M5 Sway Bars installed - United Bimmer Community

**dinan540** · 02-23-2006, 07:24 PM

So I picked up some used E39 M5 front and rear sway bars for my 540i. What a huge difference in the cornering. It stays much flatter.

It was huge pain in the ass to install the front sway bar. I had to drop the subframe and lift the engine slightly. I did this with a buddy, who knows a lot more than me and it took 7 hours to complete.

**komodo** · 02-23-2006, 07:32 PM

Lifting the engine to install a sway bar? Whoa. I watched someone install a sway bar on an older 7-series and it took him about 20 minutes.

**Numark318i** · 02-23-2006, 09:46 PM

to change out mine I have a total of an hours work. thats crazy.
what bushings did u use? Poly or stock?
good job.

**94bmw325i** · 02-23-2006, 10:05 PM

damn all that work man. You don't have stock suspension right? I just got new suspension, im thinking about getting an x-brace and some swaybars soon.

**dinan540** · 02-24-2006, 01:55 PM

The rear sway bar was only 20 minutes, four bolts and you were done. I used stock bushings. I may try the polyurethane in the future.

But the front, there isn't any clearance between the sway bar and the engine, plus the sway bar has all of those kinks and curves. If I ever plan to get an aftermarket sway, I will have someone else install it.

The stock 540i with the sport suspension has a 24 mm front sway and the M5 sway is 27mm, which made a difference in clearance. I followed a DIY on www.zeckhausen.com.

It was worth it for the end result. I still feel sore today.

**nightdevils** · 02-25-2006, 10:51 AM

How much did thos run you?

**dinan540** · 02-27-2006, 09:42 AM

I bought the used pair of sways for $150 shipped from a guy on m5board.com. I think new M5 sways would be $300 for the pair and another $50 for the bushings and brackets plus labor. I wouldn't buy new M5 sways, instead I would buy an aftermarket pair such as Eibach for $395 which comes with everything and they are thicker than the M5 sways.

**nightdevils** · 02-27-2006, 10:06 AM

Neat, any idea if the Eibach sways are easier to install than the M5 ones? also have any pics?

**nightdevils** · 02-27-2006, 10:37 AM

Also, do you have front and rear anti roll bars installed as well?

Storamin · 02-27-2006, 11:23 AM

anti roll bars installed as well?...

sway bar/anti roll bars are the same thing i thought.

**nightdevils** · 02-27-2006, 11:24 AM

I thought anti roll bars were the ones you see connecting to the two suspensions..usually visible in the hood. rear anti roll bars are in the trunk space. I could be wrong though

**dinan540** · 02-27-2006, 03:38 PM

Ghost,

I think the Eibach front sway will be just as difficult as the M5 sway. I started to take pics of the install, when my camera died and ran out of batteries. The rear sway is easy, jack up the car and remove 4 bolts and install the rear bar.

I will be willing to sell you mine if you want. I am not sure if you have the same size sway bars as the 540i with the sport suspension. Do some homework and find out if they will work on your car or just buy the aftermarket Eibach. I would sell them for $100 plus shipping.

**dinan540** · 02-27-2006, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Storamin

anti roll bars installed as well?...

sway bar/anti roll bars are the same thing i thought.

Yes they are the same.

nick_318is · 02-27-2006, 03:53 PM

Ghost, your thinking of strut bars - they conect the tops of the strut towers.

Antiroll bars (sway bars) are under the car and will make a much larger difference in firming up the ride then will strut bars from what I have heard.

**dinan540** · 02-27-2006, 04:55 PM

^^^Nick is right about the sway bars making a bigger difference then the strut bars in my car. Although, the strut bar looks cool when you open the hood.