Hi all,


I've got a JCW with the sport suspension which should put the rear seay bar at a diameter of 18.5mm. If all I'm doing is spirited daily driving and the occasional 1-2 track days a year, would I benefit at all from buying, say, a 19mm Hsport bar?

I know everyone seems to love going to a 22mm RSB, but I reallly don't want to be spinning out on on-ramps or from throttle lift, and I don't plan to track extensively so I don't think a 22mm bar's for me, but I'm just trying to decide if the 19 is worth upgrading to.

Any input would be greatly appreciated and, again, thanks in advance

 

Whiteline makes a 20mm rear bar that very few people run but probably should.

I have an R53, but if i had an R56 I'd run the 20mm rear bar with Koni Yellows, JCW or Swift springs, and IE fixed camber plates. And the powerflex front control arm bushings.

- Andrew

 

Thanks for the suggestion, Andrew!

 

Before I installed my springs I ran just the 19mm Alta rsb on the base suspension and it was very nice. The balance at the limit was good and controllable and that's set to the stiffest setting. So that means I came from a 17mm rsb to 19mm (probably 20.5mm equivalent on full stiff) and I never got so much lift off oversteer that wasn't controllable. It was quite fun.

If I had your setup (and I wish I did) I'd probably be eye balling something around the 21mm ish. It's only when you add springs and don't get a proper alignment when you start running into issues. I'm trying to sort my setup out at the moment and I fear that spending on a rsb maybe a waste.

Hope this helps.

Josh

 

Thanks for the suggestion, Josh!

I just installed the springs 2 weeks ago, so I still have to take it in for an alignment. I guess I'll do that first before adding a RSB, but I kind of wanted to make up my mind of doing it or not now, so that I don't have to bring it in for an alignment again after the RSB install! Decisions, decisions!

 

Oh you won't need to do alignment again after you install the rear swaybar. The toe is adjusted from the trailing arms, which you don't touch with the install and camber isn't adjustable at the rear. Dropping the rear sub frame is actually very straight forward and doesn't mess with the geometry.

I'd go ahead and get the alignment done and consider that part done. Just ask for your toe to be zero'd out front and rear and max camber up front, which will be around-0.7 degrees which isn't very much and get ready for a fun and toss able car.

 

Awesome! I'll go get the alignment done this weekend then!

 

How about a 22 mm hollow bar (similar to 19mm in stiffness, but substantially lighter)
I.E. makes one
http://www.waymotorworks.com/ireland...-sway-bar.html

 

That IE bar has a really stupid design. They force you to use their end-links which don't even look adjustable.

Buy the h-sport product and do it right.

 

I don't think H-sport is the only option. I went with the minimadness 22" bar. Looks like a very good design to me and the price is right too. I haven't installed it yet, but plan to start with the softest setting and dial it from there as needed.

http://www.madnessmotorworks.com/mad...-sway-bar.aspx

 

I need to correct my statment about the rear camber not being adjustable.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...it-on-oem.html

All the more reason to get a alignment by someone who knows how to work on these cars.

 

I suggest just going with the Hsport Comp bar and you can put it on the softest setting if you are afraid. But the Comp bar is the bar we install on 95% of the cars and we put them on the middle setting and in the last 10yrs I think I've put 2 or 3 of them on the softest setting. I've also found that customers that got the 19mm had this wish I would have gone bigger feeling later on.
That is my recommendation.

As for your question will a 19mm make a difference YES. I just wish more of the 19mm bar users would chime in.

 

If you are saying the stock sport bar is 18.5 or so then a 19 will be not worth the time or effort. I have the 25.5 hollow H-Sport Comp bar on the middle setting and have to work to get my clubbie to step out and slide if I want it to. I would get the 22 or 25.5 hollow and put it on the softest if you are looking for more.

 

I have had the 19mm H-Sport rear swaybar for about two years and have got my money's worth out of it on over ten track days. I have always set it on full-stiff. I agree with Way that now that I'm a much better driver and can focus more of all the little details and overall feel of what is happening to the car during transitions and steady turns, the 19mm is on the brink of not making the car rotate enough. I can still hear and feel the front end of the car understeering. I'm going to install the hollow H-sport 25mm this winter while it's in storage.

I have KW V2 coilovers with camber plates and run about -2.5 degree of camber up front and -1.9 in the rear. My tire wear is predominantly even, but still I could use a little more rotation in steady turns. Camber or coilover rebound settings are not my problem.

I think if I was driving on the street all the time the 19mm is a good swaybar. It's a great improvement over the stock swaybar and there is not much throttle lift oversteer that can get some people in trouble. However, for those that want more, the hollow 25mm is the most viable option. Stiff and LIGHT.

 

The problem is it's solid and heavier. The 25mm hollow bar has the same stiffness as the 22mm solid but with a lot less weight. Every little bit of fat loss is worth it on a 4-banger like the MINI.

 

Thanks, countryboyshane.

Any chance you're selling off that 19mm soon, then? :D

 

As a matter of fact... YES! I'm working on my rear suspension this weekend and it should be removed by Saturday and posted on NAM.\

And while you're at it pick up my 4-point harnesses. You're going to need them with all the fun you'll be having with a large rear swaybar.

 

incoming PM, to you!

 

The old one is actually continuously adjustable with their end-links.
They now have a new one shown here with 3 position bar-ends.
http://www.iemotorsport.com/bmw/MINI...swaybar22.html

The H-Sport 25 mm hollow bar is really nice for the next step up in stiffness.

 

Cristo FYI that IE 22mm bar is hollow so it is only as stiff as a solid 19mm bar it is not a true 22mm bar.

 

Go for the whiteline if you have sport or jcw suspension. I.updraded to it from my sport 18.5 and it was a great sensible upgrade if you want neutral or just over neutral. It is a solid bar and on the stiffest can still induce mild lift of oversteer.