1M strut tower brace on a 135i

[3002 tii]

Originally Posted by JSavela

Not sure how I forgot to include these. Thanks for pointing it out. I've updated the original post. I'm sorry if anyone ordered up everything without the plastic caps.



Nothing had to be modified. It was a direct replacement.



It's an M8, probably 1.25 pitch. You can remove one of your 6 stock strut mount nuts to double check.

Thanks, I reread your original post... yea that's tough. I didn't realize at first you were referring to the hex nuts that go over the strut tower. I don't even know how to describe that type of nut, it's M8 hex nut but with a threaded 'stem' on the other end lol. I checked Fastenal and couldn't find anything so I doubt anyone else carries this.


For anyone else thinking about ordering this kit from ECS, I'll add 2 minor notes. One, the incremental cost to add 7 quarts of Official BMW 5w-30 motor oil was was $2 in s/h charges so it might be a good time to buy oil. Their charge only $6.82 per bottle.

Two, OP noted that you don't need to buy part p/n 31316769731 (x4) since you can reuse 4 of the 6 you are replacing by the strut tower. With that said, if you wanted black hardware to match your bar, Fastenal sells these quite cheap at $0.50/ea, although shipping ruins the deal. If anyone wants, I can buy a bulk order of these black M8 hex nuts and can ship them out to you via snail mail for the cost of hardware + postage + paypal fees. Just let me know, plan to put my order in by end of week. You would need 4 of these.

http://www.fastenal.com/web/products/details/11508216

[JSavela]

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

Hmm, going to be installing the Dinan fixed upper mounts, hope they will work with this.

This will work with the dinan fixed plates. All of the additional camber from the plates occurs on the underside of the strut tower. The top side, where the strut brace mounts, remains unchanged.

[MightyMouseTech]

Originally Posted by JSavela

This will work with the dinan fixed plates. All of the additional camber from the plates occurs on the underside of the strut tower. The top side, where the strut brace mounts, remains unchanged.

Perfect. Thanks!

[3002 tii]

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

Perfect. Thanks!

The Dinan plates (or any camber plate for that matter) plus the strut tower brace will reinforce the strut towers which are known to cave/crack/mushroom on older BMW's so this is another reason to buy these parts.

Thanks again OP, I just put my order through with ECS. My ETA looks similar to yours, expected ship date is May 6th.

[vivanapoli806]

For you guys piecing this together just order through a vendor on here that works at bmw. U won't have to wait at all. I talked to Phil@reeves and gave me great quote

[Boosted_N54]

is there any difference in handling? is it bigger size?

[Sixle]

Originally Posted by Da _Grk_Tuner

is there any difference in handling? is it bigger size?

negligible, but open up top strut towers for easy rebound/compression adjustment for car with adjustable damping. a brace going from tower to tower would be more effective for rigidity than this

[Venom]

Thanks for posting! Would save me a lot of time to get these. Definitely going to nab this in the near future!

[TheBreeze]

Originally Posted by 3002 tii

Two, OP noted that you don't need to buy part p/n 31316769731 (x4) since you can reuse 4 of the 6 you are replacing by the strut tower. With that said, if you wanted black hardware to match your bar, Fastenal sells these quite cheap at $0.50/ea, although shipping ruins the deal. If anyone wants, I can buy a bulk order of these black M8 hex nuts and can ship them out to you via snail mail for the cost of hardware + postage + paypal fees. Just let me know, plan to put my order in by end of week. You would need 4 of these.

http://www.fastenal.com/web/products/details/11508216

Did you end up purchasing the black nuts? I'm in for 4 if you ordered them.

[3002 tii]

Originally Posted by TheBreeze

Did you end up purchasing the black nuts? I'm in for 4 if you ordered them.

Not yet, still leaving this out there for now since I know the install can be done with the existing nuts. But I check back in a few days and tally up the final count =)

[3002 tii]

After waiting 2 months for the parts to arrive I just got around to installing this, the only minor issue I had was when tightening the passenger side brace over then strut, the arm was hitting an electrical cable. Upon tightening one of the nuts I actually saw a blue spark so I immediately stopped. Adding 2 washers over the inner most strut hole closest gave me enough clearance but then I had difficulty tightening down the main plastic cowl because the nuts overt the brace were touching. Not sure if that was exacerbated by the washers or not but no big deal.

2 washers over strut tower gave enough clearance:



Bar installed before putting the plastic trim back on:

[jafo1701]

I just did mine today. Everything went smoothly except I broke a clip on the cabin filter housing. Non essential, I'll
Probably replace it down the road though.

[3002 tii]

Originally Posted by jafo1701

I just did mine today. Everything went smoothly except I broke a clip on the cabin filter housing. Non essential, I'll
Probably replace it down the road though.

Interesting you didn't encounter the issue I had where the right side brace was pushing down on that cable

[jafo1701]

Originally Posted by 3002 tii

Interesting you didn't encounter the issue I had where the right side brace was pushing down on that cable

I never really noticed it. I'll take a another look in the morning see if it's touching it. Shouldn't the cable be insulated anyways? I wouldn't think they would leave a cable that would be conductive to metal parts exposed in the engine bay.

[3002 tii]

Originally Posted by jafo1701

I never really noticed it. I'll take a another look in the morning see if it's touching it. Shouldn't the cable be insulated anyways? I wouldn't think they would leave a cable that would be conductive to metal parts exposed in the engine bay.

It is insulated but nonetheless when I began tightening the strut nuts, I heard some crackle and then a blue spark appear from that harness. Didn't want to chance it.

[jafo1701]

Originally Posted by 3002 tii

It is insulated but nonetheless when I began tightening the strut nuts, I heard some crackle and then a blue spark appear from that harness. Didn't want to chance it.

I doubled check this morning everything cleared fine. No problems....maybe it was a static electricity discharge.

[3002 tii]

Originally Posted by jafo1701

I doubled check this morning everything cleared fine. No problems....maybe it was a static electricity discharge.

Maybe but I know for sure without the washers it was definitely pressing down on the cable

[Southjersey128]

Thanks for posting. I have the stock setup with the BMW Performance strut bar, which I don't think really does anything as far as stability. Id swap that for something like this that actually does something for the car. I had to make a special tool to adjust the rebound adjustment on the top of my Koni's, it works but its a pain in the ass.

[wham]

Hi, I ordered these parts a week ago from Germany.
They have arrived today. (so quick!)



In my case, It seems that the top of bolt (connect "Mounting Ring" to "Strut Bar" ) interferes against "Microfilter Cover" a little.



In order to make cleaner install I had to cut the top bolt - this modification make the whole install more aesthetically looking.








In general - this is great low cost modification to my car.
Thank you for posting!

[JSavela]

Awesome! I'm glad this is working out well for everyone! Thanks for everyone else's input on their personal experience.

[3002 tii]

Originally Posted by wham

Hi, I ordered these parts a week ago from Germany.
They have arrived today. (so quick!)



In my case, It seems that the top of bolt (connect "Mounting Ring" to "Strut Bar" ) interferes against "Microfilter Cover" a little.



In order to make cleaner install I had to cut the top bolt - this modification make the whole install more aesthetically looking.


In general - this is great low cost modification to my car.
Thank you for posting!

I had the same problem of the bolt rubbing against trim but I forced the trim down lol. I just figured it rubbed because I added a spacer over my strut tower.

[MightyMouseTech]

Hmm, is the trim on the 1M different so it does not do this?