Author Topic: m3 rear sway bar (Read 4791 times)

MustPayDaddy · « **on:** October 29, 2006, 06:14:22 AM »

has anyone slapped a m3 rear sway on their 318? ive heard good things about them on some 325s and im sure they should perform BETTER on a 318. also, where can i source one from?

D. Clay · « **Reply #1 on:** October 29, 2006, 09:08:28 PM »

realoem.com shows the 14.5 mm M3 rear bar for $106 from BMW.

2002maniac · « **Reply #2 on:** October 29, 2006, 09:23:37 PM »

This, along with a cabrio front bar were the first upgrades I did to my car. They are great.

e9nine · « **Reply #3 on:** October 29, 2006, 09:24:41 PM »

Yes it makes for a subtle upgrade that's plug and play and won't require any extra bits. It's not "better" on our cars per se.

You can pick them up used on a varying price scale from www.s14.net

I have used them in the past. I am not a sway bar lover though so I got rid of mine. If the time ever came to do sway bars I'd not go with a stock outfit either.

Your driving style and car application will determine if you will notice the bar or not.

G. Luck in your quest.

MustPayDaddy · « **Reply #4 on:** October 30, 2006, 03:25:41 AM »

what do you mean you are not a 'sway bar' type of guy? im in to hugging turns while bein able to fishtail and get rear end happy.. what category do you think i would fall in?

e9nine · « **Reply #5 on:** October 30, 2006, 05:55:38 AM »

I go with stiffer spring rates. Making the ass hang out etc is all fun but my days of wasting tires are over. I focus on getting around faster and smoother.

Yes the rear-end will kick out every now and then when I am on the limit but it's not on purpose :p
Everyone has their own style. Sways or stiff rates can work for you. All depends on resources and the path you decide to travel down. Opinions vary greatly.

MustPayDaddy · « **Reply #6 on:** October 30, 2006, 04:54:46 PM »

i guess ive sort of mixed things up from my last post. i like the feelin of stiffer springs, ive driven a few of my friends lowered cars and have riden in MANY, so i am definitely sold on new springs/shocks in the future. however, a bunch of my friends claim they want their ride to have less body roll on turns even with stiffer suspension. i know that since my drivin style is similar to theirs i would enjoy a rear sway bar as well, especially on the freeway

as for the rear-end happy part, i enjoy that on tha street.. i know a LSD will aid in that later on, but i juss wanna be sure a fatter rear strut bar wouldnt interfere with my fun

e9nine · « **Reply #7 on:** October 30, 2006, 07:44:07 PM »

Rear sway bar making you go

on the freeway? :confused::confused:

An e30m3 sway bar is not that much bigger. If you were to go any larger you will need a reinforcement kit as well. Don't skimp on the reinforcement part!!

Please don't play too much with the rear end on the street

:cool:

D. Clay · « **Reply #8 on:** October 31, 2006, 12:06:02 PM »

Quote from: e9nine;12951

Rear sway bar making you go on the freeway? :confused::confused:

An e30m3 sway bar is not that much bigger. If you were to go any larger you will need a reinforcement kit as well. Don't skimp on the reinforcement part!!

Please don't play too much with the rear end on the street :cool:

The freeway is straight line, steady state cruising for people like my grandmother! Everybody else drives like sewer rat on diet pills. Driving defensively is keeping other people from passing you.
An M3 rearbar is 20% thicker than the 318/325 bar - 14.5/12 = 1.20. That's significant enough to make a difference. Does the M3 have any reinforcement in the rear sway bar mount area?

e9nine · « **Reply #9 on:** October 31, 2006, 05:52:45 PM »

Quote from: D. Clay;13028

The freeway is straight line, steady state cruising for people like my grandmother! Everybody else drives like sewer rat on diet pills. Driving defensively is keeping other people from passing you.
An M3 rearbar is 20% thicker than the 318/325 bar - 14.5/12 = 1.20. That's significant enough to make a difference. Does the M3 have any reinforcement in the rear sway bar mount area?

What I said was- If he's going any thicker than the m3 bar he wants reinforcement.

AL GReeNeRy · « **Reply #10 on:** November 01, 2006, 06:10:30 AM »

meant san francisco freeways and on/off ramps from 280 to 101. pretty narrow/sharp turns + high speeds = fun in my 318is. however, i can feel a HUGE amount of body roll... my car can sometimes get scary. bad rag joint on my steering coupler(will change it out as soon as i have time to), bouncy shocks/struts, and SMALL rear sway bar

AL GReeNeRy · « **Reply #11 on:** November 01, 2006, 06:11:15 AM »

oh by the way i am MustPayDaddy... any way to delete a login name?

AL GReeNeRy · « **Reply #12 on:** November 03, 2006, 06:29:08 AM »

Quote from: e9nine;13064

What I said was- If he's going any thicker than the m3 bar he wants reinforcement.

do i gotta reinforce the sway bar end link mounts if i upgrade to e30 m3 links in front and rear?

M42boy · « **Reply #13 on:** November 09, 2006, 12:32:53 PM »

Quote from: e9nine;13064

What I said was- If he's going any thicker than the m3 bar he wants reinforcement.

Very true. I'll second that statement. Any thicker than the M3 bars, and you will need to reinforce the rear brackets on the back. People tear these out of their cars without it!

Turner makes one and so does IE.