I am looking at a used M5 rear swaybar. It has about 72,000kms on it. Is it a big deal that it is used? They don't wear out do they or anything like that? Anything in particular i should look for?

Thanks in advance

I am looking at a used M5 rear swaybar. It has about 72,000kms on it. Is it a big deal that it is used? They don't wear out do they or anything like that? Anything in particular i should look for?

Thanks in advance


Shouldn't be a problem... Just get new bushings... like $5 each. A brand new M5 rear sway bar with bushings will run you approx $120 USD.

I can buy these bushings from the dealer?

thanks for your help

I can buy these bushings from the dealer?

thanks for your help

http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/327503/7

i'm going with this guy's rear bushing idea. the front ones needs a little tweeking so i'm going to do a little dremeling in the spring.

I can buy these bushings from the dealer?

thanks for your help



yes, fairly inexpensive (3-5 each - need 2)


it is an easy mod... the bar is easy to install and should not have a problem with a used bar... as long as it is CHEAP (like really cheap) a NEW one with bushings delivered was 120.00 or so from crevier

Well the one that i am looking at the seller is asking $95 cdn. So that is about $77 usd. Keeping in mind there would be no taxes either as on a new one i would ahve to pay 15% tax as well

sound like a decent deal?

Well the one that i am looking at the seller is asking $95 cdn. So that is about $77 usd. Keeping in mind there would be no taxes either as on a new one i would ahve to pay 15% tax as well

sound like a decent deal?

not bad since i'm waiting for mine to come in and it's $75 +$15 shipping including new bushings. can't complain.

Digging up a thread that's a month or two old rather than starting a new one.

I just got done installing an M5 rear swaybar on my 528. As soon as I had mine off I could tell a huge difference when putting them side-to-side. It was like comparing a hot dog to a salami. I put the new bushings and brackets on and installed it. Removing the old bar and installing the new one was a cinch, the hardest part was getting ahold of the 17mm nut by the rubber piece on the ends, but I had a really thin bike wrench that worked great for that.

With everything installed, I went out for a test drive. Just driving along there was a subtle difference, but not that noticable. I decided to tackle the backroads since I'm very familiar with a few of them, and know how quick I was able to take them before being uncomfortable. After the first corner I realized how much of a difference the swaybar made. It felt like the car just slung around the corner rather than rolled, more like a gokart than a 3600lb sedan. Could it make that big of a difference? One way to find out: keep driving.

The backroads felt completely different, there was already a huge difference in the feel of the car. Taking corners at speeds that were borderline scary before now felt like the car was right at home. Will I fly like a maniac on the backroads? No, no more than usual... but I now have a larger safety margin I think.

I drove over to the on-ramp that I take every morning to get to work. I know exactly how quick I can go around before things get hairy. It's an interesting on-ramp, with a decreasing radius turn that can catch you off guard. Typically I can hit just under 60mph in the tighest portion before I feel the car start to slide a little, with a fair amount of roll. With this in mind, I waited in a side street until there was a nice opening in traffic that would guarantee me a clean run of the ramp. Off I go... I start off just a little quicker than usual, and feel fine. Feeling comfortable, I smoothly get on the gas more and more. I hit the decreasing radius portion, turn in a little sharper... and the car does what I ask. I can feel some roll, but it's a drastic difference from before. I glance down at the speedometer to get an idea of how much more speed I gained from previous attempts. 75mph. I quickly glance down again to make sure I was reading things right... still at 75mph. Everything was comfortable, the car being so composed I don't think it was close to the edge yet. I think I splooged a little, but I'm not entirely sure.

I took the backroads once more on the way home, enjoying the flatter cornering.

I stopped by an empty parking lot, too, to see how the car's behavior changed at the limits. With DSC off, I went into a sharp turn in first gear, getting on the gas pretty quick. Ok, ok, so I really just wanted to do a nice donut... and damn... it came out beautiful. Smoke, nice drift, the whole nine yards... and it felt controlled when I came out of it. With the old bar the car would do lots of pushing, and would act like a big fat pig rolling around in the mud before it would swing the back end out. With the M5 bar... that donut with sprinkles is just a stab of the throttle away.

Sorry for the long write-up, but I haven't seen anyone go into depth regarding the M5 swaybar upgrade. It's definitely a huge difference. If you're just calmly driving around, it's pretty subtle. As soon as you get on the gas... it's like driving a different car. Combined with my budget SSK, the car feels like this is the way it should have come from the factory. Just have to get the CDV deleted and I'll be as happy as a pig in a cornfield.

Thanks for the indepth review. Now I have to do the M5 sway bar. One question thou, I know the 540I Sport has 15MM and the M5 is 16.5 MM rear sway bar. What MM is the 528I rear sway bar?

Thanks for the indepth review. Now I have to do the M5 sway bar. One question thou, I know the 540I Sport has 15MM and the M5 is 16.5 MM rear sway bar. What MM is the 528I rear sway bar?Here's what I know about the rear swaybars:

13mm - 528i/525i/530i non-sport
14mm - 528i/525i/530i sport (what I started with)
14mm - 540 non-sport
15mm - 540 sport
16.5mm - M5

Here's what I know about the rear swaybars:

13mm - 528i/525i/530i non-sport
14mm - 528i/525i/530i sport (what I started with)
14mm - 540 non-sport
15mm - 540 sport
16.5mm - M5

Thanks for the reply. Will I be able to feel the difference with 1.5MM since mine is a 540 sport? Can some who upgraded to the M5 rear sway with 540 Sport comment?

I have my M5 swaybar sitting in my basement
hopefully i'll get that baby on this week

Thanks for the write up :D