Hotchkis M3 Front Sway Bar NLA?

[BigRussia]

Been shopping for the M3 specific Hotchkis Hollow 30mm Front Sway Bar online and basically every site has it showing on backorder or not available. And on Hotchkis own site they only have the base non-M E46 front bar showing (pn#22825) and not the M3 specific 30mm anymore (pn#22826). I emailed a few of the online sites including BW and none of them had it in stock and they all figured either Hotchkis stopped making them or will have to wait 6-8 weeks from one vendor’s guess or up to 90 days from another vendor to get it. But again none of the them knew for sure, and a few said they hadn't gotten notice from Hotchkis if was truly discontinued or just they don’t make old chassis stuff unless directly ordered.

Anyway does any one know if Hotchkis stopped making the hollow M3 front bar or anywhere that has in stock I can buy new? Looking to shave a few lbs off the cars front end.

[zivagolee]

Saw this post a month ago, might be related to what you are seeing:

[9kracing]

I ordered mine about a year ago, and it took Hotchkis about 3 months to get them to me, but I did eventually get them.

However that being said, I just did a quick search, and it does appear to be discontinued, Summit is usually on top of that stuff.

Sorry man. Glad I got mine when I did, they're the best bars for our car IMO.

[BigRussia]

Damn, that post from them is some bummer news.

9kracing yeah Summit was one of the sites i checked as well and yup NLA there. Do you remember which site you bought from? Though i guess it doesn’t matter since seems all of them come direct from Hotchkis rather than any place having them in stock :/

I wonder if theyll take any more orders or if just shutting it all down, the post is kinda cryptic though them saying reorganizing gives me hope its not shuttering. Still weird they dont have the M3 bar on their site..

[9kracing]

I got mine from CSPRacing

[e46IX]

Why wouldn't the non-M front bar work? All E46 rwd front sway bars are interchangeable.

[PetrolM3]

Why wouldn't the non-M front bar work? All E46 rwd front sway bars are interchangeable.

Incorrect. M3 has different geometry for the sway bar link connections and using non-M part would result in binding. I've tried using an M3 bar on non-M and it kept eating through swap bar links on a monthly basis. Even tried the more rugged hotchkis front sway bar links and they were destroyed just as fast. Ended up getting the correct part and issue is now gone.

[bigjae46]

Will a non-M bar fit an M? I'd be curious. I'm running the OE bar now. I've been wanting to try less front bar.

[PetrolM3]

Will a non-M bar fit an M? I'd be curious. I'm running the OE bar now. I've been wanting to try less front bar.

See my post above. It will bind and eat through the links very fast.

[stephen]

Interesting. I’ve been running an M3 front bar on my non-M with no issues.

[PetrolM3]

Interesting. I’ve been running an M3 front bar on my non-M with no issues.

How long? What springs and struts? I was using b4 and H&R sport springs and as mentioned, I went through multiple sets of links in no time before I got a non-M bar. No issues since…

maybe stock height would help avoid the binding, not sure..

[stephen]

How long? What springs and struts? I was using b4 and H&R sport springs and as mentioned, I went through multiple sets of links in no time before I got a non-M bar. No issues since…

maybe stock height would help avoid the binding, not sure..

About 6 months and ~10k miles. B4 struts, E90 x-drive strut mounts, Dinan fixed camber plates and factory sport springs.

[jonnyslasher]

This is sad .... I was literally about to order one! What's next best after Hotchkis?

[WestBankM4]

I don't think there's another company that makes a hollow bar in that size, majority are solid.

[Gt4]

I don't think there's another company that makes a hollow bar in that size, majority are solid.

Ground Control?