Stock sway bar sizes

I'd like to upgrade the sway bars on my car to go with Eibach lowering springs and sport struts.

I'm curious if I can get some sway bars off ebay from a sport model 3 series E46? There are a lot of them on there and they don't seem to want much as compared to new aftermarket high performance stuff.

I've seen different sizes listed. Which ones should I get? There are even bars on there from e46 M3's. I sure what is on my 328i are the smallest wimpiest ones you can get. It would be a fun project and hopefully the end result would be a better handling car.

Have you tried a search yet? There are some threads with good lists of different size sway bars and which car they came on.

Also, an M3 rear sway bar won't fit a non-M.

Biggest OEM diameter front sway bar for non-M E46 was 24mm, and relying to RealOEM.com was offered on a verity of E46s in conjunction with sports pack or m-sport 2 pack.

I, myself have only seen a 24mm OEM bar on a 330ci cabrio with sport pack.

My car as well as all ZHPs have 23.5mm bar just for your reference.

Fitting an OEM M3 front bar would be a much better idea then trying to find a non-M 24mm bar.

Originally Posted by Blocked Out

Biggest OEM diameter front sway bar for non-M E46 was 24mm, and relying to RealOEM.com was offered on a verity of E46s in conjunction with sports pack or m-sport 2 pack.

I, myself have only seen a 24mm OEM bar on a 330ci cabrio with sport pack.

My car as well as all ZHPs have 23.5mm bar just for your reference.

Fitting an OEM M3 front bar would be a much better idea then trying to find a non-M 24mm bar.

But why anyone would want to increase understeer, I do not know.

Originally Posted by mkodama

But why anyone would want to increase understeer, I do not know.

I dont know that either. Forgot to mention that a front sway bar change should be only in conjunction with a rear bar change.

It just came to my mind that if someone wants to save a few bucks, he can purchase an aftermarket rear bar and an OEM M3 front bar. That will yield savings of around $200 which can be put to use elsewhere.

Originally Posted by xdave

I'd like to upgrade the sway bars on my car to go with Eibach lowering springs and sport struts.

I'm curious if I can get some sway bars off ebay from a sport model 3 series E46? There are a lot of them on there and they don't seem to want much as compared to new aftermarket high performance stuff.

I've seen different sizes listed. Which ones should I get? There are even bars on there from e46 M3's. I sure what is on my 328i are the smallest wimpiest ones you can get. It would be a fun project and hopefully the end result would be a better handling car.

If your 328i has the Sport Package it has the largest of all non-M3 bars. At 24mm front and 19mm rear.
So to answer your question, I would look for some 1999/2000 Sport swaybars and get new bushings.

*these are not absolute across the board. this is a baseline


1999/2000 Standard......Frt 21.5mm...Rr 15mm
1999/2000 Sport...........Frt 24mm......Rr 19mm
2001+ Sport................Frt 23.5mm...Rr 18mm
2001+ Standard...........Frt 23mm......Rr 18mm
Convertible..................Frt 23.5mm...Rr 20mm
M3.............................Frt 26mm......Rr 21.5mm
M3 CSL ......................Frt 30.8mm...Rr 22.5mm

1999/2000 Standard......Frt 21.5mm...Rr 15mm
1999/2000 Sport...........Frt 24mm......Rr 19mm
2001+ Sport................Frt 23.5mm...Rr 18mm
2001+ Standard...........Frt 23mm......Rr 18mm
Convertible..................Frt 23.5mm...Rr 20mm
M3.............................Frt 26mm......Rr 21.5mm
M3 CSL ......................Frt 30.8mm...Rr 22.5mm

Thanks you guys are awesome! That is the info I am looking for. I noticed there are some on ebay listed with the larger size and the correct year of '99-'00. Pretty reasonable prices too.

Originally Posted by Alex323Ci

If your 328i has the Sport Package it has the largest of all non-M3 bars. At 24mm front and 19mm rear.
So to answer your question, I would look for some 1999/2000 Sport swaybars and get new bushings.

*the rear on the convertible is 20mm


1999/2000 Standard......Frt 21.5mm...Rr 15mm
1999/2000 Sport...........Frt 24mm......Rr 19mm
2001+ Sport................Frt 23.5mm...Rr 18mm
2001+ Standard...........Frt 23mm......Rr 18mm
Convertible..................Frt 23.5mm...Rr 20mm
M3.............................Frt 26mm......Rr 21.5mm
M3 CSL ......................Frt 30.8mm...Rr 22.5mm

wow, and here i was thinking the ZHPs had something on my 328i sport.
thanks bro


ive always been of the impression tho, that bigger sways are not a substitute for a better suspension. and if u have suspension, sways arent really worth it if youre gonna track or auto-x it?

wouldnt you guys agree?

Originally Posted by snikwad

wow, and here i was thinking the ZHPs had something on my 328i sport.
thanks bro


ive always been of the impression tho, that bigger sways are not a substitute for a better suspension. and if u have suspension, sways arent really worth it if youre gonna track or auto-x it?

wouldnt you guys agree?

I'd agree. Swaybars in my opinion are good at reducing body sway without excessively stiff springs and also adjusting front to rear grip. I don't push my car hard enough and often enough to even tell the front to rear grip difference.

Originally Posted by Alex323Ci

If your 328i has the Sport Package it has the largest of all non-M3 bars. At 24mm front and 19mm rear.
So to answer your question, I would look for some 1999/2000 Sport swaybars and get new bushings.

*the rear on the convertible is 20mm


1999/2000 Standard......Frt 21.5mm...Rr 15mm
1999/2000 Sport...........Frt 24mm......Rr 19mm
2001+ Sport................Frt 23.5mm...Rr 18mm
2001+ Standard...........Frt 23mm......Rr 18mm
Convertible..................Frt 23.5mm...Rr 20mm
M3.............................Frt 26mm......Rr 21.5mm
M3 CSL ......................Frt 30.8mm...Rr 22.5mm

The front sway on my vert is 24mm, p/n 31351094542

Originally Posted by mtnbound

The front sway on my vert is 24mm, p/n 31351094542

yep,
seems there are a few variables. let me guess your convertible is an early pre 4/01 build 330cic ?


i will make an edit/note these are not absolute across the board.