e90/e91 engine strut brace.

Booster · 03-13-2006, 07:10 AM

Morristown has good prices I must admit.

I can do them for $250 shipped.

HRC · 03-13-2006, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Booster

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?

I'd really be surprised!

Danny

Booster · 03-13-2006, 11:20 AM

It is one bar.... them = the braces themselves

shragon · 03-13-2006, 12:31 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, 03:35 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.

obLu · 03-13-2006, 06:35 PM

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.

HRC · 03-13-2006, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by obLu

...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

obLu · 03-13-2006, 06:51 PM

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.

HRC · 03-13-2006, 07:24 PM

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

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 · 03-13-2006, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by obLu

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......

HRC · 03-14-2006, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hermanh

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?

Danny

obLu · 03-14-2006, 10:30 AM

Quote:

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, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HRC

What's silly is you. I don't care if my volks are crash tested, why do you care?

Danny

Sorry, I misinterpreted your previous post, my bad

I will delete my remark.

tiga901 · 03-20-2006, 07:29 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, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by longtran

there was talk about it being release. i guess they just released it. they have them on ebay. click here

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.

HRC · 03-22-2006, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tiga901

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.

Please post pics during and after the install! I am very interested!

Danny

tiga901 · 03-22-2006, 03:13 PM

Will do...

longtran · 03-22-2006, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tiga901

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....

i would ge tit too but its not on the priority list...

E30M3Driver · 03-23-2006, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiTown

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, 03:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tiga901

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 · 04-30-2007, 10:00 PM

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, 08:22 AM

Has anyone installed this on an E90 335i and not had the dreaded noises described in other threads? Thanks.

03-13-2006, 07:10 AM	#23
Booster Pave The Rainforest 269 Rep 1,197 Posts Drives: Wagon Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Norfolk, VA iTrader: (33) Garage List 2007 335i Coupe [0.00]	Morristown has good prices I must admit. I can do them for $250 shipped. __________________ Sold: 2015 Pyrite Brown M3 Sold: 2020 Sunset Orange M340i Xdrive Sold: 2021 Bluestone 540i Xdrive Msport
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03-13-2006, 11:20 AM	#25
Booster Pave The Rainforest 269 Rep 1,197 Posts Drives: Wagon Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Norfolk, VA iTrader: (33) Garage List 2007 335i Coupe [0.00]	It is one bar.... them = the braces themselves __________________ Sold: 2015 Pyrite Brown M3 Sold: 2020 Sunset Orange M340i Xdrive Sold: 2021 Bluestone 540i Xdrive Msport
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03-13-2006, 12:31 PM	#26
shragon Moderator 497 Rep 27,441 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (7)	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. __________________ www.cardomain.com/id/shragon
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03-13-2006, 03:35 PM	#27
Snowman811 Black Sapphire 330i 32 Rep 362 Posts Drives: Black Sapphire 330i Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Nor Cal iTrader: (1)	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.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-13-2006, 06:35 PM	#28
obLu Major 50 Rep 1,159 Posts Drives: 330i 6MT ZSP Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Kirkland, WA, USA iTrader: (1)	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.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-13-2006, 06:51 PM	#30
obLu Major 50 Rep 1,159 Posts Drives: 330i 6MT ZSP Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Kirkland, WA, USA iTrader: (1)	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.
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03-13-2006, 07:24 PM	#31
HRC MAUI BUILT 485 Rep 7,781 Posts Drives: 2006 330i MT Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: NORCAL iTrader: (10) Garage List 2002 E46 325i [0.00] 2012 E70 35i [0.00]	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 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 __________________ Arctic/Blk Leather/Alum.Trim/MT/ZSP/Sunshades/Blk Lines/M3 Illuminated Knob/Alcantara Performance Wheel/M-E-Brake Handle/Euro Fog Switch/Koni Yellows/H&R Sport Springs/19" VMR V718's w/PS2 Tires/M-Tech Body Kit/Carbon Fiber Spoiler/Bimmian Interior Bulbs/OEM Eye Glass Tray/SSK/Alcantara Boot/Split Armrest/OEM Dual Rear Power Outlets/Rear Ashtray Delete/OEM Alum. Pedals/Osram 6000K/Brex Rings/LED Side Markers/BMS Power Box
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03-20-2006, 07:29 PM	#36
tiga901 Second Lieutenant 7 Rep 244 Posts Drives: e90 330i, mt pp sp Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Millbrae, CA iTrader: (0)	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.
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03-22-2006, 03:13 PM	#39
tiga901 Second Lieutenant 7 Rep 244 Posts Drives: e90 330i, mt pp sp Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Millbrae, CA iTrader: (0)	Will do...
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04-30-2007, 10:00 PM	#43
Bubbarossa Second Lieutenant 11 Rep 208 Posts Drives: 335i sedan Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: SoCal, CA iTrader: (0)	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. __________________ 2000 Jeep Wrangler 2007 335i AT, Sports Pkg, Heated Seats, Nav. (delivered 4/17/07)
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05-02-2007, 08:22 AM	#44
AM335 Go Gators! 17 Rep 695 Posts Drives: E90 335i Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Florida iTrader: (2) Garage List 2007 335i E90 [0.00]	Has anyone installed this on an E90 335i and not had the dreaded noises described in other threads? Thanks.
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