Hotchkis vs turner sway bar

[Projecte46m3]

A swaybar is not going to fix the issues that you're experiencing. If anything, an aftermarket swaybar will introduce more issues until your main issue is diagnosed and resolved.

Can you share your alignment specs/details? Want to see camber, toe, and caster settings.

When did this issue begin? After you installed the BC coilovers? I believe the BC coilovers are adjustable. Have you adjusted them properly so front and rear have the same respective rebound/compression settings? Is preload removed from the swaybar on the front and rear?

[Dat.E46M3]

I think it's also worth noting that the Hotchkis sway bars are not really available at the moment for the e46 m3. There is a manufacturing issue where they stopped producing the bar so they are pretty hard to come by unless maybe you find them used.

I would go Hotchkis over Turner simply due to weight factor. Both bars are similar in thickness and adjustability.

Also as many said, look at replacing bushings first then potentially the coilovers. I have the KW V2's on my e46 m3 vert and honestly not a fan. I would consider Bilstein PSS-10's for a more compliant car on the street that does not give up ride quality.

I was searching everywhere, And found 7 in stock on their website. The price was high, and the shipping cost was $130.
It was almost $900 all together.
I was going to buy the turner ones… much cheaper, and free shipping. Now I’m going to wait. I’m going to install the bushings and see if gets better.

[Dat.E46M3]

How is it losing stability? Is the car bouncing like crazy? Could be your alignment settings or something is loose in your suspension.

It’s not bouncing at all… it’s like something is off and it pulls the car off like is about to loose control…. Couple times scared me… weird, hard to explain, scary. Everything is tight nothing is bent tire pressure all for tires at 35 psi

[Dat.E46M3]

154k miles, bushings have never been replaced, it's definitely time to do all of that. If the front end is loose feeling, it could be tramlining from negative camber, or more likely a worn front suspension component.

If the rear end gets loose and wanders around at speed, that could very likely be rear trailing arm bushings. Badly worn RTABs can create a very uneasy feeling at high speed cornering. It could be low tire pressures but I would honestly just do all the bushings.

It's a sucky job, time consuming and therefore expensive if you can't DIY it, at least partially. If you have a place to work on the car, I would remove everything from the car and bring it to a shop and have them remove and press in all the new bushings/bearings, and put it all back onto the car yourself. You can do it all yourself if you want to get the tool, and if you really value a few hours of self loathing over paying a shop like $500.

Thank you. Bushings will be replaced! If it doesn’t change anything I’ll move up to the suspension.

[Dat.E46M3]

A swaybar is not going to fix the issues that you're experiencing. If anything, an aftermarket swaybar will introduce more issues until your main issue is diagnosed and resolved.

Can you share your alignment specs/details? Want to see camber, toe, and caster settings.

When did this issue begin? After you installed the BC coilovers? I believe the BC coilovers are adjustable. Have you adjusted them properly so front and rear have the same respective rebound/compression settings? Is preload removed from the swaybar on the front and rear?

I don’t have the the Alignment specs anymore, and I also don’t remember the specs. It was beginning of last summer when I did that. I will for sure, realign everything after I change the bushings. I have the BC coil overs for about four years. Around 4K miles on it. Yes the shop that installed them is very known around here. I don’t think the preload was ever touched

[EthanolTurbo]

I think it's also worth noting that the Hotchkis sway bars are not really available at the moment for the e46 m3. There is a manufacturing issue where they stopped producing the bar so they are pretty hard to come by unless maybe you find them used.

I would go Hotchkis over Turner simply due to weight factor. Both bars are similar in thickness and adjustability.

Also as many said, look at replacing bushings first then potentially the coilovers. I have the KW V2's on my e46 m3 vert and honestly not a fan. I would consider Bilstein PSS-10's for a more compliant car on the street that does not give up ride quality.

I have one brand new in the box for sale here on the forums 😇

[ZHLPR]

Thank you. Bushings will be replaced! If it doesn’t change anything I’ll move up to the suspension.

While in there make sure to reinforce the subframe if you haven't already.

https://www.redish-motorsport.com/RedishMotorsportE46RearSubframeReinforcementPlateKit.html

https://cmpautoengineering.com/collections/bmw-e46/products/e46-subframe-racp-reinforcement-plate-kit

[Dat.E46M3]

While in there make sure to reinforce the subframe if you haven't already.

https://www.redish-motorsport.com/RedishMotorsportE46RearSubframeReinforcementPlateKit.html

https://cmpautoengineering.com/colle...ment-plate-kit

Big 3 has been done