Strut Bar (E88 Specific)

[135Pats]

Originally Posted by BrokenVert

Hey Pats, sorry for the thread revive. Im wondering if you made a decision on a strut brace.

I finally pulled the trigger on a real suspension and I want to be able to access the adjustments. Looking for some input from another vert owner.

Thanks man!

I pussed out and went with the active autowerke piece. Got it used for a price that I couldn't turn down in good faith...About 1/4 of what the Mason one is currently retailing for. This car has become a 100% highway roll toy, so absolute rigidity is not necessary for me.

Car's been off the road waiting for blacked out headlights for nearly a month now, so I don't have any substantive driving impressions yet. I'm not expecting anything radical but it seems to be fairly well designed and I know it fits without issue.

It probably comes down to how serious you want the suspension to be. For my car i'm fairly happy with how it handles now a days. A bit of push into corners and it's probably softer than it could be, but all in all it's competent and superior to OE. So i'm cool with it

[BrokenVert]

Originally Posted by 135Pats

I pussed out and went with the active autowerke piece. Got it used for a price that I couldn't turn down in good faith...About 1/4 of what the Mason one is currently retailing for. This car has become a 100% highway roll toy, so absolute rigidity is not necessary for me.

Car's been off the road waiting for blacked out headlights for nearly a month now, so I don't have any substantive driving impressions yet. I'm not expecting anything radical but it seems to be fairly well designed and I know it fits without issue.

It probably comes down to how serious you want the suspension to be. For my car i'm fairly happy with how it handles now a days. A bit of push into corners and it's probably softer than it could be, but all in all it's competent and superior to OE. So i'm cool with it

Thanks for the reply. I'm in a similar boat as you were. Mason Engineering piece looks awesome, but in stock form its under $100 less than a Dinan carbon brace. I really don't see the point in dropping $600 on parts that should be (and were) in the $400 range.

Ohh well. Guess I'll wait for one to go on sale.

[dbronnik]

Originally Posted by BrokenVert

Thanks for the reply. I'm in a similar boat as you were. Mason Engineering piece looks awesome, but in stock form its under $100 less than a Dinan carbon brace. I really don't see the point in dropping $600 on parts that should be (and were) in the $400 range.

Ohh well. Guess I'll wait for one to go on sale.

So it's been on for a few days (and 500+ miles including an autocross event) and can't say I have any complaints -- the front end feels much better than with the 1m strut bar I was running prior. Is it worth the extra 200$ over the other bars in the 400$ segment? Can't say for sure. I certainly don't regret my decision though.

Two (small) things to note:

• Fitment was NOT perfect. My strut tower bolts are both as far inwards (negative camber side) in the slots as they can go -- this caused some issues with the fitment. I had to find a shop to machine the holes on the bar a tiny bit wider for the bar to fit right. I would have expected perfect fitment for how much I paid for it.. Oh well
• Significantly less interior creaking/squeaking after having installed it. I hated how much creaking there was in my car -- this alone was worth the money for me.

[tree233]

This is sounding good! Definitely looks like the best strut brace to prevent the towers mushrooming or moving with stiff suspension or solid bushings.

Originally Posted by dbronnik

the front end feels much better than with the 1m strut bar I was running prior.

Which engine do you have?
Are you able to open your oil cap without removing the strut brace?

And any reason you went with the steel over the alloy?

[135ivert]

Originally Posted by tree233

This is sounding good! Definitely looks like the best strut brace to prevent the towers mushrooming or moving with stiff suspension or solid bushings.



Which engine do you have?
Are you able to open your oil cap without removing the strut brace?

And any reason you went with the steel over the alloy?

You're able to change your oil without removing it. I was also able to remove & reinstall my dual-cone intakes with it in-place. I had the same problem with fitment being a bit off. It made it much harder to install.

[dbronnik]

Originally Posted by tree233

This is sounding good! Definitely looks like the best strut brace to prevent the towers mushrooming or moving with stiff suspension or solid bushings.



Which engine do you have?
Are you able to open your oil cap without removing the strut brace?

And any reason you went with the steel over the alloy?

N54

Yes, you can even remove the engine cover if you don't mind scratching it up and behind it a bit (though I don't recommend it)

Wanted strongest bar to try to make up for the vert chassis -- doesn't work too much against me for the added weight since I can only remove so much weight before jumping up a class in autox.

[ornicar]

Originally Posted by andrey_gta

Time to add more to this
Real oem showed me that e92 have an extra braces:
51617183043
51617183044


These braces look like 1/4 of the convertible e93 /e88 /z4 braces( Specific to engine clearance lower into the engibe. So check first)
51617265285
51617258314


Since the convertible braces need a sub frame swap or a small custom mount, these are the next best thing. They attach from fender/strut area to the Crumple arms, they may need a bolt: 07119905147 and nut for the lower end 07119904670
The Driver side/Left may need a bolt in the bottom instead of a nut, my e82 doest have it...



EDIT:
Appears there is a bracket for the sub frame available for the early e93 that allows mounting of the V brace !!!!!
51617135640


One has to use 2007 spec V rod braces - engine specific, pls check
51617135647
51617135648

V long body
51617135653
51617135654


Bolts ( not sure of quantities, pronb 2 each
07149140997
07119906199
07119905502

Lock plate - not sure of use ?
33326760364


LCI e93 /135i e88 front subfraame what it lookslike:

"Appears there is a bracket for the sub frame available for the early e93 that allows mounting of the V brace !!!!!
51617135640"

hi,

can you please confirm that this part 51617135640 fit e82 subframe?

Did you finally fit all the e88 reinforcements parts? Did you feel some increase in stiffness?

Any improvements or maybe deteriorations in NVH?

Thanks

[ornicar]

Originally Posted by 135Pats

The rear braces mount identically, they "slide in" one mounting point and bolt in quite simply to the other mounting point.

With the way OEs share parts to the greatest extent possible, i'd wager the 82 retains those mounting points even though it lacks the braces of the 'vert.

Investigate!

I know this is an old thread but for information these mounting points are not in place on the E82 chassis. i have checked today.

[dfgtye]

I have a 2008 convertible. It has flat metal bars in the back. Running from each side to a point in the rear. Are these rear strut bars