View Full Version : e90/e91 engine strut brace.
longtran
03-12-2006, 01:50 PM
check this out.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b21/motownbmw/BMW%20Lifestyle/51710406937.jpg
abdyel
03-12-2006, 02:14 PM
where did you get that from ?
longtran
03-12-2006, 03:55 PM
where did you get that from ?
there was talk about it being release. i guess they just released it. they have them on ebay. click here (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/E90-E91-Engine-Strut-Brace_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33591QQitemZ80463 36223QQrdZ1)
abdyel
03-12-2006, 03:59 PM
Ok I see kind of expensive though and it looks weak I dont know
Chesmu
03-12-2006, 05:39 PM
does it really add that much chassis stiffness?
does it really add that much chassis stiffness?
Yes! Strut bars really help "tie-up" the top end of the towers. Quicker steering feel usually is a result of adding the front.
Danny
Chesmu
03-12-2006, 07:00 PM
is it worth $200?
is it worth $200?
That one may not be, but a well designed one is worth more than 2bills.
Danny
ChiTown
03-12-2006, 07:42 PM
Yes! Strut bars really help "tie-up" the top end of the towers. Quicker steering feel usually is a result of adding the front.
Danny
Not to doubt your word or anything, :) but is there any real data on this? Maybe on a ricer, but a e90?
I just feel that if adding a simple brace improved the handling that much don't you think BMW would put them on at the factory?
I mean how much could a brace cost to mass produce? $10, $20 ??
Just a thought.
Chesmu
03-12-2006, 07:44 PM
i agree. Or does it compromise soemthing else that buyers would not want to sacrifice? Such as ... Nitrogen. (see any and all threads with N1 in it to get the joke)
Not to doubt your word or anything, :) but is there any real data on this? Maybe on a ricer, but a e90?
I just feel that if adding a simple brace improved the handling that much don't you think BMW would put them on at the factory?
I mean how much could a brace cost to mass produce? $10, $20 ??
Just a thought.
Seems like more than just a thought. My "data" is my experience. If that's not good enough for you, then by all means wait for a spreadsheet. Ricer? You mean my previous cars? Anykind of bracing that tightens up the chassis will improve handling. BMW's are not exempt from this. Improved suspension, rims all are proven to enhance an already great platform.
BMW's are built for the everyday person, some of whom have no need for the added benefit and cost for such an item. Plus anytime you add bars and such, the ride comfort decreases. You alrady have people here who complain that the regular or sport suspension is too "hard" already .
So ChiTown, believe it or not if you want, but you don't have to degrade the discussion with "ricer" talk. You could also add me to your ignore list.
Danny
PittWm
03-12-2006, 10:23 PM
The seller is a BMW dealership, is this part OEM item?
Booster
03-13-2006, 12:10 AM
The seller is a BMW dealership, is this part OEM item?
Yes, they are OEM. I will get you all a price if you're interested..
335e90
03-13-2006, 01:09 AM
That strut tower brace looks like its flimsy, but maybe thats just the photo or my lack of judgement. I'm would want something a little "beefier" in my car.
ksfrogman
03-13-2006, 01:17 AM
Yes, they are OEM. I will get you all a price if you're interested..
What is this part made of? Chrome Moly, Aluminum, Steel?
PittWm
03-13-2006, 01:20 AM
One you attached it, do you need a alignment?
ksfrogman
03-13-2006, 01:46 AM
One you attached it, do you need a alignment?You're just bracing the strut towers, not pulling or pushing out on them.
PittWm
03-13-2006, 02:43 AM
You're just bracing the strut towers, not pulling or pushing out on them.
But once you loosen the strut tower nuts, wouldn't it be off by a little?
But once you loosen the strut tower nuts, wouldn't it be off by a little?
yes, but that doesn't affect alignment.
Danny
ksfrogman
03-13-2006, 02:58 AM
But once you loosen the strut tower nuts, wouldn't it be off by a little?The top of the strut tower assembly is fixed. Now if you had adjustable camber plates, which you don't, then it would affect alignment.
I just looked into the engine compartment and noticed the factory bracing that attaches near the firewall. Have any of you noticed that?
The top of the strut tower assembly is fixed. Now if you had adjustable camber plates, which you don't, then it would affect alignment.
I just looked into the engine compartment and noticed the factory bracing that attaches near the firewall. Have any of you noticed that?
Yea, you could see the ends in the photo above.
Danny
hermanh
03-13-2006, 05:43 AM
I ordered mine (from my dealer) a few weeks ago. I ordered it as I plan to do trackdays (I did nearly 1500 miles on the Nurburgring wtih my previous car) and this is the only strutbrace available that will not void the warrenty. Considering the cornerspeed this car is capable to handle, I don't consider the strutbrace a luxury.
As for the ricey remark, i don't agree. Ok it's not a standard item on the car, but it' s concealed under the bonnet, and what's under the bonnet of my car is nobody's business(that's why I debaged my car). I don't consider it beeing a showoff item.
Booster
03-13-2006, 09:10 AM
Morristown has good prices I must admit.
I can do them for $250 shipped.
Morristown has good prices I must admit.
I can do them for $250 shipped.
Booster, I know better, but I have to ask since you said "them". Are the bars a set? :D I'd really be surprised!
Danny
Booster
03-13-2006, 01:20 PM
It is one bar.... them = the braces themselves
shragon
03-13-2006, 02:31 PM
interesting. i think i'll add it to my list of a possible item to pick up.
there's been a ton of debate on other bmw forums to whether strut bars do anything or not. one important thing is design. what i got out of it is that a well designed strut bar will probably help, but not as much as some people assume it well. a bad design is nothing more than engine jewelry.
since this bar is an item offered by bmw, my thoughts are it should be pretty good. just don't assume your handling will be 10x better than what it already is.
Snowman811
03-13-2006, 05:35 PM
I can only offer my experience in other cars (still waiting for my e90 to finish gettign built). Drove a Jetta GLX and an Upper Strut bar was the first thing I did to it. It was the one from Neuspeed and it made a huge difference in cornering. There are obviously many differences between this '97 Jetta and an '06 BMW 330i, but the concept remains the same.
The stiffer body panels likely help to reduce some body twist. But the tie bar has got to help some. I'm sure this post will fill up with user opinions once we get some folks that have it installed. I'll be one of them.
I'd really like a rear bar that maybe tucks up under the rear parcel shelf (so the fold down seats are still useful). Might have to cut a little bit of the carpet, but I've always wondered how much the rear flexes when you've got fold down seats.
I have to imagine it'd be pretty easy to test out how much a front bar would impact rigidity ... just jack up the car using one of the back jack pads and then look to see how much the front end moves side-to-side relative to where the bar would mount.
My worry is always crash safety; they engineer the crush zones to bleed off energy during an impact. I'm always afraid those bars are messing with the crush zones in the case of an offset collision.
...My worry is always crash safety; they engineer the crush zones to bleed off energy during an impact. I'm always afraid those bars are messing with the crush zones in the case of an offset collision.
If it's offered from the factory, then I believe it's already crash-tested.
Danny
Hmmm...I wonder what the law is regarding that since it's sold as an "accessory" and not part of how the car was delivered. Not sure they'd go through all the trouble and expense to strap a car to a crash mule and run it through the offset crash tests, all for a $300 accessory.
What I'm getting at, is I wonder if they can loop hole things sold for the car after the fact without having to crash certify them the way they do an entire car.
Might also be used as an arguement as to why the bar is really just engine jewelery. If it doesn't really do anything to enhance rigidity, then they don't have to really worry about what it's going to do to the crush zones in a collision.
My conspiracy theory nut case side is coming out ... you can strap any aftermarket part to your car and it doesn't have to be crash test certified in any way right? I wonder if BMW can get around it the same way for this part.
Erk...I better go put on my tin foil hat, I can feel them reading my thoughts now.
I'm pretty sure BMW, or any other auto maker would abide by the crash/safety regulations. Not worth a lawsuit to them, probally from people like you :laugh:
Believe what you want, it's only for show, because if it really helped, it wouldn't pass safety tests...whatever. I'm sure the rear bar that you want works and the front is just for silly people who like eye candy.
Danny
Chesmu
03-14-2006, 01:16 AM
My conspiracy theory nut case side is coming out ... you can strap any aftermarket part to your car and it doesn't have to be crash test certified in any way right? I wonder if BMW can get around it the same way for this part.
Erk...I better go put on my tin foil hat, I can feel them reading my thoughts now.
THIS IS BMW POLICE.
END YOUR DISCUSSION OF NON-CRASH TESTED ACCESSORIES!!!!
NO FURTHER DISCUSSION TOLERATED!
WE CAN READ YOUR MIND......
:bulge:
Now I wonder if those 19" Silver Volk Le37T's have been crashtested on a BMW....
Oh silly me, those probably aren't simply eyecandy, are they..........? ;)
(It seems to me we all have our weakspots, no need for the expression "silly people", right? )
What's silly is you. I don't care if my volks are crash tested, why do you care? :confused2
Danny
Believe what you want, it's only for show, because if it really helped, it wouldn't pass safety tests...whatever. I'm sure the rear bar that you want works and the front is just for silly people who like eye candy.
I wasn't saying it was ... I was bringing other ideas to the table.
hermanh
03-14-2006, 05:50 PM
What's silly is you. I don't care if my volks are crash tested, why do you care? :confused2
Danny
Sorry, I misinterpreted your previous post, my bad :(
I will delete my remark.
tiga901
03-20-2006, 09:29 PM
I just ordered mine for the base price of $198.95 + $27 shipping.
It will not improve on your daily driving but it will certainly be a factor when you do high speed turns. At least from experience. Compared to the $425 CF splitter, this is a way better mod than that.
Also, being a BMW it will not void any warranty nor have any warranty issues later on. Just imagine yourself arguing with them since you put in a ACS brace and you have a problem....but with an OEM part, no arguments.
That my friends is worth the $200 you pay for the OEM BMW part.
tiga901
03-20-2006, 09:34 PM
there was talk about it being release. i guess they just released it. they have them on ebay. click here (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/E90-E91-Engine-Strut-Brace_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33591QQitemZ80463 36223QQrdZ1)
Longtran, thanks for the info. I won this bid at $198.95+$27 shipping.
I will install it next weekend assuming I get it sometime this week.
Longtran, thanks for the info. I won this bid at $198.95+$27 shipping.
I will install it next weekend assuming I get it sometime this week.
:cool!: Please post pics during and after the install! I am very interested!
Danny
tiga901
03-22-2006, 05:13 PM
Will do...
longtran
03-22-2006, 06:32 PM
Longtran, thanks for the info. I won this bid at $198.95+$27 shipping.
I will install it next weekend assuming I get it sometime this week.
cant wait to see it.... :thumsup: i would ge tit too but its not on the priority list... :D
E30M3Driver
03-23-2006, 03:55 AM
Not to doubt your word or anything, :) but is there any real data on this? Maybe on a ricer, but a e90?
I just feel that if adding a simple brace improved the handling that much don't you think BMW would put them on at the factory?
I mean how much could a brace cost to mass produce? $10, $20 ??
Just a thought.
Well BMW does, on the E46 M3. Similiar looking brace. Similar cost. Running change in the 2002 model year. One would think they would not have added it to the cost of the car if they didn't think there was some value. The question is, what is the value?
1. Structural stiffness. On the older cars like my E30 M3 it really stiffens up the front shock towers and helps keep them from bending over time. Doubt this is a real gain in an E90.
2. Handling. The benefit was completely imperceptible on the one I installed in my E46 M3. On my E30 barely noticeable. Bet it is the same on the E90.
My guess is it's more about the bling and the fact that it "has" one. Seems to be the thing on a lot of performance car these days.
EVO_S4
03-25-2006, 05:52 AM
Longtran, thanks for the info. I won this bid at $198.95+$27 shipping.
I will install it next weekend assuming I get it sometime this week.
got the pics install yet
Bubbarossa
05-01-2007, 12:00 AM
Every little piece of suspension part helps, some more than others. What do you expect from a bar going across the engine bay, suddenly the E90 turns into a Ferrari like ride??? C'mon, every pieces helps the OVERALL performance of the E90. It stiffens up the chasis a bit, that's all. Void warranty? No. Crash tested? No. Worth $200? Yep. I think the question is if you're going to make suspension improvements to the car? If you are, then add one to the list with coils, shocks, swarbars, tires, wheels, spacers, etc. It goes with the whole package. If you're going to leave your car stock, spend it elsewhere. I'm slightly surprised by the amount of discussion a strutbar can create!
Take a shoebox, take the lid OFF and and twist the box. Now take the shoebox, put the lid ON and twist it. Notice any difference on how the box is slightly harder to twist? That's what a strut bar does. Nothing significant, but noticeable.
AM335
05-02-2007, 10:22 AM
Has anyone installed this on an E90 335i and not had the dreaded noises described in other threads? Thanks.
stressdoc
05-02-2007, 12:12 PM
Has anyone installed this on an E90 335i and not had the dreaded noises described in other threads? Thanks.
+1 I would like to install both front and rear (shock tower) braces. Thinking that new stuff may be available when parts for the new E90 M3 come online, but the suspension looks significantly different on it, so they may not be compatible.
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