WTB: 318ti Sport sway bars / stabilizer bars

[Dinoti]

Hey, all.

I am hoping to find a set, front and rear, of sway bars from a 318ti Sport, 26mm front, 16mm rear. Anybody?

-Dino

[marko]

club sport or sport?

[Dinoti]

Clubsport is a package that was only available in '95, and featured the exact same suspension as the Sport models from other years. Or, M Sport, on some lists. All the same:

Front: 26mm
Rear: 16mm

[L84THSKY]

I have the rear bar.

Originally Posted by Dinoti

Hey, all.

I am hoping to find a set, front and rear, of sway bars from a 318ti Sport, 26mm front, 16mm rear. Anybody?

-Dino

[Dinoti]

Originally Posted by L84THSKY

I have the rear bar.

Aha! Why not the front, too? How much would you want for it?

[marko]

I got both of them, from my 99 sport... changed to H&R.
Make me an offer if you want them...

Also, for some reason I thought that the Club Sport had thicker bars than the non-Club Sport model.

[L84THSKY]

I am using the front. The rear was replaced with an H&R MZ3 model.

Originally Posted by Dinoti

Aha! Why not the front, too? How much would you want for it?

[Dinoti]

Originally Posted by marko

Also, for some reason I thought that the Club Sport had thicker bars than the non-Club Sport model.

As far as anything I have ever read – correct me if I am wrong, someone – the only difference between Clubsport and later Sport models is the build quantities and date (10/95 only) and some trim items (M3 mirrors and interior fabrics). The engine was the popular M42, which is chip-upgradable OBD 1. It was a hit in the auto press, so BMW stuck with the mods, except those that were foofy and needlessly expensive for a larger-production model, like the mirrors and fabric.

Later Sport models had the M44 engine, which is OBD 2, and thus less popular with tuners. The M44 is the better engine in some ways, though, and the car is otherwise identical in every regard to the limited-production Clubsport ...including the suspension.

What I am thinking of doing is putting the 26mm and 16mm stabilizer bars into my non-Sport, Active model to reduce body lean in the corners without making the ride less comfy. It isn't worth a whole lot to me, since the car is getting old and will probably be retired not too far in the future. I have lined up a handful of parts sellers that claim to have them in stock, and I'm looking for the best deal. Can I Private Message you with an offer?

[marko]

yes you can.. no problem.

however, I do think that the club sport models had thicker bars - in fact I'm almost positive... you should look into it.

I'm afraid you'll be getting from me the same old bars you may already have.

Also, you should look into the price of H&R bars (Turner Motorsport) - they are not that much money & the feel is much better than with stock bars.

Originally Posted by Dinoti

What I am thinking of doing is putting the 26mm and 16mm stabilizer bars into my non-Sport, Active model to reduce body lean in the corners without making the ride less comfy. It isn't worth a whole lot to me, since the car is getting old and will probably be retired not too far in the future. I have lined up a handful of parts sellers that claim to have them in stock, and I'm looking for the best deal. Can I Private Message you with an offer?

[Dinoti]

Originally Posted by marko

yes you can.. no problem.

however, I do think that the club sport models had thicker bars - in fact I'm almost positive... you should look into it.

I'm afraid you'll be getting from me the same old bars you may already have.

Also, you should look into the price of H&R bars (Turner Motorsport) - they are not that much money & the feel is much better than with stock bars.

I have looked into it, actually, since your first posting. Each time I find reference to the Clubsport, it mentions the limited production - only about 300 in October of 1995 - and the fact that the fabrics and mirrors, 225 width tires (too wide, anyway) and LSD were discontinued in favor of ASC+T as an option, but the suspension - M Sport - was retained in all Sport Package 318tis. Also, RealOEM.com lists no other stabilizer bars for any month of production, ever.

I think the fact that it had LSD, a cool interior, and was "discontinued" after '95 for an OBD II model gives it caché, even though it doesn't do anything that later Sport models can't do, at least those with the optional ASC+T.

In any case, I am looking only for the 26mm front, 16mm rear M Sport bars, part numbers 31351091308 and 33551090317 from any Sport model. If you have those, I would be interested if the price is right. I will PM you my offer.

Plus, I am very jealous that you have a '99!!! How many miles? My '96 Active has over 186k, and things are beginning to wear out. Oh, well. That's why I don't want to spend a fortune....

[RidingSimple]

Sport/Active have the same bars.
Non sport is 25/14 IIRC

[Dinoti]

Originally Posted by RidingSimple

Sport/Active have the same bars.
Non sport is 25/14 IIRC

Actually, only Clubsport and Sport models had the 26/16. Active had the 25/14, non-Sport bars, which is why I am interested in the Sport bars.

[spidertri]

Originally Posted by Dinoti

Actually, only Clubsport and Sport models had the 26/16. Active had the 25/14, non-Sport bars, which is why I am interested in the Sport bars.

This seems to be correct based on looking up parts on RealOEM.