Eibach Sway Bars Installed!
 

Greetings! :D So I finally got around to installing my front & rear sway bars!

Installation was pretty straight forward... For the front you have to lower the subframe (tried without but no go) Re & Re the sway links. I also went and got new nuts as I wasn't sure if they are lock nuts. Greased the new bushings, tightened and torqued to spec. Rear was a breeze, 10 min! Remove nuts, slide out towards the side, Re new bar same way, bushings and torque to spec.

Outcome... WWWOWWW :wow: !!! As I pulled out of the garage you can feel the steering, it was so effortless! So nimble! Highway changing lanes, a breeze! You can change lanes with your pinky lol I cant explain it. I love driving it! I wanted to do this first only to see the diff. over stock, otherwise with the springs it would have been harder to point out the performance.

I would recommend this to anyone even if you plan to keep your X5 in stock form. It eliminates ssooo much of the stock roll, I would think of this as another safety feature rather then performance! You know what I mean. Well there you have it! Very simple & as always... The X now puts a bigger smile on my face :D On to the springs, strut bar and camber plates!

Bottom line: Another satisfied customer!!!
Cheers! :beerchug:

sweet. getting those as soon as i get some extra cash.

Oh great, more stuff for me to buy for my X. Glad to hear the results are good.

Nice! Hope to do mine soon.

And whats the point of installing these sway bars?

Sway bars can dramatically effect handling by reducing body-roll which reduces weight transfer and tire camber change. Most cars are equipped with a sway bar at both ends. The ends of the car are connected to the lower suspension members while the center of the bar is connected to the chassis through bushings. During cornering, the outer suspension compresses while the inner extends. The ends of the car move in opposite directions and the bar twists. The stiffness of the bar acts against the suspension and opposes its movement, reducing body-roll. Increasing the diameter of a sway bar will increase its stiffness, which in turn increases the roll stiffness of that particular axle.

where did u get the sway bars?? i want to grab a pair of those tooo!

TireRack.com

Don't say I didn't tell ya it wasn't worth it :)

Do you need to get a tire alginment done after the install?

No.

Nice! :)

How long have these been available?

To the OP, did you have the sport package to begin with? Does the sport package come with stiffer sway bars than the standard setup?

I do have the sport package, I don't think it came stiffer.
I think that they all have the same dia. specs, but I could be wrong.

install question?
 

how did you lower the front subframe? was it partially lowered or completely unbolted? did you have to take off the steel pan?

There are 6 bolts holding the subframe and I removed them all supporting the subframe and lowering it slowly at the point where I had enough room to wiggle the sway bar out.

Another 6 holding the reinforcement plate. I just took out the front 4 bolts and just loosened the other 2.

Yes, front sway bars are the same but the sport has a 23.5mm rear bar compared to the stock 22mm.

X5Girl, xxx

looks good! :thumbup:

thanks for the info, looking forward to installing these soon. this site and its members are great:thumbup:

@dpgx5: I am considering installing the eibach kit on my 05 4.4 sport X5. Now that you've had these installed for a while what are your current impressions? How did it change normal daily driving? Aggressive driving? etc... It seems like this is a fairly inexpensive mod that will have a big impact on handling. Thanks!!

Well I am impressed with the way you don't feel the body roll, it is more stable in turns and just in general with the road. I also have 20's on so I can compare to the 19's. Nothing really changed just that you now went from normal driving to want to drive aggressive lol jk. The X feels more planted, you wouldn't be disappointed!

Thanks for the reply. I have the adjustable air suspension and am on the sport 19's as you noticed. I feel like the car would benefit in higher speed cornering with the sway bars. I went from an inline 6 X5 which felt much lighter and more nimble than the 8. I just dont want the daily driving comfort to be compromised. By the way you are describing, it doesnt seem like it will. Oh no, its gonna make me drive more aggressive, with the 8 cylinder this might get expensive (gas) haha.

My only other question is: while in turns does the car seem at all rigid (like it is now not soaking up bumps, road imperfections etc...) or does it just feel nice and planted?

Thanks for the support and giving your impressions!!

Specs on the new sway bars versus stock !??!

I just installed mine today and as you stated, WWWOWWW!!!. You feel it right away. Looks like I will be increasing my tire wear, taking turns that much faster.

Did you ever get springs, camber plates or strut bar?

I have done B&G springs myself and lowered the rear with adjustable links. Also installed Dinan camber plates and my X just needs the strut bar.

I told ya so :) and yes I have got them...My suspension is now to the "T"

Below is a link to all that I have done (kmacs not yet)
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...n-goodies.html

Cheers!

Sooooo, Eibach seems to be the go-to swaybars? thats what everyone went with?

can you possibly confirm the part numbers purchased?

There's a handful of threads on sway bars that are pros/cons. I'm still torn on if I want to do it. From what I can tell the details are:

Eibach front/rear sway bar (PN: BME40200090111)

thats what I thought the part numbers were. VERY LITTLE options in way of sellers. EBay or ModBargains or TunerMotorSports Or ECS Tuning... and even some website advertise them in google, but when you go to their site to see the price/part, they do not sell anymore.

I found the same thing. I have them in my list of unicorn parts. :)

• Eibach front/rear sway bar (PN: BME40200090111)
• Dinan Strut Tower Brace (PN: D180-0530)
• EU Clear/Adaptive/Xenon Headlights (Right - Part #63117166816, Left - Part #63117166815)
• Running Boards
• Tow package

Do not hesitate, if you can find a pair, buy them, big handling improvement.

There are not that many options still available and as the Eibachs are known to work, thats my choice.

I thought the front eibach bar was discontinued? I think whiteline makes a f&r set.

You are correct, have to find it on Ebay or otherwise.

Like this guy right here with two sets. Eibach Sway bar Anti Roll Kit for BMW X5 BME40200090111 Performance Stabilizer K | eBay

I hadn't realized this previously, but these bars only list compatibility on the pre-facelift models. 4.6is is covered, not the 4.8. Anyone know if that's a real limitation or just documentation?

Yes Whiteline does make a front and rear set but its is discontinued and they sold off the remaining few they had in in stock at a substantial discount. I paid $54 for the rear and $78 for the front one on closeout from the manufacturer. Last time I checked I think there were a couple of the rear sway bars available.

Damn that is a deal! I would have swooped them up at that price too.

I noticed that too.
I've also read that installing the rear Sport (23.5mm) sway bar is a nice upgrade from the non-sport (22mm) sway bar. I'm surprised 1.5mm actually makes a difference honestly, but...I'll ahve to trust others. and those can be had easily at $100 or less on ebay

That 1.5 mm is more than a 14% increase in the cross section of the bar so the extra stiffness ;) would definitely be noticeable.

2002 X5 3.0 313,700 miles
2014 428i 23,700 miles

2004 325i sold at 123,600 miles
2001 325i sold at 66,000 miles

1970 Firebird - Under restoration

I think Ultra Racing also makes a set of these for the E53... as well as underbody chassis stiffening bars. I've used one of their upper strut mount bars on an 11 Optima SX... it made a difference.

No experience with their E53 stuff though.

thanks for tihs, but I have to say I've read on a few sites selling the Eibach bars that they are only for 2000-2003 model years for some reason. So I'm more open to buying a rear only sway bar, and even though the EiBachs are much thicher than the BMW OE Sport model, the 23.5mm sport version bar is much cheaper and worth trying first, foe me. I really enjoy how the factory suspension set-up drives. I dont want to change it too much.

I just swapped out my factory rear 22mm bar for the factory sport 23.5mm bar and put PowerFlex poly bushings on the rear bar as well as the front bar.

http://www.xoutpost.com/members/semc...ly-bushing.jpg

Very nice improvement in roll control for my tastes and not a budget buster for me. Got the 23.5mm rear bar off ebay for $100


Mike

For others the links show the set fits 2000-2006.

Yeah lots on eBay. So I just bought one there with bushings and getting it shipped, instead of me going to a picker at the moment where its -22° C (aka -7.6° F) and taking one off.

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e53 sway bar installation
 

So I did a full rebuild and dropped the sub frame and motor assembly and my dumbass mounted the sway bar under the frame instead of over it... i took it off 7 month ago and didnt put the under carriage plate back on, if I did I would have noticed but wanted to leave it off and check for leaks and all.. Anyways, all videos and forums are about sway bar end links... beside this post with the dropping the subframe option Pelican and Bentley manual didnt indicate dropping the frame..no offence I was not looking forward to that :( They suggested removing the front left control arm..well that does't work either. I had to also disconnect the trust arm at the knuckle to clear the axls but it fit like a glove and was easy...

Just another option if you dont have a lift or engine hoist or support beam. Just need a $20 ball join popper..

That s all folks :-)

Sway bar difference
 

Tested the 4.6IS without the sway bar and my first thought was cant wait to put this back on LOL. Dips in corners as expected, I m not sure what the stock thickness is on the 4.6is but it s there for a reason :-) 4.8is has front air suspension 4.6is doesnt, only rear not sure how that plays into it..

Oh no, should have known about this when I did a complete suspension overhaul front and rear. Would have been the ideal time to do this. Bloody heck!

Are there any aftermarket sway bar alternatives nowadays for the E53?

Ultra Racing makes some chassis stiffening products. Not sure they have any lower sway bars anymore. They do have stiffening bars and strut mount bar though.


https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...LH_TitleDesc=0

If you can find a set of Eibach sway bars they are well worth the investment.

FYI-I didn't get to what I wanted until I had installed the Eibach front and rear sway bars, Dinan strut tower brace and camber plates coupled with H&R lowering kit,wheel spacers and Bilstein struts. Prior to the upgrade I did a compete refresh of both the front and rear suspension including Powerflex subframe bushing.

I didn't go further since handling is already better than I should ever need on the street. The result is a very significant reduction in understeer. Only times I have experienced understeer is when I have tried to do something stupid.

Yea, most likely the sway bars will make a bigger change than the other reinforcement pieces/bars. Just sucks that it seems like it'd be next to impossible to find a set of sway bars from anybody. Even finding a used set will probably be hard, since most people would probably not go through the trouble of removing the bars before selling their X5s

Heavier front and rear sway bars do make a notable improvement to turn in and body roll. However, bear in mind that that upgrading suspension components puts more stress on other stock components and reduces the benefit of the upgrade. Using the example of sway bars, I felt it was prudent to add the strut tower brace and camber plates with the sway bars.

E53s are already well into the age and number on the road that aftermarket offerings have been or will be soon discontinued. If there are mods you want to add at least purchase them as soon as you can. I see Dinan mods and Eibach sway bars offered for sale once in a while but less and less often.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Eibach-Anti...1bUHIM&vxp=mtr

:dunno:

I'll be content with just coilovers as well, which seems like still being offered. All of the other pieces like sway bars, etc, are just extras for me after that.



Nice find. Still doesn't come up when I search ebay through my own browser, but possibly because it is an international item.

I certainly would have coilovers if tracking but for the street I've alway felt they cost too much for the benefits, something else has always been a better value.

I looked at these for a while and always came back to "it's a nearly 5000 lb sport utility that runs REALLY good for what it is... I really don't need these, it can't make that much of a difference".


Then I blew the seals out of the driver front strut... and replaced those with Bilstein B6s and H&R Springs, dropping the truck about 1.75" and really "firming" up the ride, I really enjoyed its new found footing.


And then I thought back to those damn eibach bars.... so I bought some, they're on their way here now!! Should have them middle of next week and I can't wait!!

Nice! did you found them on international websites?

You will find that Eibach bars will make a significant improvement to turn in and really flatten it out on cornering. X5 understeers. Sway bars will help a little but other mods are needed to do much about that. What wheels and tires do you have?

I did, turnershop.com ended up having a set for the E53 and having just done the struts and coils, lowering the truck... I couldn't pass them up. I actually thought they may be fakes (yea, I know, paranoid, right....) at first but I did a bunch of research on turner and made some phone calls and, well, I snagged'em!

That's what I'm looking forward to the most is just flattening out the cornering a bit, taking the edge off the lean so to speak. I know she'll never be formula 1, but hey, I know I really enjoy "driving" mine every chance I get and with the struts, coils and bars.. I'm getting there. Now I just need to convince my wife that 20x10s with 275s on them is a good thing... :wow:


EDIT - stock setup - factory 18s with Conti DWS 06 Extreme Contacts




Wish me luck!


I think it was you actually who said they made a pretty significant difference?

did you ever get these installed? were they legit? any feedback?
thinking of pulling the trigger on a set from that site.

Thanks!

Colombacho - sadly I did not get them installed, through all of my own excitement and multiple “Saturday is the day” attempts life always jumped up and bit me on the butt...

The good news is, your timing couldn’t have been better, I have a buddy of mine who just moved from his old dealership to a much more liberal shop, I am handing him the keys Monday (the 13th) and he is installing them for me along with new links and poly control arm bushings.

Let me get the truck back from him and I will definitely hit you with an update [emoji106][emoji106]


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That is great to hear!
I just wanted to confirm that you got a good quality product from a supplier overseas. I bet you are ecstatic at getting these installed. I have been mulling on getting these for a couple of years, but I realize these parts are getting scarce and do not want to miss out on the experience. I also knew it would be worth getting them because I recently had the engine rebuild, so the X5 wont be going away for some time-to my wife's regret.

So, please let us know how these fit and feel after you get them installed.
Cheers.
Brian
.

Eibach Sway Bars Installed!
 

I just grabbed new links to go with the bars that way bars, bushings and links are all new for “maximum” benefit. Links will be here Thursday, car goes in Monday and I will definitely keep you posted on the results.

I can also confirm that the bars appear to be very solid, the red epoxy coat is exceptional, the bushings are full poly and they came with new “horseshoes” and all new stainless steel hardware [emoji106]

I am definitely hoping for a noticeable improvement on body roll once these suckers are installed. Not “Indy car” for sure but the general opinions that it is a marked improvement over stock (assuming ones enjoys a firmer ride).


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You will certainly notice the reduction in body roll and improved turn-in though how noticeable will depend on condition of front and rear suspension. Doesn't sound like you want to do anything else but spacers to widen the stance are a simple add that compliment the sway bars a little and are not that expensive and most folks like how it looks.

Thanks BCR, front and rear suspension were refreshed fully just under 20k miles ago, I’m hoping with that and the new links, for giggles sake, that will be enough.

That said, what others items are you thinking, I am definitely open to suggestion. Considered adjustable rear arms but for no lower than mine is I wasn’t sure it was necessary.


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Great that suspension has been refreshed.

Wider rims that will handle wider tires is a mod to consider when new tires are needed. If you are patient you can find rims fairly reasonable and it is another mod that has a side benefit of improving the appearance.

Think of a lower center of gravity as sitting in the seat of your X5 verses sitting in the seat but on the roof. Or driving a go cart around a curve verses a semi around the same curve. Dropping it as little as an inch on both ends is helpful. If nothing more it instills more confidence the vehicle will do what you ask of it.

There's lots more you can do but unless you DIY, the labor makes it a poor value equation--expense verses performance improvement.

Heard that - I’m 98% DIY but dropping the front cradle on my garage floor feels a bit daunting, not to mention I have my buddy throwing new motor mounts in too [emoji106]. Actually it’s going in for the motor mounts and while he’s in there the sway bars, bushing and links were a “freebie”.

So far I am running H&R lowering springs up front with their self leveling adjusters in back and sport bags so I’m sitting about an 1.5/1.75” below stock ride height now.

20s are actually in the near forecast, (considering 20x10s) with probably 295/305 in the rear with 265/275 up front (though I am considering squaring it for the ability to rotate), may hold off on the spacers and just put that couple hundred bucks towards the wheels and tires... likely the wisest investment for sure. (I’m planning to hold on to my 18s and Conti DWS 06s as a viable winter swap.)

I did consider coilovers but with my B6s being brand new and the H&Rs just going on with the Bilateins... bags seemed the reasonable solution for the moment... I do like the adjustable upper rear arms but with my little drop I’m guessing I can still come up with a pretty aggressive but balanced alignment.

I’m going to have to dig your thread back up and check that out for sure. Actually priced out a Snow Meth Kit... but that was for my 5.0 liter [emoji16]


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IMO coilovers to improve handling are overkill on the street. A lot of money to spend to have more latitude for lowering. You won't need to go adjustable to get the rear in alignment.

Meth injection has a long return on investment but if you do a tune I would do it anyway. Regardless it would increase mileage and performance marginally, especially when outside temp is high. I would reducing back pressure before a tune or meth. Better exhaust sound and engines like low back pressure.

10s all around would be good. Would have to go with non-directional tires if you want to do more then move front to back. I would go with directional high performance tires so they are not a potential deduct from the handling mods you are doing.

Bars are on, haven’t done any serious driving with it yet aside from bringing it home from the shop but what I can say on forts impression is that the road feel is so much more present, the truck feels considerably more “planted/solid” on the road.

I ran a simple test before I took the truck in, 45mph around my favorite local corner and I measured the deflection of water in my center console, when I have a few minutes I am going to repeat that test and compare my (simple) results.

But - so far so good, I can say that from what little seat time I have that I wouldn’t go back.

Better update to follow, with a bit more seat time [emoji106]


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Results – OK, as un-scientific as it was, this is what I came up with:

I used a 20oz glass that fit my cup holder very snugly so as not to move around physically when I cornered. I filled it with 1 cup of water, 8oz, and then I took my corner at 45 mph and I watched the cup, we’ll, my son did and he said the water went up the side of the cup about an inch ish… scientific, right…

SO… I tested that theory using my 20oz cup and 8oz of water until I had it to where I was a ½” above the water.

What I did was tape heavy art paper (the kind your kids get that is all colors of the rainbow) a ½” above the water line and cornered the truck 3 times (5 total times including my test run into the location, 3 “official” test runs and my departure “validation” run) and measured how far the water went up the paper.

My pre sway bar runs were: (stock sway bars)
Arrival – 9\16”
Test 1 – 5\8”
Test 2 – 9\16”
Test 3 – 7\16” (measurement is assumed – actual was under ½”and not measured on the paper)
Departure – 9\16”

With Eibachs installed:
Arrival – 9\16
Test 1 – 1\2” (paper was just wet)
Test 2 – 1\2” (paper was just wet)
Test 3 – 7/16” (measurement is assumed – actual was under ½”and not measured on the paper)
Departure – 1\2” (paper was just wet)

So I am going to go out on a limb and very un-scientifically say that the Eibachs were good for about 25% improvement in over all body roll reduction and I wouldn’t change a thing – totally glad I spent the money on these as the biggest improvement in my opinion is the road manors, and how the steering wheel feels soooo much more in touch with the road – happy happy! :D