M5 - Eibach sway bar - Results

[champaign777]

As we already have this thread : OEM e39 M5 sway bar - Results
it's interesting to know what people say when they move from M5 to Eibach

relevant for both - front and rear

thanks

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...ghlight=eibach

[jburnham]

On my 540i/6 which I used to autocross, I had M5 front and rear and when I upgraded the rear to Eibach, it balanced the handling perfectly. If I had to do it again though (and now that I have another 540i, I will), I am going to keep the stock front and M5 rear.

[bmwhiteman]

On my 540i/6 which I used to autocross, I had M5 front and rear and when I upgraded the rear to Eibach, it balanced the handling perfectly. If I had to do it again though (and now that I have another 540i, I will), I am going to keep the stock front and M5 rear.

I was waiting for someone to say they did this! Why would you not do the M5 front, Eibach rear again?

[Graham E39 528i]

The M5 rear sway is kinduv weak. The Eibach rear sway is 41% stiffer. And stiffer is good!

[bymer525]

I never rode in a stock m5. Mines got front and rear eibach bars and the car is stiff on turns. But eibach is in between stock and dinan. I might get a set of dinans because they have 3 holes on each side when you bolt the link to for more adjustability. You got soft mild hard, unlike the eibach which you only have 1 hole.

Otherwise this is a good investment for the price they want

[elvirb87]

I was thinking about getting eibach anit role kit for my 540. I hear its a pita to install. But if i got with M5 it would be a bit more expensive am i right?

[Doc325i]

I have the Eibach front and rear installed. Installing the front was a PITA! I would love to remove the front. The car was perfect and neutral when just the rear was installed.

[bymer525]

Not really. M5 is pretty idenitical to the 540i. The control arms are the same for all e39s

[elvirb87]

Am i hearing don't install the front only the rear?

[Doc325i]

Am i hearing don't install the front only the rear?

^ this is what i would recommend but be sure to upgrade the brackets and bushings at the same time.

[Orxan4ik]

I hated my front eibach sway bar as the front would plow if you enter the corner 2 fast, however now w LSD a mild understeer is easily corrected On a 540 with an open diff ideal setup is m5 front eibach rear

[jburnham]

It is possible to have too much sway bar for your spring rates - upsetting your handling. I have stock sport springs and Koni Sports on the 540i/6. I run non-staggered wheels/tires. I started with the M5 front/rear, then upgraded to the Eibach rear. I broke several brackets before getting the Beastmaster? brackets. I added a 3.15 LSD later and the car is pretty awesome, but I think the swaybars might be a little too much for the spring rates. if I had to do it again, I'd start with with non-staggerred wheels and tires, then the M5 rear sway bar - and 3.15 diff/or LSD as soon as you can afford it.

[champaign777]

any feedbacks from I6 owners ?
Graham have you done it ?

[udoug]

It is possible to have too much sway bar for your spring rates - upsetting your handling. I have stock sport springs and Koni Sports on the 540i/6. I run non-staggered wheels/tires. I started with the M5 front/rear, then upgraded to the Eibach rear. I broke several brackets before getting the Beastmaster? brackets. I added a 3.15 LSD later and the car is pretty awesome, but I think the swaybars might be a little too much for the spring rates. if I had to do it again, I'd start with with non-staggerred wheels and tires, then the M5 rear sway bar - and 3.15 diff/or LSD as soon as you can afford it.

What do you mean when you say "upsetting your handling" with too stiff a sway bar? And you feel its because of the front one? Im curious because im about to do some suspension work (have the konis and trying to decide on eibach or stick w oem sport, ditto sways m5/eibach/stock)

[champaign777]

this job is a PITA
started noon and still cant finish front
I see Eibach front sway bar has 2 connections for the link , which one i need to use ?
Also why 2 ?

[Vatoman]

isnt that the adjustable setting?

[champaign777]

it is
but which one for OEM link ?

[BMRSEB]

any feedbacks from I6 owners ?
Graham have you done it ?

When I had my '97 528i/5 many moons ago, I had the M5 rear. It made a good bit of difference, tightening up the rear a bit, plus the rears are pretty easy to install. And as mentioned, changed your links if they are old.

[NoTempoLimit]

any feedbacks from I6 owners ?
Graham have you done it ?

My car has the Sport Package (M Sport Suspension). I'm running stock M Sport I front sway bar (24mm) and M Sport II rear sway bar (15mm, purchased from a 540i/6 M owner who upgraded to M5 rear).

Handling feels balanced to me. Understeer is not an issue. I drive on the very twisty Coldwater Canyon road every day. When I don't have somebody in a landscaping truck/minivan/Prius in front of me going 20 mph, I can enjoy the road. I can just start to get the 528i into a 4 wheel drift (and it has an open diff).

My E39 is very stable and does not feel too "tail happy". I used to have a first generation Mazda RX-7, so I have "Master's Degree in Tail Happy", with a minor in "spinning out and somehow not hitting anything".

[bfp9]

it is
but which one for OEM links ??

I am not very familiar with the e39 as I just got mine 6 months ago, but I know on the e34 and eibach sways, the stock links couldn't be used. The sway bars came with adjustable links as well. I wouldn't be surprised if neither of the holes drilled into the swaybar tabs and the end lined up with the stock links. But again I am speaking out of experience from another chassis.

EDIT: Just googled it, there should have been adjustable links that came with the sway bars. It is a whole kit.

[champaign777]

no links in this package
the first one looks like lined up fine to the OEM link
Front job was a REAL PITA even w/o dropping the whole front axle

first impression for I6 between Sport front & M5 rear and Eibach :
heavy steering
body doesn't roll , car feels like a tank
I feel it more like E60 now , very stable on any road , kind of too much stable for E39 if you understand what i mean
Overall not bad but with every upgrade ( i also have strut sway bar ) car feels different ,
it looses road connection more and more and becomes more luxury and less sensitive
welcome to the high end luxury car , perfection is lost

[bfp9]

overall not bad with every upgrade it loose connection to road more and more

Not bad? That sounds absolutely terrible. BMW's are known for their connection to the road. Sounds like it is turning into a Mercedes.

[Vatoman]

I think the front sway and rear is to much, im going to try with just the rear. Im looking to eliminate some body roll with out taking all the fun or feel out of it. Seems like this is the best compromise from what ive read.

[CSMBlack-540i]

it looses road connection more and more and becomes more luxury and less sensitive
welcome to high end luxury car, perfection is lost

Don't you mean LESS luxury and MORE sensitive?

[champaign777]

Not bad? That sounds absolutely terrible. BMW's are known for their connection to the road. Sounds like it is turning into a Mercedes.

you got my point
cant say its terrible but i think previous set up was better for I6