Z4

This process to replace RTAB’s applies to the BMW E89 Z4 built from 2009 to 2016. The fundamentals of the process also apply to the E36 3 series, E46 3 series and the E85 Z4. In this video I am replacing the factory bushes with an aftermarket option from Hardrace (Part number: 7260) that was designed for the E36,E46, E85 & E89. I’m also fitting optional RTAB limiters from FCP Euro (P/N: 093031010).
This job is just as easy to do on jack stands as a hoist, as long as the back of the vehicle is high enough to get under and remove/refit the V-brace.

[@Ed-pv6ke]

After months of wringing my hands I am following your path to no-tow steer. 91k miles on '09 Z4 S3.0Li w/ M adaptive sport suspension. Strut/shocks replaced already. Must say originals were shot to hades.

[@davidmaitland226]

Really good video...thank you.❤❤❤

[@donsirsimon]

Im about to freshen up the suspension on my E89 z4 35i.. I already have M3 control arms at the front and KW V3 suspension. So i was looking to stiffen up the rear a bit aswell... Your video was a great help... not much info about e89 out there... As im from within EU and was able to find Hardrace bushings from a few german websites and ordered a set. With limiters its not that easy when you are in EU... Was not able to find anyone selling these within EU... even all ebay listings were from USA. So ended up ordering them from FCPEuro... price for the set was 15 usd, But with shipping and import tax im probably ending up paying about 70 usd for them. Price over all got close to buying a set of aftermarket balljoints to replace RTAB-s but i thought that would be too extreme... Its still a streetcar not a track or drift car. So i skipped on those and went with what is used in this video. Another mod im doing the same time is changing out those trailing arm smaller bushings... upper and lower. Upper is a balljoint and lower is a rubber bushing on stock e89... on e46 m3 and e85 z4m both upper and lower are the same productnumber balljoint. So im replacing upper ones for maintenance and upgrading lower ones to use the same upper balljoint as on e46 m3 or e85 z4m. Thanks for making the video and sharing knowledge!

[@Dope.And.Pretty]

Very cool, my rear end is definitely moving around on my during hard acceleration. Only thing I'd be worried about is increased NVH, curious how much you've felt?

[@silentdiys6615]

Shouldn't you have jacked up the wheel to normal ride height before setting the bushing preload?

[@allenalto7625]

Great video, thanks for sharing. How is the ride quality/comfort on regular road with the harder rubber? Are you getting a jolt when you hit a pothole ?

[@scawthorn13]

Great video very informative! What’s mods have you got to get 400hp?

[@DarkePeak]

Intercooler, charge pipe, catless downpipes, MHD stage 2+, E50.

[@stretch5627]

Fantastic video. I am running over 400bhp on my E89 and suffering from rear steer. I am considering doing this mod as I believe I still have the stock RTAB after 50K miles. Now that a little time has passed what are your opinions of this mod. Is it definitely worth doing to improve rear stability under WOT?

[@DarkePeak]

Sorry for delayed response. I’ve been roll racing the car a few times and this was definitely worth doing!!

[@7sprinter]

Something isn’t right, when you take the front of the arm off the chassis it doesn’t drop down anywhere near as much as yours, brake pipes and wires are unclipped . You must have loosened or removed something your not showing