Swaybars: Decisions, decisions

[SlickShift]

I'm pretty set on ordering a front swaybar for my 135i. There's just so many choices out there (Eibach, UUC, H&R, Hotchkis). I had H&R sways on my E46 and loved them, but I don't like the fact that they're non adjustable on the 1er. So, for the people who have sways on their 1-series: Why did you choose one brand over the other, and what's your opinion on the set you have? Thanks.

[nordique14]

I put on UUC sways as they are adjustable and they also make a rear bar.

Couple of warnings:
1. The rear bar is a pain to install. It requires dropping the subframe.
2. If you are just driving spirited on the street then doing just the front is fine. I do autox and I initially only put on the front to see how it worked by itself. I did not like it. Putting on the rear balanced out the car.
3. Some people are reusing the stock end links as the adjustable ones make noise. Not a good idea as some people have found the stock ones can break if they are pre-loaded. Use the adjustable ones so they are not pre-loaded. If you tighten the crap out of them then they will not make any noise.

If you do go with UUC, wait for one of their 15% off + free shipping sales that happen every couple of months. That will save you over $100 as shipping is pretty pricey on sways dues to their size/weight.

[janus77]

i've just had H&R installed, went with them because they were recommended on the forum. So far the car's sitting nice and flat. Will get the car out on the track for a few laps tomorrow and give more accurate feedback.

[infinitekidM2C]

I have the UUC in back...i havent done front but i might..i got them because they are adjustable....since i did them the same time as i put on the KW coilovers i just know the car handles way better now and feels like its in my control...body roll is severly diminished.

I dont think you want an overly stiff back sway bar as it might induce snap oversteer...so either get a non-adjustable one that isnt too stiff or get an adjustable one

[HP Autosport]

Originally Posted by SlickShift

I'm pretty set on ordering a front swaybar for my 135i. There's just so many choices out there (Eibach, UUC, H&R, Hotchkis). I had H&R sways on my E46 and loved them, but I don't like the fact that they're non adjustable on the 1er. So, for the people who have sways on their 1-series: Why did you choose one brand over the other, and what's your opinion on the set you have? Thanks.

Try the Hotchkis or the E90/92 M3 front bar.

[Endre]

Im going for H&R sways.
Also have H&R springs since i dont want to have too much to adjust. I want to drive!

Will add camberplates from vorshlag + m3 parts since i need MUCH more camber up front, but thats the only adjustable pice im adding.

Quaife diff is also on the list..

[vitig]

I will order m3 coupe/sedan front bar at my dealership.

[IMG][/IMG]

The dealership i said me that this bar is 26mm and my oem135 is also 26mm.The m3 sedan bar is more strong?.Can only buy the bar or i want the number 2,3 or 4 of the grafic?.

The m3 cabrio bar is 28mm.

[mangotangoe]

The stock bar is the same size, save a small section in the middle where the bar size is reduced. Buy the two piece bushings and the carrier to mount them and the bar. (parts 2, 3, 4)

[vitig]

Ok,thanks.If i need this pieces i will buy it.

anyone know if the m3 cabrio bar(28mm) would be more appropiate to avoid body rolling.The hotchkis is 32mm and feel good.

[RaceTime]

I have the H&R front bar... I decided to use H&R as they are the same brand/configeration as my coils, but they are also the least hassle. It is the same size bar as stock, but much more rigid and has awesome bushings. Works just as well as the Hotchkis bar, bonus with H&R is the endlinks stay stock. Other bars with adjustment are not worth it IMO...but I hardly ever drive my on the street...just stays with a track set up. Seriously, who adjusts the sways for stiffness anyways?

Just my $.02...

[vitig]

Anybody know if the m3 cabrio front bar are good for the 135i?
This is 28mm section and hotchkis is 32mm,i think if this is better to the m3 sedan(26,5).

The cost is the same,i like to take the best.

[rodi]

getting hotchkis front bar put on this evening. no other suspension mods yet, except non-RFTs.

[vitig]

[QUOTE = Rodi; 5888495] Hotchkis conseguir barra principal puesto en esta noche. no mods suspensión de otros, sin embargo, excepto los no RFTS. [/ QUOTE]

Hotchkis is the better election,but i don´t buy it in spain.Here only have the oem bmw and i like to take the good election, sedan or cabrio?

[Fireflyer239]

Hotchkis front sway bar is on. Amazing transformation, especially considering the under-$300 cost and 2 hour DIY installation time! Car feels much closer to nuetral, the way it should feel from the factory! Cornering load feels properly distributed between the front tires now, as opposed to before, when the outside tire took the brunt of the weight/cornering force, and wanted to go into grinding understeer. Car "leads with the nose" now, eager to carve through each turn like a real performance car. Steering feels more communicative - my guess is because now I've got two tread faces talking to me, as opposed to one tire shoulder previously. No wierdness to report from rear end, and I was carving some local twisties about as hard as I care to go on public roads. A couple forum members have reported some looseness from the back end - I think one had coil overs though, meaning different compatibility and results. Also, bearing in mind that nuetral handling means neither understeer nor oversteer predominate, when handling is nuetral, elements of both understeer and oversteer will surface or be available during certain circumstances. I am only saying this Hotchkis bar will work well for anyone with stock Sport Suspension.

In addition, I feel having this upgrade offers advantages in control, any time the steering wheel is being turned. Route 8 in CT just south of Waterbury is full of fast curves, but with strips/seams that previously caused the car to get out of shape a bit, with noticeable wallow that did not inspire confidence - kinda like my Dad's Buick. Now, over the same stretch of road, there's just the briefest little side-to-side rock when I run over the strips, but all is brought under control very quickly and I'm enjoying this piece of road the way I had imagined I could. Let's not forget the other name for anti-sway bars: Stabilizer Bars! And this piece of kit does just that as I said, any time the steering wheel is being turned.

I feel the bar has been spec'd perfectly for this vehicle, in terms of its stiffness and effect on handling. You will still get the car to lean, but it will be much less and now the front seems to be on even keel with the rear (no surprise). So much more fun to drive!

By the way, my Hotchkis experience was excellent. Part was shipped quickly, packaging was great, instructions are clear, job went quick and easy. Go for it!

[Fireflyer239]

Just back from another venture to the twisties...still amazed at the degree of improvement with no downsides! I said in my last post this sway benefits me in all but a straight line - well I stand corrected, because it benefits in a strait line too. Bumpy road control is better, with less pitching side to side. The stock spring rates combined with the Michelins and the Hotchkis sway bar mean I now have a reasonably comfortable ride with great balance and control, and the car can really be "driven" through the corners with zest! Front end feels much lighter...just much better communication being delivered to the steering wheel. I tried to really pay attention to any signs of the rear end wierdness that had been reported (or noise etc), but could feel nothing. Just a great sense of the front end really hanging in there tight through the curves, and the ability to drive out with the throttle and find there's still more nice, nuetral, controllable grip left to play with! Oh what fun! I can see why the factory dials in understeer though - the capability of the vehicle can encourage some serious speed. Keep it under control Y'all!!

[rodi]

Fireflyer - did you use the adjustable endlinks? if no - close book, game over. if yes - turn to page 2.

were they the same size as the stock ones? did you have to modify them? which of the three holes did you use? do you feel you could have or should have used a different setting?

i'm guessing you have non-RFTs - anything else suspension-wise?

[HP Autosport]

Originally Posted by vitig

[QUOTE = Rodi; 5888495] Hotchkis conseguir barra principal puesto en esta noche. no mods suspensión de otros, sin embargo, excepto los no RFTS. [/ QUOTE]

Hotchkis is the better election,but i don´t buy it in spain.Here only have the oem bmw and i like to take the good election, sedan or cabrio?

If you like a bit more roll stiffness, go with the E93 front bar.

[Fireflyer239]

Originally Posted by rodi

Fireflyer - did you use the adjustable endlinks? if no - close book, game over. if yes - turn to page 2.

were they the same size as the stock ones? did you have to modify them? which of the three holes did you use? do you feel you could have or should have used a different setting?

i'm guessing you have non-RFTs - anything else suspension-wise?

Suspension is stock Sport Package with the sway being the only mod. Using stock end links for now because it all fit together so well. Inspected them today after about a hundred miles, all looks okay. Link bolts go thru the sway ends at nice right angles, and everything lined up perfectly.

In combo with the lightweight Breytons and the Michelins (non- runflat), these mods have dramatically enhanced the driving experience. Enhancement it good, right?

[vitig]

Originally Posted by HP Autowerks

If you like a bit more roll stiffness, go with the E93 front bar.

I think that is the best election because the diameters:

e90/e92 26mm
h&r 27mm
e93 28mm
hotch. 30mm

If the hr and hotchkis are good,the similar is e93.

[rodi]

but the H&R is solid, not hollow like the e93/92 and the hotchkis.

[rodi]

installed at 6pm. no noises.
driving around after dinner now 11:30p - strange noise on front end with dips and bumps. no clanking, just weird "adjusting" noise in a low tone.
had it professionally installed. WTF.

[SlickShift]

Hmmm...that's weird. They might not have tighten the bolts enough. When I installed sways on my last car I didn't tighten the endlink bolts enough and they made quite a bit of noise until I figured out what it was.