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BMW Strut Tower Brace

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Wondermike
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Re: BMW Strut Tower Brace

Post by Wondermike » Mon Jan 14, 2008 10:43 pm

epbrown wrote:^That, I like, being more low-key myself. Did you buy it with that finish or was it something you had done?
Mmmm x 2 I really like that.

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inTgr8r
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Re: BMW Strut Tower Brace

Post by inTgr8r » Tue Jan 15, 2008 1:48 pm

Caddyshk wrote: Why?
I'd originally intended to get the SS bars,
then changed my mind when I got the OE in a pkg deal with exhaust & a bunch of other bits & pieces from LeatherZ.

I really don't like the cheap looking firewall braces.
& The alum. OE bar seemed to make them look worse.
Thought briefly about painting the OE bar to match the firewall braces, (...would have just cheapened the look of the OE bar).
Then basically said the hell with it & ordered the ones I wanted in the first place.

While I think the SS bar looks a little stronger, there's probably no real world structural benefit.
....The engine bay with the S54 is almost like a piece of art, & IMO, the SS bars just finish it off.

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Re: BMW Strut Tower Brace

Post by pbdm4k » Tue Jan 15, 2008 7:44 pm

inTgr8r wrote:
Caddyshk wrote: Why?
I'd originally intended to get the SS bars,
then changed my mind when I got the OE in a pkg deal with exhaust & a bunch of other bits & pieces from LeatherZ.

I really don't like the cheap looking firewall braces.
& The alum. OE bar seemed to make them look worse.
Thought briefly about painting the OE bar to match the firewall braces, (...would have just cheapened the look of the OE bar).
Then basically said the hell with it & ordered the ones I wanted in the first place.

While I think the SS bar looks a little stronger, there's probably no real world structural benefit.
....The engine bay with the S54 is almost like a piece of art, & IMO, the SS bars just finish it off.
I thought its because you saw them on my car during the last cruise. :P

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inTgr8r
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Re: BMW Strut Tower Brace

Post by inTgr8r » Tue Jan 15, 2008 8:49 pm

pbdm4k wrote:
inTgr8r wrote:
Caddyshk wrote: Why?
I'd originally intended to get the SS bars,
then changed my mind when I got the OE in a pkg deal with exhaust & a bunch of other bits & pieces from LeatherZ.

I really don't like the cheap looking firewall braces.
& The alum. OE bar seemed to make them look worse.
Thought briefly about painting the OE bar to match the firewall braces, (...would have just cheapened the look of the OE bar).
Then basically said the hell with it & ordered the ones I wanted in the first place.

While I think the SS bar looks a little stronger, there's probably no real world structural benefit.
....The engine bay with the S54 is almost like a piece of art, & IMO, the SS bars just finish it off.
I thought its because you saw them on my car during the last cruise. :P
That certainly helped :D

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Re: BMW Strut Tower Brace

Post by GP20 » Wed Jan 23, 2008 2:26 am

Rick Hunter wrote:Not yet. But here it is: NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE noted on a Coupé for day to day driving. The bling factor got the best of me this time. :( --- :)
Doh. Sorry to hear about your experience. :( I definitely felt the difference on my roadster, and I'm sure you'll be able to easily re-sell the strut bar to a roadster owner if you want to.

Don't let that stop you from doing the CDV delete mod though. :D We can have you test-drive my M again and see how you like it before you make a decision.

EDIT: If you're a BMWNA rep and you're reading this post, by my M I mean someone else's M. :)
'08 BMW Z4///MC 18" & 19" BBS RGR's|Michelin PSS'|TCK DA's 450/500|OEM CF spoiler|Aero side-skirts|ZHP gear-knob|OEM STB|
'06 BMW Z4///MR (sold)
'04 BMW Z4 3.0i 6sp SMG (lemon)
'03 BMW Z4 2.5i non-sport (sold)

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Rick Hunter
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Re: BMW Strut Tower Brace

Post by Rick Hunter » Wed Jan 23, 2008 3:09 am

Meh... no biggie. I got it for a good price. :)

As for the CDV mod... we will have to discuss this again sometime. :o
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Dammmittt
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Re: BMW Strut Tower Brace

Post by Dammmittt » Wed Jan 23, 2008 3:14 pm

I think the SS bars look nice as well, although it's doubtful it's much stronger than the oem with all the holes in it...

I think as long as you get something without a hinge in it, it'll be worth it.
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Re: BMW Strut Tower Brace

Post by Gauss » Sun Nov 09, 2008 6:36 pm

Any duders still got a valid link to the installation instructions? plzzzz

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Re: BMW Strut Tower Brace

Post by Smokin » Mon Nov 10, 2008 2:08 am

I want the CF strut on the BMW site. Not for our Zs though. :(
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Re: BMW Strut Tower Brace

Post by Gauss » Tue Nov 18, 2008 11:59 pm

Anyone know if a realignment is necessary after a strut bar installation?

And how much to tighten the bolts?

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Re: BMW Strut Tower Brace

Post by Curtis » Wed Nov 19, 2008 12:36 am

Gauss wrote:Anyone know if a realignment is necessary after a strut bar installation?

And how much to tighten the bolts?
If you undo the strut nuts while the car is on the ground then the weight of the car will prevent the strut tops moving before you refit the nuts plus you there should be a dowel in the strut top to lock in the factory camber setting. If you were happy with the settings before fitting then there's no need to adjust anything however it's the perfect opportunity to dial in some neg camber! Torque for the front strut nuts are 35Nm but I'm not sure about the rears. Sorry.

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Re: BMW Strut Tower Brace

Post by Gauss » Sat Nov 22, 2008 5:21 am

35 Nm = 25 ft-lb?

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Re: BMW Strut Tower Brace

Post by Curtis » Sat Nov 22, 2008 7:51 pm

Yup! 25.8 according to my converter.

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Re: BMW Strut Tower Brace

Post by Smokin » Wed Feb 04, 2009 2:22 pm

Anybody got instructions on installing the OEM one? The link provided is dead. :(
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Re: BMW Strut Tower Brace

Post by Rick Hunter » Wed Feb 18, 2009 2:51 am

FIXED. See post #1 :thumbsup:
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