OEM Strut Bar powder coated to match

Devious21 · 09-29-2013, 12:13 AM

Picked up an OEM strut bar and was a little taken aback that it was bright aluminum when the firewall braces are black. Pic here for reference.

I called up a shop to powder coat them flat black. After I had them look at the firewall braces, we decided on 40% gloss (flat black would have looked really out of place). The gloss actually gives it a much more finished looking appearance.

Attached some iPhone pics of the results. Maybe it will help out someone else.

seank · 09-29-2013, 12:20 AM

Very nice and clean. Like it

cyberkaa · 09-29-2013, 05:54 AM

Jumbosock · 09-29-2013, 01:30 PM

Looks good! You might consider picking up a few more of those black plastic caps and adding them to the firewall brace nuts for a complete match.

cyberkaa · 09-29-2013, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jumbosock

Looks good! You might consider picking up a few more of those black plastic caps and adding them to the firewall brace nuts for a complete match.

Agreed. We were talking about that during the install. The nuts on the firewall braces are 16mm vs. 13mm, so the same caps won't work.

If we could find similar caps in the right size, that would be great. Otherwise, he was thinking of going with new nuts with a black coating.

psygnosis · 09-29-2013, 03:25 PM

Looks slick, do you notice much difference with the brace installed?

Devious21 · 09-29-2013, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyberkaa

Agreed. We were talking about that during the install. The nuts on the firewall braces are 16mm vs. 13mm, so the same caps won't work.

If we could find similar caps in the right size, that would be great. Otherwise, he was thinking of going with new nuts with a black coating.

Yup. I would like to get black nuts (nod) all around. Even the ones under the caps. The strut brace mounts have those strange ones with the extensions. Any idea what those are called?

Devious21 · 09-29-2013, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by psygnosis

Looks slick, do you notice much difference with the brace installed?

It did feel a bit tighter on the 45 minute ride home. BUT cyberkaa also installed nord locks on my firewall braces which were coming loose for the umpteenth time.

So it was a combination of my firewall braces been snug again and the strut brace.

cyberkaa · 09-29-2013, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Devious21

Yup. I would like to get black nuts (nod) all around. Even the ones under the caps. The strut brace mounts have those strange ones with the extensions. Any idea what those are called?

I've never seen generic versions of those tall nuts with the extensions. No idea what they're called if they do have a generic name.

Devious21 · 09-29-2013, 04:45 PM

I can probably ignore those ones since they are the least visible of all the nuts.

marinb · 10-01-2013, 04:16 PM

Looks badass. Much better than the stock bright aluminum look.

Devious21 · 10-02-2013, 04:59 PM

Thanks Marin!

bucko521 · 10-03-2013, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Devious21

Picked up an OEM strut bar and was a little taken aback that it was bright aluminum when the firewall braces are black. Pic here for reference.

I called up a shop to powder coat them flat black. After I had them look at the firewall braces, we decided on 40% gloss (flat black would have looked really out of place). The gloss actually gives it a much more finished looking appearance.

Attached some iPhone pics of the results. Maybe it will help out someone else.

Fantastic custom, but factory looking setup! Great decision on the powdercoat.

doozyj · 10-03-2013, 01:25 AM

Who did the powdercoat?

Devious21 · 10-03-2013, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doozyj

Who did the powdercoat?

West Coast Powder Coating in SSF, Ca
http://www.yelp.com/biz/west-coast-p...-san-francisco

Fast turn around. Total cost was well under $100.

Devious21 · 10-20-2013, 04:33 PM

You can see from the earlier pics what it looked like with the OEM silver nuts attached to the silver studs.

I ordered new nuts that are black and extra tall. They do a good job of covering the existing stud and making the whole install look cleaner.

Devious21 · 10-20-2013, 04:36 PM

Shot of the black firewall and strut brace nuts.

3002 tii · 10-21-2013, 08:00 PM

Did you PC the firewall braces too or strut bar only (which happened to be a match to the other 2 braces)?

Devious21 · 10-21-2013, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3002 Tii

Did you PC the firewall braces too or strut bar only (which happened to be a match to the other 2 braces)?

Just the strut brace. Tried to match the color of the factory black firewall braces.

3002 tii · 10-21-2013, 09:30 PM

Sorry one other (stupid) question, how did they powdercoat the dome strut plate without effecting the studs?

Devious21 · 10-21-2013, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3002 Tii

Sorry one other (stupid) question, how did they powdercoat the dome strut plate without effecting the studs?

Not a dumb question. I actually don't know what they used to mask it off. I assume some kind of high temp masking tape but don't know for sure.

If I ever work with them again (might poowdercoat some pedals), I'll see what they say.

Starscream · 11-13-2013, 03:08 PM

Looks nice black

I went the other route and had the firewall braces powder coated the exact same color as the strut bar

Gives the engine a "caged" look

TBH I like both

09-29-2013, 12:13 AM	#1
Devious21 Captain 37 Rep 711 Posts Drives: 2006 Z4M Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (1)	OEM Strut Bar powder coated to match Picked up an OEM strut bar and was a little taken aback that it was bright aluminum when the firewall braces are black. Pic here for reference. I called up a shop to powder coat them flat black. After I had them look at the firewall braces, we decided on 40% gloss (flat black would have looked really out of place). The gloss actually gives it a much more finished looking appearance. Attached some iPhone pics of the results. Maybe it will help out someone else. __________________ \|Evolve Airbox - Euro Headers - Strömung Exhaust - H&R Coils - 19" BBS CH-R\|
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09-29-2013, 12:20 AM	#2
seank enthusiast 48 Rep 1,695 Posts Drives: e30 m3,e90 wagon,sprinter,z4m Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: sacramento, ca iTrader: (4)	Very nice and clean. Like it
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09-29-2013, 01:30 PM	#4
Jumbosock Captain 76 Rep 987 Posts Drives: 2007 M coupe Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: San Diego iTrader: (0)	Looks good! You might consider picking up a few more of those black plastic caps and adding them to the firewall brace nuts for a complete match.
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09-29-2013, 03:25 PM	#6
psygnosis Major 23 Rep 1,034 Posts Drives: '04 Z4 3.0i Sport Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: WA iTrader: (0)	Looks slick, do you notice much difference with the brace installed? __________________ Straightaways are for fast cars, Corners are for fast drivers.
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09-29-2013, 04:45 PM	#10
Devious21 Captain 37 Rep 711 Posts Drives: 2006 Z4M Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (1)	I can probably ignore those ones since they are the least visible of all the nuts.
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10-01-2013, 04:16 PM	#11
marinb First Lieutenant 19 Rep 331 Posts Drives: 2017 911 GTS Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: NorCal iTrader: (4)	Looks badass. Much better than the stock bright aluminum look.
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10-02-2013, 04:59 PM	#12
Devious21 Captain 37 Rep 711 Posts Drives: 2006 Z4M Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (1)	Thanks Marin! __________________ \|Evolve Airbox - Euro Headers - Strömung Exhaust - H&R Coils - 19" BBS CH-R\|
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10-03-2013, 01:25 AM	#14
doozyj Lieutenant 14 Rep 514 Posts Drives: 2007 M Coupe Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: SoCal iTrader: (8)	Who did the powdercoat?
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10-20-2013, 04:33 PM	#16
Devious21 Captain 37 Rep 711 Posts Drives: 2006 Z4M Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (1)	You can see from the earlier pics what it looked like with the OEM silver nuts attached to the silver studs. I ordered new nuts that are black and extra tall. They do a good job of covering the existing stud and making the whole install look cleaner. Attached Images __________________ \|Evolve Airbox - Euro Headers - Strömung Exhaust - H&R Coils - 19" BBS CH-R\|
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10-20-2013, 04:36 PM	#17
Devious21 Captain 37 Rep 711 Posts Drives: 2006 Z4M Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (1)	Shot of the black firewall and strut brace nuts. Attached Images __________________ \|Evolve Airbox - Euro Headers - Strömung Exhaust - H&R Coils - 19" BBS CH-R\|
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10-21-2013, 08:00 PM	#18
3002 tii Lieutenant General 2279 Rep 12,565 Posts Drives: Z4 M, X5, GX460 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: CT iTrader: (99) Garage List F15 X5 xDrive35i [8.75] E86 Z4 M [10.00] F10 550i (Retired) [9.17] F25 X3 xDrive35i (R ... [9.43] E82 135is (Retired) [9.50] E85 Z4 M (Retired) [9.41] E90 328i xDrive (Re ... [9.25] E86 Z4 3.0si (Retired) [9.20]	Did you PC the firewall braces too or strut bar only (which happened to be a match to the other 2 braces)? __________________ Follow for latest mods
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10-21-2013, 09:30 PM	#20
3002 tii Lieutenant General 2279 Rep 12,565 Posts Drives: Z4 M, X5, GX460 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: CT iTrader: (99) Garage List F15 X5 xDrive35i [8.75] E86 Z4 M [10.00] F10 550i (Retired) [9.17] F25 X3 xDrive35i (R ... [9.43] E82 135is (Retired) [9.50] E85 Z4 M (Retired) [9.41] E90 328i xDrive (Re ... [9.25] E86 Z4 3.0si (Retired) [9.20]	Sorry one other (stupid) question, how did they powdercoat the dome strut plate without effecting the studs? __________________ Follow for latest mods
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11-13-2013, 03:08 PM	#22
Starscream Colonel 135 Rep 2,120 Posts Drives: ///M Roadster + E92 335i 6MT Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Park Ridge NJ + Windermere FL iTrader: (23)	Looks nice black I went the other route and had the firewall braces powder coated the exact same color as the strut bar Gives the engine a "caged" look TBH I like both __________________ Imola Red Roadster
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