[BimmerFan]

Anyone ever tried these? http://afepower.com/afe-power-440-50...l-sway-bar-set I am bout to pull the trigger. I'd appreciate some feedback if you have. Thanks!

[Lancelot]

Expensive no? Compared to h&r, eibach or KW?

[BimmerFan]

They are, but they are the thickest sway bars for the F30 on the market. Dinan upgraded sway bars for the F80 are pretty much the same thickness as these. Already bought them and they have shipped. I'll be pairing them with Bilstein B8s all around. Should button the car down.

[Lancelot]

I've ordered H&R on my side, should be installed soon, they're 28/20mm, vs these ones 32/29mm thick.

I wasn't sure about the f80 bars sizes, so you may be right to choose these if they are similar.

We'll be interested in hearing back from you!

[BimmerFan]

For sure! Have 55k miles on my car (I drive a lot!) and I think the stock suspension is about done. Are you getting shocks and struts/springs as well or stock suspension?

[Lancelot]

I do plan on changing for KW DDC coilovers, but not just now as i'm only at 18k km, also to get a feel for this mod without changing the suspension.

[HP Autosport]

Remember these are tubular and adjustable to suit your needs.

[Lancelot]

So we put the front ARB yesterday (rear to be done next), what a pain!! Whoever designed the f30 is crazy, getting the subframe out to change an anti roll bar is nuts. It took a day to get it done, the subframe wouldn't come out.

In the end the result is nice, but i think you made the right choise opting for stronger bars than the H&R.

[BimmerFan]

I feel better now. I was afraid I might have gone too aggressive with the thickness. My understanding is that the sub-frame just needs to shifted slightly to install the sway bars not removed.

[Lancelot]

Well that slight shift took a few hours.
When H&R indicate a 5-6hr job, they are not conservative.

For some reason the front subframe didn't want to shift by more than 1.5cm for very long, we had to fight for the last millimeters to manage to sneak the orp bar out and put the new one in.

As the owner, watching the operation was stressful, even if they knew what they were doing, it's a bit like watching a surgeon operating, he doesn't want the family in the operation block for good reason

[BimmerFan]

Oh my. The shop quoted me $125 for the rear sway bar installation. I hope they don't renege.

[Lancelot]

I haven't done the rear yet, only front so far; we're waiting for the quaife diff to arrive to do all in one go.

[BimmerFan]

Nice. Wanted to do the M Performance or Quaife LSD as well, but man I could not justify the price for what I use the car for. Oh, well maybe I'll cave in if I come across a deal I can't walk away from. We'll see.

[Lancelot]

Hey did you get the aFe sway bars in the end? Im interested in your feedback.

With H&R i find the rear too stiff, 16mm like eibach or KW would have been enough.

[HP Autosport]

Originally Posted by Lancelot

Hey did you get the aFe sway bars in the end? Im interested in your feedback.

With H&R i find the rear too stiff, 16mm like eibach or KW would have been enough.

A larger front bar would be better fit for the F chassis and just about any other BMW chassis. Larger rear bar generally take away too much traction in turns and take the independence out of the independent rear suspension.

[Lancelot]

Originally Posted by HP Autosport

A larger front bar would be better fit for the F chassis and just about any other BMW chassis. Larger rear bar generally take away too much traction in turns and take the independence out of the independent rear suspension.

Absolutely my experience, thinking of reverting to stock on the rear bar and keep the front stiffer bar for these reasons.

[HP Autosport]

Originally Posted by Lancelot

Absolutely my experience, thinking of reverting to stock on the rear bar and keep the front stiffer bar for these reasons.

You will find better rear traction in all conditions. Track guys will find smaller rear bar work much better on tighter tracks.

[RM7]

IME, the stock rear AS is so tiny that you are a long ways from worrying about making it "too stiff for traction". Maybe if you moved up to 30mm, sure, but stock is 12mm and a joke by my standards.

[Lancelot]

No here we're talking about my 19mm bar or the OP's 28mm aFe bar, we both think they're needlessly stiff and actually reduce suspension independence, and traction.

[FVierra27]

Does anyone have a good write up on doing the sway bars? I tried searching but didn't come up with much.

[BimmerFan]

I had the AFE front and rear sway bars installed last week along with my koni yellow adjustable shocks and struts and I am over the moon! Yep the car is more rigid and taut and yes it takes slightly away from rear independent suspension, but I love it! I wouldn't have my car handle any other way. Zero body roll in turns and razor sharp handling. Simply sublime. It reminds me of when I was on BC racing coilovers with Dinan rear sway bar on my E39 M5, but with a much more compliant and better ride quality. I just love how she handles now. I would highly recommend the AFE sway bars. They are also adjustable I have it set at the outer holes where it is neutral. For a more tail happy setting, one can set them at the inner holes.

[BimmerFan]

So almost two years later, My AFE RSB snapped. I never track my car, but I do drive it spiritedly from time to time. Nothing crazy. I have never heard of a RSB snapping before without being involved in an accident of some sort. AFE does not warranty their suspension parts longer than a year. What a shame. I no longer recommend this product. Look elsewhere.