Not joined yet? Register for free and enjoy features such as alerts, private messaging and viewing latest posts and topics.

Additional Front Strut Brace - worthwhile?

"M" Specific discussion
User avatar
M@r]{
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1055
Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2012 9:11 pm
Location: East Midlands

Additional Front Strut Brace - worthwhile?

Post by M@r]{ » Tue Apr 03, 2012 10:00 pm

Over on M3 Cutters a guy over there has moved to a rather nice Z4MC, he put a strut brace on the front as apparently 'its a must on the Z4'

Anyone an opinion on this? Should I ad it to my forever growing list of mods to be done?
2006 Lotus Exige S
2006 E61 535d M-Sport Touring

Paza3
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 2393
Joined: Fri May 28, 2010 10:08 pm

Re: Additional Front Strut Brace - worthwhile?

Post by Paza3 » Tue Apr 03, 2012 10:08 pm

I was reading an "Evo" review that recommended 19" alloys and a front strut brace as it transfromed the handling and you felt much more connected, no experience myself of course. But planning to get one for mine

User avatar
original guvnor
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 7043
Joined: Sat Mar 27, 2010 8:59 pm
Location: Nottinghamshire

Re: Additional Front Strut Brace - worthwhile?

Post by original guvnor » Tue Apr 03, 2012 10:09 pm

I think that all stems from an article in Evo where a bloke had fitted a strut brace, CSL's and aero skirts and the gist of the article was that it made "the Z4M the car it always should've been".

Evo is hardly the most reliable source for info on the Z4M, as a glance at their buyers guide will illustrate.

User avatar
markos
Member
Member
Posts: 498
Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2010 12:51 am

Re: Additional Front Strut Brace - worthwhile?

Post by markos » Tue Apr 03, 2012 10:21 pm

R8 4.2 V8... Previous: Sapphire Black MC | red/black bi-colour heated seats | nav with camera alerts | BT | extended storage | elec folding mirrors | PDC | loudspeaker upgrade | Intravee | CSL reps | Remus backboxes

pilchardthecat
Member
Member
Posts: 583
Joined: Wed Jun 02, 2010 11:28 pm

Re: Additional Front Strut Brace - worthwhile?

Post by pilchardthecat » Tue Apr 03, 2012 10:26 pm

Well 19s ruin the handling on anything but a smooth track, which kind of undermines the evo view imo.

Cant comment on the strut but stiffness isnt exactly a problem
Z4M Roadster.

User avatar
Stuart Truman
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 13039
Joined: Wed Jul 27, 2011 10:59 pm
Location: The Cotswolds

Re: Additional Front Strut Brace - worthwhile?

Post by Stuart Truman » Tue Apr 03, 2012 10:32 pm

I'm keen on the idea of a strut brace. Those Alutec setups are the Korean's meatballs.
Add yourself to the Z4 Map HERE! Instructions HERE!
Z4M Roadster, Imola Red, with Stubby and Intravee II. Low Miles per Gallon, High Smiles per Gallon
Previously Alpina Roadster S #69 Alpina Blue

User avatar
Darkman
Member
Member
Posts: 397
Joined: Mon May 11, 2009 4:52 pm
Location: Liverpool

Re: Additional Front Strut Brace - worthwhile?

Post by Darkman » Tue Apr 03, 2012 10:32 pm

I fitted the strut brace to my 2.5Si and you can feel the difference as I took it off before taking it in for service, seems to stop the front end walking so less tram lining on RF...Personal view only with no technical back-up :)
The chains of habit are too weak to be felt until they are too strong to be broken.

daz05
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1193
Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2008 6:38 pm
Location: Écosse

Re: Additional Front Strut Brace - worthwhile?

Post by daz05 » Tue Apr 03, 2012 10:56 pm

pilchardthecat wrote:Well 19s ruin the handling on anything but a smooth track, which kind of undermines the evo view imo.

Cant comment on the strut but stiffness isnt exactly a problem
Not in my experience depends on tyre type and sizes and alignment. The Evo car had PS2s fitted which is probably the reason for the findings.

I can imagine people running 245 at the front on 19s may have handling issues on uk roads.

Strut gave subjective feel of greater sharpness on mine. Nothing major though.

Alastair
Member
Member
Posts: 106
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2011 9:39 pm

Re: Additional Front Strut Brace - worthwhile?

Post by Alastair » Tue Apr 03, 2012 11:38 pm

original guvnor wrote:I think that all stems from an article in Evo where a bloke had fitted a strut brace, CSL's and aero skirts and the gist of the article was that it made "the Z4M the car it always should've been".

Evo is hardly the most reliable source for info on the Z4M, as a glance at their buyers guide will illustrate.
I'm pretty much in the same boat.

19"s? On our roads? For better handling? C'mon!

If anything, 17"s would be the right direction to go in...

User avatar
tomscott
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 7466
Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2011 12:26 pm
Location: Manchester
Contact:

Re: Additional Front Strut Brace - worthwhile?

Post by tomscott » Tue Apr 03, 2012 11:40 pm

Yep Ive got one :D

Stops a fair amount of role :)

Image
IMG_2187.jpg by tom_scott88, on Flickr

User avatar
srhutch
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 26959
Joined: Tue Jun 19, 2007 1:22 pm
Location: East Sussex, UK
Contact:

Re: Additional Front Strut Brace - worthwhile?

Post by srhutch » Wed Apr 04, 2012 7:59 am

M@r]{ wrote:Over on M3 Cutters a guy over there has moved to a rather nice Z4MC, he put a strut brace on the front as apparently 'its a must on the Z4'

Anyone an opinion on this? Should I ad it to my forever growing list of mods to be done?
That's skelts, he is on here to.
Image

mmm-five
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 12714
Joined: Sun Nov 30, 2008 1:03 pm
Location: Liverpool
Contact:

Re: Additional Front Strut Brace - worthwhile?

Post by mmm-five » Wed Apr 04, 2012 8:18 am

I just find they induce MORE understeer as it means the suspension has to do more work to keep the tyres in a plane where they can still grip.

In bone dry track conditions they're great - but for 99% of their time in the UK you'll get no benefit and will hate bumpy roads even more.
Trigger’s Z4MC
Some bits now over 163,000 miles, some less than 1,000 miles.
Individual Ruby Black, Individual extended champagne leather, plus many options

Image

mmm-five
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 12714
Joined: Sun Nov 30, 2008 1:03 pm
Location: Liverpool
Contact:

Re: Additional Front Strut Brace - worthwhile?

Post by mmm-five » Wed Apr 04, 2012 8:19 am

tomscott wrote:Stops a fair amount of role :)
Have you tried it without one?

I'd not say the Z4MC has a lot of roll in the first place :P
Trigger’s Z4MC
Some bits now over 163,000 miles, some less than 1,000 miles.
Individual Ruby Black, Individual extended champagne leather, plus many options

Image

sammyz
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 2870
Joined: Tue Jun 26, 2007 1:49 pm
Location: Merseyside

Re: Additional Front Strut Brace - worthwhile?

Post by sammyz » Wed Apr 04, 2012 9:13 am

I suspect as with many 'mods' the benefits are mostly in your head and the disadvantages mostly in your wallet :)
Yas Marina Blue 35i.

daz05
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1193
Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2008 6:38 pm
Location: Écosse

Re: Additional Front Strut Brace - worthwhile?

Post by daz05 » Wed Apr 04, 2012 9:25 am

mmm-five wrote:I just find they induce MORE understeer as it means the suspension has to do more work to keep the tyres in a plane where they can still grip.

In bone dry track conditions they're great - but for 99% of their time in the UK you'll get no benefit and will hate bumpy roads even more.
Would you expect it to cause more tramlining, might whip mine off and see if I notice difference going back?

Post Reply