M3 sway bars

luckyu · 01-11-2011, 11:39 PM

I'm putting on M3 sway bars front and rear. Are the sway bar links the same part as mine? (My car is an E90 ZSP.) Or do I buy new ones?

I can't figure out how to tell if the M3 uses different parts! They all have the same part number, and look the same, but sometimes the M3 versions are different. Grrrrrr....

Fraggy · 01-11-2011, 11:57 PM

Hit up Harold at HP Auto, he knows everything and will make sure he ships you everything you need.

luckyu · 01-12-2011, 04:25 AM

Fraggy you've installed the bars... did you find the links to be the same?

luckyu · 01-12-2011, 08:32 PM

HP Autowerks and Tischer both sell sway bar kits without links. ECS Tuning sells a rear kit both with and without links, and they call the "with links" kit stage 2. ECS sells the front kit only with links. Not sure what to make of it all.

Fraggy · 01-12-2011, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luckyu

Fraggy you've installed the bars... did you find the links to be the same?

I dont thing about this stuff, I just ordered what I was told was needed and had it installed, so sorry Im no help, BUT harold will get you straight. Just send an email or PM.

cvc 22349a · 01-12-2011, 09:39 PM

luckyu:

Do you have any other suspension mods? I ask because I'm considering having the M3 sway bars installed with my zsp springs and Koni dampers when I have the subframe bushings replaced with M3 bushings.
I'm pretty sure I've read you'll retain your oe end links, but as Fraggy stated Harold at HP will know for sure.

Fraggy · 01-13-2011, 12:22 AM

Ive been thinking back and the only other part I remember needing was the clamps.

luckyu · 01-13-2011, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cvc 22349a

luckyu:

Do you have any other suspension mods? I ask because I'm considering having the M3 sway bars installed with my zsp springs and Koni dampers when I have the subframe bushings replaced with M3 bushings.
I'm pretty sure I've read you'll retain your oe end links, but as Fraggy stated Harold at HP will know for sure.

Hi cvc, I have the performance shocks & springs.

Are yours Koni FSDs? If so, your setup may be a pretty good match for the bars, possibly better than mine is, since your dampers are better; also your front spring rate may be closer than mine is to the M3's.

People talk about rear traction issues with a stiff bar; but there's a great post by Orb somewhere, that puts the problem in perspective.

I would encourage putting in the M3 bars when you do the subframe. 1) It's cheap to do the rear bar at that time. 2) It helps set up a neutral car, enabling best ride+performance. 3) It allows later move to either M3 spring rates & dampers (emulating M3 setup), or much higher springrates that Harold and others have used. The M3 bars are versatile.

(2) is according to Orb. He writes a lot about the benefits of a neutral setup.

I agree I'll most likely reuse the links. After we do the subframe bushings let's compare notes!

luckyu · 01-13-2011, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fraggy

I dont thing about this stuff, I just ordered what I was told was needed and had it installed, so sorry Im no help, BUT harold will get you straight. Just send an email or PM.

It's totally OK! The reason I don't go straight to Harold or Mark (Orb), is that I know they get pummeled with all sorts of questions. I've asked both of them for help in the past and they've both been gracious and helpful.

Hope you and your car are doing well!

DaanBMW · 07-29-2011, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luckyu

I'm putting on M3 sway bars front and rear. Are the sway bar links the same part as mine? (My car is an E90 ZSP.) Or do I buy new ones?

I can't figure out how to tell if the M3 uses different parts! They all have the same part number, and look the same, but sometimes the M3 versions are different. Grrrrrr....

So did you ever get this sorted out ? Are the end links interchangeable ?

luckyu · 07-29-2011, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaanBMW

So did you ever get this sorted out ? Are the end links interchangeable ?

Yes, I had the work done a couple weeks ago, and the end links are reused front and rear.

DaanBMW · 07-29-2011, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luckyu

Yes, I had the work done a couple weeks ago, and the end links are reused front and rear.

Great info, thanks ! Anything special to pay attention to ? I know several people on these forums had issues re-using them when installing M3 bars.

luckyu · 08-23-2011, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaanBMW

Great info, thanks ! Anything special to pay attention to ? I know several people on these forums had issues re-using them when installing M3 bars.

Sorry for not responding earlier (you can PM me anytime for more info if you want). There were no issues with the end links that I know of.

The work was done by my technician (Trackstar Racing), and he reported that like many people he initially had difficulty with fitting the bushings into the brackets. He said you have to have faith that they'll go in there, but they do go in there.

Alpina_B3_Lux · 08-24-2011, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luckyu

Sorry for not responding earlier (you can PM me anytime for more info if you want). There were no issues with the end links that I know of.

The work was done by my technician (Trackstar Racing), and like many people he had difficulty with fitting the bushings into the brackets. You have to have faith that they'll go in there, but they do go in there.

Same here, my first shop told me that the front sway bar wouldn't fit. The second shop said it was not easy, but that in the end they did fit.

Alpina_B3_Lux

racerblade · 08-31-2011, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alpina_B3_Lux

Same here, my first shop told me that the front sway bar wouldn't fit. The second shop said it was not easy, but that in the end they did fit.

Alpina_B3_Lux

I actually did the full M3 suspension conversion this past weekend (including the M3 bushings (Thanks for all the part numbers Alpina B3 Lux!)

The front sway bars were a piece of cake - pure bolt on mod - no challenges. I did use the M3 end links on front and rear, but as far as I could tell - they had identical dimensions as stock 335i (maybe different materials used??).
You shouldn't have any problem with sway bar fitment.

The tough part is installing the rears b/c you have to pretty much drop the sub-frame to get access. Apart from that the parts fit perfectly.

DaanBMW · 11-04-2011, 03:15 PM

I'm reviving this because I'm getting closer to having them put on.

- Bushings: If your bars are used, I think all the difficulties of having the bushing fit in the clamps (mostly on the rear) are gone - correct ? (the bushings are already in the clamps)
- Wiggling the bars in: I think this is an issue only in the rear, but front is a breeze ? I will be swapping subframe bushings as well, so that will require lowering it and then the sway should eventually go in.

Any other remarks, hint, tips ? I also read that the M3 front wishbones fit really tight and might need a little grinding to fit the subframe.

01-11-2011, 11:39 PM	#1
luckyu Lieutenant Drives: 2007 328i, 1998 328i Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: San Francisco Bay Area, California Posts: 423 iTrader: (1)	M3 sway bars I'm putting on M3 sway bars front and rear. Are the sway bar links the same part as mine? (My car is an E90 ZSP.) Or do I buy new ones? I can't figure out how to tell if the M3 uses different parts! They all have the same part number, and look the same, but sometimes the M3 versions are different. Grrrrrr....
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01-11-2011, 11:57 PM	#2
Fraggy Brigadier General Drives: 2007 e90 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 3,281 iTrader: (11)	Hit up Harold at HP Auto, he knows everything and will make sure he ships you everything you need. __________________ Step--Premium--Sport--Nav--20% Tint--Blacklines--18" Beyern Mesh--Michelin Super Sports--Bastuck Exhaust--M3 Steering Wheel--BMW Performance Springs--Koni--M3 Front/Rear Sways--
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01-12-2011, 09:39 PM	#6
cvc 22349a Colonel Drives: 335i Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: SF Bay Posts: 2,072 iTrader: (8)	luckyu: Do you have any other suspension mods? I ask because I'm considering having the M3 sway bars installed with my zsp springs and Koni dampers when I have the subframe bushings replaced with M3 bushings. I'm pretty sure I've read you'll retain your oe end links, but as Fraggy stated Harold at HP will know for sure. __________________ 2007 E90 335i, TiAg, 6AT, ZPP, ZSP, ZCW, 6FL, HD Quaife lsd, ETS fmic, GIAC s/w, Dinan intake/exhaust/oc, KW/GC/M3/Meyle susp, Apex Arc 8, Mich PSS
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01-13-2011, 12:22 AM	#7
Fraggy Brigadier General Drives: 2007 e90 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 3,281 iTrader: (11)	Ive been thinking back and the only other part I remember needing was the clamps. __________________ Step--Premium--Sport--Nav--20% Tint--Blacklines--18" Beyern Mesh--Michelin Super Sports--Bastuck Exhaust--M3 Steering Wheel--BMW Performance Springs--Koni--M3 Front/Rear Sways--
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01-12-2011, 04:25 AM	#3
luckyu Lieutenant Drives: 2007 328i, 1998 328i Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: San Francisco Bay Area, California Posts: 423 iTrader: (1)	Fraggy you've installed the bars... did you find the links to be the same?
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01-12-2011, 08:32 PM	#4
luckyu Lieutenant Drives: 2007 328i, 1998 328i Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: San Francisco Bay Area, California Posts: 423 iTrader: (1)	HP Autowerks and Tischer both sell sway bar kits without links. ECS Tuning sells a rear kit both with and without links, and they call the "with links" kit stage 2. ECS sells the front kit only with links. Not sure what to make of it all.
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11-04-2011, 03:15 PM	#16
DaanBMW First Lieutenant Drives: 2007 328i coupe Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 341 iTrader: (1)	I'm reviving this because I'm getting closer to having them put on. - Bushings: If your bars are used, I think all the difficulties of having the bushing fit in the clamps (mostly on the rear) are gone - correct ? (the bushings are already in the clamps) - Wiggling the bars in: I think this is an issue only in the rear, but front is a breeze ? I will be swapping subframe bushings as well, so that will require lowering it and then the sway should eventually go in. Any other remarks, hint, tips ? I also read that the M3 front wishbones fit really tight and might need a little grinding to fit the subframe.
	0