E36 M3 front sway bar beneficial to non-Ms?

[Bimmerforums]

My buddy has a 328i sedan and was wondering if my stock M3 front sway bar would be an "upgrade" . I know the mounting points are different but the non-M sway bar is 24mm and the M3 is 23mm.

[B.Watts]

My buddy has a 328i sedan and was wondering if my stock M3 front sway bar would be an "upgrade" . I know the mounting points are different but the non-M sway bar is 24mm and the M3 is 23mm.

I think you answered your own question.

The only way the M3 bar would be an upgrade (assuming that by upgrade, you mean stiffer since most around here seem to think stiffer is always better) would be if you also used the M3 mounting points on the struts rather than the 328 mounting points on the control arms. The mounting points are just as important as the bar diameter.

[ReBeL]

I think you answered your own question.

The only way the M3 bar would be an upgrade (assuming that by upgrade, you mean stiffer since most around here seem to think stiffer is always better) would be if you also used the M3 mounting points on the struts rather than the 328 mounting points on the control arms. The mounting points are just as important as the bar diameter.
How about the rear M3 sway bar? Would it be a good upgrade for Non M e36s?

[Bimmerforums]

I think you answered your own question.

The only way the M3 bar would be an upgrade (assuming that by upgrade, you mean stiffer since most around here seem to think stiffer is always better) would be if you also used the M3 mounting points on the struts rather than the 328 mounting points on the control arms. The mounting points are just as important as the bar diameter.
Brian,

Thanks for your quick reply. The car has GC coilovers so the m3 mounting pointis will be used.

Z

[///Ficarra]

Mine is the car in question. I have GC C/O's with the mounting tab for the M3 sway. Is that extra 1mm of thickness better than having it mounted on the struts?

Edit: I'm too slow

[Bimmerforums]

How about the rear M3 sway bar? Would it be a good upgrade for Non M e36s?
The mounting points for the rear sway bar is identical for M3s and non-Ms. I did a quick search or realoem and the rear bar diameters for a 95 320 are 15mm for the non-sport and 18mm for the sport packages. For reference the rear M3 sway bar is 20mm.


Mine is the car in question. I have GC C/O's with the mounting tab for the M3 sway. Is that extra 1mm of thickness better than having it mounted on the struts?

Edit: I'm too slow

omg haii :wave

[B.Watts]

Mine is the car in question. I have GC C/O's with the mounting tab for the M3 sway. Is that extra 1mm of thickness better than having it mounted on the struts?

If you want stiffer, why not just mount your current bar to the struts? Seems to be the best of both worlds if you goal is a stiffer front bar. All you need are some M3 endlinks.

[gdeangel]

How about the rear M3 sway bar? Would it be a good upgrade for Non M e36s?

A larger rear bar would provide a higher sway bar wheel rate because mounting locations are the same.

Be careful with the front bar, as non-M's have a much lower sway bar motion ratio (due to attaching to the lower control arm vs. the strut). This is the reason some non-M's have larger diameter bars, yet still have lower sway bar wheel rates.

[Bimmerforums]

Thanks guys!

[///Ficarra]

If you want stiffer, why not just mount your current bar to the struts? Seems to be the best of both worlds if you goal is a stiffer front bar. All you need are some M3 endlinks.

As long as that wont have any negatie effects, that sounds like a win/win.

[B.Watts]

As long as that wont have any negatie effects, that sounds like a win/win.

The only negative effect is that your buddy won't be able to scam $50 out of you for his used M3 front bar. :stickoutt

[Bimmerforums]

The only negative effect is that your buddy won't be able to scam $50 out of you for his used M3 front bar. :stickoutt

$50? Psh! I was gonna sell him the sway bar for $250 :shifty







or like $20...

[///Montizzle]

Hai guyz wats going on in here :)

[psu325i]

I think you answered your own question.

The only way the M3 bar would be an upgrade (assuming that by upgrade, you mean stiffer since most around here seem to think stiffer is always better) would be if you also used the M3 mounting points on the struts rather than the 328 mounting points on the control arms. The mounting points are just as important as the bar diameter.

I was wondering about M3 sways as well. I have a '95 325i with bilstein + H&R sports. Is there any difference in 96+ sway bars I should know about? What is my best route for upgrading sways? Do the bilsteins have the mounting points to use the M3 sway location? What is the functional difference in the different mounting points?

[ReBeL]

A larger rear bar would provide a higher sway bar wheel rate because mounting locations are the same.

Be careful with the front bar, as non-M's have a much lower sway bar motion ratio (due to attaching to the lower control arm vs. the strut). This is the reason some non-M's have larger diameter bars, yet still have lower sway bar wheel rates.
Well I don't know sway bars are good modifications in terms of handling but I still couldn't decide what to do about it. I have a '94 3.20 coupe so I was planning to put M3 front and rear sway bars but front bar is thinner than non M bars as BimmerForums says :confused I am going to use low ofset (et13 9.5J) wheels w/ stretched tires at the back. so I want to improve the handling a bit with bars. What should I do?

[nitrosobmw]

I have 325is with sacks performance shocks, can I put m3 endlinks on my shocks?

[B.Watts]

Do the bilsteins have the mounting points to use the M3 sway location? What is the functional difference in the different mounting points?

Should be easy enough to look at your front struts and see whether there is a mounting point. The strut mounting point results in more effective roll rate reduction for a given size of bar. That doesn't necessarily make it "better", just different.


I have 325is with sacks performance shocks, can I put m3 endlinks on my shocks?

As above...just look at your front struts.


I am going to use low ofset (et13 9.5J) wheels w/ stretched tires at the back. so I want to improve the handling a bit with bars. What should I do?

1) Don't use stretched tires if you want to improve handling. Use the recommended tire size for the wheel width you intend to run.

2) Are you looking to improve handling or reduce roll? They aren't always the same thing. If you need more front roll reduction, the M3 bar isn't going to gain you anything if you are still using the control arm mounting points for the endlinks. Reducing roll is usually a good thing, but you still need to make sure you upgrade in such a way that the front and rear are balanced of you may end up with a car that handles worse.

[nitrosobmw]

Should be easy enough to look at your front struts and see whether there is a mounting point. The strut mounting point results in more effective roll rate reduction for a given size of bar. That doesn't necessarily make it "better", just different.



As above...just look at your front struts.



1) Don't use stretched tires if you want to improve handling. Use the recommended tire size for the wheel width you intend to run.

2) Are you looking to improve handling or reduce roll? They aren't always the same thing. If you need more front roll reduction, the M3 bar isn't going to gain you anything if you are still using the control arm mounting points for the endlinks. Reducing roll is usually a good thing, but you still need to make sure you upgrade in such a way that the front and rear are balanced of you may end up with a car that handles worse.


Im sorry man, I must be retarded, what do u mean by look at my front struts, what I think is that it should be obvious right? thanks