Project E46 M3: Part 4 – Improved handling, acceleration, braking and looks

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UUC Swaybarbarians feature tubular 4130 chromoly construction with precision water-jet cut ends. The optional center-adjust end links offer rear bar adjustment for added stiffness, without requiring removal of the bar or end link.

The front bar is 29mm thick and is 2-lb lighter than the stock 27mm bar. It’s an easy, straightforward installment, but can take around 45 minutes because you have to remove the factory under panels. Ours, however, were still off from the VAC/Fabspeed headers test we conducted in Part 3.

The rear bar was surprisingly easy to install–at least considerably easier than what I recall an E36 rear bar installtion to be.  At 26mm—4mm thicker than stock—this UUC bar is 1.6-lb heavier than the stock bar, but that also includes the end links.

So, at a half-pound loss altogether, the front and rear bars are almost a wash in terms of weight when compared to stock.  In my mind, it just cancels out the studs’ and wheel spacers’ weight addition in the rear. Wow, I’m really starting to geek out..

“Um, sweetie? Must you really bring that heavy purse if I’m the one paying?”
“Yes…yes…I know it matches your bootlaces but can you switch those out for some lightweight pumps too, please?”

When installed, simply make sure to set the height of the end links so that the silver swaybar is equidistant from the control arms sandwiching it. This will avoid any noisy contact (and embarrassing looks from your passenger).

While the front UUC bar didn't have any adjustments, the rear bar is 2-way adjustable.  We connected the end links to the “stiff” setting (the inner-most hole) to try and dial out some understeer and neutralize the car.  Considering the staggered setup and how much grip a 275mm BFG Rival rear tire provides all together, this combo felt right to test, and it was.  The car feels fantastic around turns, and it will still plow a four-wheel slide when the tires' grip limits are exceeded.  However, it will also respond quickly–yet without drama–to a moderate breathe off the throttle to get you back in line.

See? We weren't kidding.  This car can GRIP on the otherwise stock suspension and street tires!  And this was at 65mph (I wonder how many G's we can pull in a 4th gear turn?).