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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum
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M3 sway bars
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01-12-2011, 12:39 AM | #1 |
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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.... |
01-12-2011, 09:32 PM | #4 |
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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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01-12-2011, 09:50 PM | #5 |
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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.
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01-12-2011, 10:39 PM | #6 |
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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.
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01-13-2011, 01:51 AM | #8 | |
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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! ![]() |
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01-13-2011, 01:56 AM | #9 | |
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Hope you and your car are doing well! |
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07-29-2011, 03:09 PM | #10 | |
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07-29-2011, 04:03 PM | #11 |
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I reused the existing end links
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07-29-2011, 04:57 PM | #12 |
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08-23-2011, 01:30 AM | #13 | |
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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. Last edited by luckyu; 08-25-2011 at 01:38 AM. Reason: added "... initially ..." |
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08-24-2011, 06:32 AM | #14 | |
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Alpina_B3_Lux
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08-31-2011, 09:18 AM | #15 | |
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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.
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11-04-2011, 04:15 PM | #16 |
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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. |
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