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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > E90 / E92 / E93 3-series Technical Forums > Suspension | Brakes | Chassis > Front sway bar is a good upgrade?



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      03-10-2025, 08:30 PM   #1
Gorillajin
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Front sway bar is a good upgrade?

Hello

I have 2010 328i, and I heard M3 front sway bar will make the car goes corners better. Any thoughts on this? or advice on it?
I do not need to upgrade the rear sway bar?

Thank you.
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      03-12-2025, 10:43 PM   #2
thatbrandonn
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I’m honestly wondering the same thing. I’m about to change my suspension and wondering if it’s worth it to get new sway bar + links
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      03-13-2025, 12:02 AM   #3
whyzee125
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The M3 front bar makes it significantly flatter in corners. Keep in mind if this is your only mod it will introduce more understeer so it's best paired with some additional front camber.
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      03-24-2025, 11:56 AM   #4
The Nightman
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From my personal experience, I would only recommend an upgraded aftermarket front sway bar if you do mostly highway driving or mountain roads. I feel that the M3 front bar set up is the Goldilocks bar for street cars:

Stock front sway bar:
+ good NVH
+ vehicle felt balanced, nimble
- excess body roll

Whiteline 27mm front sway bar:
+ significantly reduced body roll
+ front end felt solid and planted
+ steering response sharpened
- car felt unbalanced
- front felt heavy, prone to understeer, less nimble
- increase in NVH, especially over uneven bumps

E90/E92 M3 front sway bar:
+ perfect compromise of performance, vehicle balance, NVH
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      04-30-2025, 11:06 AM   #5
Bcastle
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Any idea how long sway bar bushings actually last? How often do they go bad?
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      04-30-2025, 01:16 PM   #6
whyzee125
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bcastle View Post
Any idea how long sway bar bushings actually last? How often do they go bad?
Unless you torque them wrong or have a ton of preload, they seem to last a long time. None of my e90s at any mileage have ever needed them replaced. With enough age obviously all rubber will degrade but these are not a problem point on these cars.
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      04-30-2025, 02:33 PM   #7
Bcastle
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I’ve been wondering if it really is necessary to replace the control arms as well. I know it’s recommended after so many miles but I don’t really see the point since they are made of pretty solid metal and unless you’re abusing your suspension, I would think that’s really not necessary.

I was looking at my bearings the other day and they are leaking oil though so I am assuming I should replace those. I’m not sure that I am as fine-Tuned a driver as others on this form So I’m not sure that I can A difference in drivability comparing the oil filled versus the solid.
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      04-30-2025, 07:58 PM   #8
335i54n
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its rough roads and pot hole u feel the difference. lower arms dont fail (or as noticeable when failed) as often as tension arms but with m3 solid tension arms it basically last the life of the car for most people, so worth the upgrade and nvh imo.
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