BMW E70 Stabilizer Bar Link Approaches SOP
By Georg Engel, project manager, MVS Europe GmbH
posted: October/November 2006

The time has come that the first MVS Stabilizer Bar Links have made their way into a BMW. The new BMW X5 will soon be in the showrooms of the BMW dealers in the US, and MVS will supply all front and rear axle linkages for this premium class SUV.

In cooperation with both Dynalink plants, Lake Forest, IL and Liederbach, Germany, we have made the big effort to develop linkages that meet the high expectations of a premium segment car manufacturer.

In this specific case, MVS outclassed the competitors with a package that excels with high performance at an attractive price. This was achieved by establishing a sophisticated production process in Europe and North America.

Within this project, MVS Europe GmbH manufactures the welded steel link bodies on a fully automated welding line. The parts then get shipped to Lake Forest, where the final assembly of the different linkages gets done—also on an automated production line.

One of the strengths of this new flexible welding line is its ability to run all five types of BMW E70 linkages as well as the weld link of the EUCD Combolink, which is supplied to various Volvo and Ford models.

Another unique feature is the ability to record all production parameters and in-line test results, and link them to the individual serial numbers, which the machine pin marks on every single link.

Completing this project successfully is vital for getting future orders for suspension components within the BMW Group.