Like virtually every BMW ever made, the F20/21/F22F30 chassis of the 1/2/3/4 series BMWs have McPherson strut front suspensions, and these models have zero camber adjustment from the factory. Unfortunately, these BMWs don't have enough negative front camber to allow them to be driven on a road course or in an autocross event without shredding the outside shoulders of the front tires. The need to add negative camber was something we noticed when these cars were first introduced but there didn't seem to be a way to do it with our traditional Vorshlag spherical top mount designs.
These F2X/-F3X/F8X models introduced a whole new array of "challenges" with an all new factory strut top mount design. We had never seen a larger diameter unit in any BMW, and the integrated nature of the top mount + upper spring perch made for a very short stack-up height. We knew immediately that we would have to go back to the drawing board and make all new parts for every piece of the F-series top mount design. We ended up needing the most number of new components and the largest main plates we've ever used in any pair of Vorshlag top mounts - more material, more machine time - but it was worth it in the end.
This design is specific to the F@X/F3X series "non-M" models, the 1/2/3/4, but they also work on the M235 and M2 model up through 2018 as well. The M3 and M4 models (F80) and the 2019+ M2-Competition have a giant "boomerang" engine bay brace that uses a different configuration. See the F80 camber plates for the M3, M4 and M2-Competition models
Due to height restrictions of the OEM F-series top mount/perch (we will never make a camber plate that adds ride height to the OEM spring/strut combo) this is a camber-only adjustable top mount. To adjust the camber is simple - with the rubber covers (aka: Tupperware) out of the way, you can see the 6 Allen head bolts that protrude above the upper spherical bearing holder in the image above. With the suspension lifted to remove pre-load from the top mount, loosen these 6 Allen head bolts (with a 1/4" or 6mm hex key wrench) and slide the top of the wheel inboard (negative) or outboard (positive) to alter the camber setting. There are engraved marks on the main plate which can be lined up with the back of the bearing holder for reference when you adjust camber track side.
With this design you can easily adjust camber track side and the total adjustment is up to 3.5° of added negative camber over stock. Our over-sized spherical bearings are designed to withstand the rigors of street and track abuse. All of our components are plated for maximum corrosion resistance and long life. Read more about the engineering behind our camber plates here.
Vorshlag camber plate components are CNC machined in-house, and this F2X/F3X design uses a LOT more aluminum than any previous design we have built to date, and metal prices are up 100% in the past few years. This product entry includes an OEM style upper spring perch we also CNC machine, which matches the factory front spring diameter as well as all lowering springs offered for the F2X/F3X BMW.
This design can add up to 3.5° of additional negative camber, which keeps the outside front tires flatter when cornering, reducing tire wear and increasing cornering grip. Adding negative camber is one of the FIRST modifications racers do to their cars, and the F chassis BMW needs it just like so many others.
- Compatible with all OEM diameter factory and aftermarket (lowering) springs for BMW F2X/F3X
- Works on the 2014-up BMW 1/2/3/4 series, including the M235 and 2014-18 M2
- Installs with basic hand tools, no chassis modifications required.
- Camber is easily adjustable at the track with simple hand tools (1/4" hex wrench sold separately in this car's Suspension section)
- The spherical bearing used in the Vorshlag camber plate is the largest used in any BMW camber plate on the market. The result has much better durability and wear characteristics than the undersized bearings used in our competitors' plates.
- Aluminum alloy main plate and steel alloy bearing holder construction - Tough as a tank!
- Sealed radial ball bearings isolate steering movement from spherical bearing. These do not have to be removed monthly and re-greased like competing models that use a flat, unsealed Torrington bearing
- All components machined in-house at Vorshlag on our CNC machines
- All components plated or anodized for maximum corrosion resistance and long life.
- Can be converted to use with coilover springs (different camber plate entry in this car's Suspension section)
- Vorshlag upper spring perches are included and built to fit the OEM style spring for this model.
5-bolt or 3-bolt Tower: Please look at the picture below to see which version you have. Only count the bolts that attach the strut mount to the tower, not the "ribs" or the bolt(s) for the engine bay brace. The 3-bolt is generally through the 2014 model year and 5-bolt begins in the 2015 model year. Some early 2015 models were 3-bolt. See arrows in the picture below.
Spring Perches: This catalog entry is for the OEM sized front springs and all aftermarket lowering springs. We have another entry in this F22 Suspension section for the various coilover spring options.
Strut Style: Please pick the brand and type of strut your car has.
The optional "MPE" struts (below) on the BMW M2 models use the OEM spring diameter at the top, so please do pick the MPE for the strut model if so equipped.
If the brand of your strut isn't shown in the options, feel free to call us. Anytime a new chassis hits the track, the aftermarket has to play catch up. With new suspensions being released we need your help to ensure that new camber plates are being configured correctly. For us that means we need to know the dimensions of the struts your using to build up a database, as we've done in the past with all the other camber plates we offer. Please look at the photo below, this is an example of exactly what dimensions we are looking for. If you are still not sure please contact us!
Note: The factory F22 struts require the use of custom machined long reach strut top nut (see below left) instead of the factory-provided Nylock top nut. This ensures full thread engagement for safe usage on a short upper stem strut like the OEM use. These Vorshlag built nuts will be included when that strut style is selected and should be installed with a drop of Blue Loctite on the threads, then installed with an impact wrench using the "pulse" method. Please see the instruction gallery linked below for more installation tips.
INSTRUCTIONS
Please click on this link to get to our F-series camber plate instruction gallery. It applies to both the coilover and OEM style versions.
One of our customers made a Youtube video:
