1994 e500 rear sway bar upgrade, is it worth it?

[yao500e]

Hello fellow e500e friends,

I have an opportunity to buy a thicker performance e500e rear sway from a group buy a while back. the seller sold his e500e and now is selling this rear sway bar. He says its thicker than the e60 rear sway bar.

Is this upgrade worth it? will the e500 handle much better when combined with stock front sway bar?

thank you

 

[gsxr]

The E60 rear sway bar is identical to stock/standard 500E / E500. The E60 only had a larger front bar.

That said, stock handling is set up for mild understeer. In theory, adding a larger rear bar with stock front bar would make the handling more neutral. Make sure your driving skills can deal with unexpected oversteer.

What's the asking price for the bar, btw? Also, installing the rear bar is a PITA, the subframe has to be partially dropped. And, the aftermarket bar has no "flat" section for the SLS bracket, so dialing in the SLS adjustment afterwards is another real PITA.

 

[maw1124]

I've installed beefier sway bars on other cars about this size, and while the difference "is there", on regular street driving it almost never appears. On a track or during more aggressive maneuvering is where you're more likely to notice it, IMO. The rear end of the car snaps through the turn maneuver a bit more quickly.

maw

 

[gsxr]

Agreed - for normal street driving, there's no difference. You'll notice it if you push hard on the street though, I'm talking about hard enough to be near traction limits of good performance tire compounds. And it's definitely something you'll feel at the track.

 

[Stevester 500E]

So the years back rear sway bar group buy was a negligible difference ..and possibly not worth the effort???

 

[nocfn]

improves the legend in your own mind mental and posterior dyno.

 

[gsxr]

So the years back rear sway bar group buy was a negligible difference ..and possibly not worth the effort???

Totally depends on your usage / driving style. As a weekend cruiser that never gets pushed in twisties... don't bother with a rear bar upgrade. It's also notable that AMG, RENNtech, and other tuners never offered a larger rear bar... only a larger front bar.

For you Ken Block types, it's absolutely recommended (both front AND rear).

 

[jhodg5ck]

if you like driving Quickly, totally worth it IMHO. I've put bars on a lot of cars, including most of my own. Will continue to do so for what ever that is worth;-)

 

[northNH]

With that said…

My E420 definitely benefited from upgrade from stock @ 26/16.5 to Sportline/500 @ 28/18…
And my coupe also benefited from change to 28.5/18.
I think a bit more would be even better on the street…