Confirmed! M5 Front Sway Bar fits 535xi

Originally Posted by HDEddie1

The floaty boat-like feel is a result of soft springs and dampeners. Adding lowering springs (typically higher spring rates) reduce the floating feel a bit, but proper dampeners (tuned for sport instead of comfort) well tame the float. Sway bars by themselves will not cure the float. Where sway bars come in is when you're turning and feel the car plow and give that roll over effect. Upgrading your bars to larger (torsionally stiffer) will aid in reducing your roll center, thus causing the car to corner flatter.

If you already have DDC, then your shocks are electronically controlled and can be stiffened by just selecting Sport or Sport +. You then need only to add lowering springs to control float and sway bars to control roll.

There is also the coil over option that upgrades springs and shocks all in one shot.

Several solutions out there depends on what you want and how much you want to $pend.

Thanks for the information. This is my FIRST car that I could not bear with the stock suspension, so I'm still finding out what is the right thing to do. Mine's just the most basic stock non-M sport suspension. I'm not going to track with my F10 (I don't see what's the fun in driving a big heavy car on the track anyway), so I won't need anything extreme. I just want to feel like I'm in a BMW, not a Lincoln, like Alan mentioned.

I was looking at KW coilovers to get it done right in one shot, but I guess they are too expensive for my basic needs. Seems like lowering springs + sway bar upgrade is sufficient for me.

Spoke to Evan at Tischer and they now have the bar posted up - http://www.getbmwparts.com/partlocat...catalogid=4462

Alan

Alan - can you PM his direct contact info?

I want to see if I can put a group-buy together for these.

Originally Posted by douggie

Thanks for the information. This is my FIRST car that I could not bear with the stock suspension, so I'm still finding out what is the right thing to do. Mine's just the most basic stock non-M sport suspension. I'm not going to track with my F10 (I don't see what's the fun in driving a big heavy car on the track anyway), so I won't need anything extreme. I just want to feel like I'm in a BMW, not a Lincoln, like Alan mentioned.

I was looking at KW coilovers to get it done right in one shot, but I guess they are too expensive for my basic needs. Seems like lowering springs + sway bar upgrade is sufficient for me.

I once had a Lexus GS 350 which also floated and swayed a bit to much for my taste (compared to the many BMW's I had prior) and I jumped on the lowering springs and sway bars (from the Lexus "F Sport" line) as soon as they were offered. The handling improved tremendously. I immediately noticed steering turn-in was sharper, body roll was near eliminated, and the ride had firmed in a sporty way. I didn't do the the shock upgrade but the car didn't seem to need it. The stock shocks on the GS (2008) was apparently good enough. Nevertheless, it was the best mod I experienced for that car. For the F10 however, I'm not sure if just springs and sways would eliminate all the floatiness of the F10 since the car's shocks are pretty lame (unless you have DDC).
If at all possible, see if you can catch a ride from some enthusiast in your area with the same car in your area that has done the mods...it'll be well worth it to experience it first hand.
Maybe springs and sways is all you need or, you'll maybe conclude that you can only do it right on your car with coil overs (KW V3 with the electronic shock control) and the sways.
Sways are a no brainer for the stock F10. Springs? While a good thing, still do more research on this forum as there are many choices with pro/cons/tradeoffs to consider.

I am now in touch with Evan at Tischer.

He is opened to the idea of a group buy. He gave me a figure.
But before I proceed, how many of you would be interested in a group-buy? Who actually wants to buy this?

Are you thinking about a front/rear combo? Which of the rear bar would be included?
(the M550dX's rear bar is 16mm and the F07 550GT Msport is 18mm).
Thanks

Originally Posted by v12

I am now in touch with Evan at Tischer.

He is opened to the idea of a group buy. He gave me a figure.
But before I proceed, how many of you would be interested in a group-buy? Who actually wants to buy this?

I'm interested but I need details.

Now with the rear bar.

Turns out on the 535 theres several sizes that the car comes with depending on options and if its RWD or AWD.

535i standard rear bar is 13MM
535i Msports rear bar is 14MM
535xi standard rear bar is 14MM
535xi with EDC/DDC rear bar is 15MM

I did not check this for the 528 or the 550 but you can easily do it with realoem.com

Since my car comes with a 15MM rear bar I will go with the 18MM F07 550GT's rear bar for a 3mm increase. Looks like you will also need to purchase new bushings with bigger internal diameter to hold the thicker bar. Hopefully thats it.

Alan

Originally Posted by douggie

Thanks for the information. This is my FIRST car that I could not bear with the stock suspension, so I'm still finding out what is the right thing to do. Mine's just the most basic stock non-M sport suspension. I'm not going to track with my F10 (I don't see what's the fun in driving a big heavy car on the track anyway), so I won't need anything extreme. I just want to feel like I'm in a BMW, not a Lincoln, like Alan mentioned.

I was looking at KW coilovers to get it done right in one shot, but I guess they are too expensive for my basic needs. Seems like lowering springs + sway bar upgrade is sufficient for me.

I have a basic non sport F10 too.

OP seriously made me think about getting a sway bar. I think in our cars the float is worst than the handling.

I also want to add the install for the M5 front sway bar is super easy. You can do it with the car on ramps in no more than 30mins and thats taking your time.

I normally DIY all of my parts but now with a baby I decided to let my shop do it. I watched the whole process and it was in and out in 30mins and that includes getting the car on and off the lift. Theres maybe a dozen small bolts that holds the belly pan up and once that is off you have a total of 6 bolts that holds the sway bar in place. Its in a area that isn't blocked by anything and you can reach all of the bolts with ease.

My stock front sway bar - The red circles are where all of the bolts are except one that is off the pic.


Alan

Thanks Alan - I am in touch with him now.

Guys - I only talked to him about the front bar Alan linked to : the M5 Front Sway Bar part #: 31352284460.

Will ask about a front/ back combo. with two choices for the rear bar 16 and 18mm.

Any other ideas/ requirements, please let me know.

We should hold off on the rear bar now since we don't know for sure if it fits. Joe@ptech on the other forum is going to test this for us and should know by next week.

Alan

Put the order for the front bar today not just the rear bar is needed and a respectable set of springs, Acs was my pick but there trying to guage us now on price.

Interest here. We need an ACS group buy too

Originally Posted by BigDeep1

Interest here. We need an ACS group buy too

Tried to get a H&R group going last year but it failed. Link to thread.
We can revive if there is interest. ACS or H&R or both, your choice guys.

Note: mounting springs on the F10 is apparently a pain. Labor isn't going to be cheap, $500 is where we had left things at in that thread.
Here is a DIY thread on 5post with pictures from someone who did it with a buddy in 3 hours. Link.



Alan/ anyone who understands this well - Could you please chime in and comment on why ACS vs H&R?
And Alan do you still hear that sound from the center of your console since you installed the ACS?

I am in if you can do an ACS buy, Labor all depends on shop location ect. Seems most of the guys who do them often are 350 in North NJ area.

Originally Posted by Supercomputers

I am in if you can do an ACS buy, Labor all depends on shop location ect. Seems most of the guys who do them often are 350 in North NJ area.

OK. Source is in Europe (too late to call them now, but I will tomorrow).

Which shops do $350?

ACS or H&R

Browse reviews on bimmerpost. From all of the reviews there everyone who went with H&R said the ride felt too bouncy. Few even went from H&R to ACS and reported that the car felt much better on ACS. That alone sealed the deal for me.

I no longer have any noise with my ACS springs. My solution worked perfectly. Rumor has it that ACS now ships their springs with a silicone sleeve inserted on the top two coils now. If not a simple run to Home Depot would get you the same thing for $5.

Pros for H&R
Price
Slightly lower drop
Easy to obtain

Cons
Bouncy ride
Slightly lower drop

Alan

I hadn't read what solution you applied to fix the problem, you unmounted and put a tip on the end of the coil?

So we want ACS, I'll start a group-buy thread tomorrow if I get some good news when I call. I am going to pitch an order of 10 sets.
Do we even have 10 interested parties?

Follow this thread here - http://f10.5post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=745000

I went with my method because my springs were already installed. if they are off the car you can simply insert the hose through the coils and you are set. Lots of aftermarket springs actually comes with it stock but for some reason ACS didn't include it. (they might be now)

Alan

AUTOcouture Sal in NJ will put them in for 350 no alignment or 500 with alignment, Since the springs need to settle I will opt for no alignment for now just need a set of ACS, I need them for a 550 X drive and apparently they are not the same as the 535 x drive

350 is a fair price. AK Motorwerks out in NJ was also doing it for the same price. Members were being quoted 7-800 from Autocouture so they must have come down in price quite a bit. The whole F10 being harder to work on is BS.

Alan

I did the ACS springs myself - I'd say you're definitely getting your money's worth at 350...

Find a deal on the acs and the M5 front bar and rear sway that fits and we are in business!

Originally Posted by v12

I hadn't read what solution you applied to fix the problem, you unmounted and put a tip on the end of the coil?

So we want ACS, I'll start a group-buy thread tomorrow if I get some good news when I call. I am going to pitch an order of 10 sets.
Do we even have 10 interested parties?

I'm in for a set of ACS springs.