Strut Brace: OEM or Strong Strut??

suprtran · 11-21-2011, 11:18 AM

Owners, please provide your feedback and experience.

pelerojo · 11-21-2011, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suprtran

Owners, please provide your feedback and experience.

I have the OEM on my Z4M. I like it. It fits well but did not really notice a difference. The Z4 is already vert rigid, even the roadster. In comparison, I have added strut bars to my Z3's with immediate notable improvement.

Mirko · 11-21-2011, 06:30 PM

I have the OEM one and I think I felt the front a little more stable at higher speeds. Not sure I understand how that is possible but it was the only change I made and the front felt a little more planted. Also, turn in is a tiny bit sharper and more composed. I like it though.

inTgr8r · 11-21-2011, 06:31 PM

^whs
pick the one that you like the looks of.

mfanatic325 · 11-22-2011, 11:50 AM

Decide based on need/requirement, price, and aesthetics (in that order). It definitely makes a difference if you take your car to the track and/or autocross, etc.
But for those that don't do any performance driving, the structural rigidity of the Z4s in stock form are already plenty stiff for regular street use; so you may as well save a few hundred hard-earned bucks!

P.S. Oh, and I personally have an OEM one, painted flat black to match the other stuff in the engine bay. I got mine for quite a bit under MSRP, but I still think it's such a rip-off. BMW stuff usually are after all

Kgolf31 · 11-22-2011, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mfanatic325

Decide based on need/requirement, price, and aesthetics (in that order). It definitely makes a difference if you take your car to the track and/or autocross, etc.
But for those that don't do any performance driving, the structural rigidity of the Z4s in stock form are already plenty stiff for regular street use; so you may as well save a few hundred hard-earned bucks!

P.S. Oh, and I personally have an OEM one, painted flat black to match the other stuff in the engine bay.

+1

Sway Bars are a better investment if you want to tighten up the front end.

suprtran · 11-22-2011, 11:52 AM

Thanks for everyone's feedback. Seems like the implication is that the Strong Strut kit (firewall bars + main strut tower brace) might be overkill, unless car is heavily tracked.

Next question: Would an E46 M3 bar with the strut tower cap fit in the E85 M?

mfanatic325 · 11-22-2011, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suprtran

Thanks for everyone's feedback. Seems like the implication is that the Strong Strut kit (firewall bars + main strut tower brace) might be overkill, unless car is heavily tracked.

Next question: Would an E46 M3 bar with the strut tower cap fit in the E85 M?

From personal experience, no they are not interchangeable. The center bar maybe, but definitely not the E46 endplates.

suprtran · 11-22-2011, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mfanatic325

From personal experience, no they are not interchangeable. The center bar maybe, but definitely not the E46 endplates.

Oh really?! I remember reading a year or 2 ago that the bar from the E46 can be used. Maybe I misread. Thanks.

RADRACR · 11-22-2011, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mfanatic325

I got mine for quite a bit under MSRP, but I still think it's such a rip-off. BMW stuff usually are after all

Tell me about it. I get annoyed when I'm riding in my friends' vehicles that cost $25K less and have better amenities than my M

Quote:

Originally Posted by suprtran

Seems like the implication is that the Strong Strut kit (firewall bars + main strut tower brace) might be overkill, unless car is heavily tracked.

Beware non-OEM firewall bars. The OEM bars are designed to crush during a front-end collision. I don't want to think where you may find an aftermarket bar after a collision...

inTgr8r · 11-22-2011, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aestheticstorm

.....
Beware non-OEM firewall bars. The OEM bars are designed to crush during a front-end collision. I don't want to think where you may find an aftermarket bar after a collision...

lots of good info here, but that^ is an exaggeration based on your opinion that others have floated here before.

Take a few measurements (I did)
If your front suspension tower was driven all the way to the firewall (can't realistically happen)
The firewall brace still wouldn't reach the driver.

Also; IDK about other mfgs, but Strongstrut have posted that their bar will fold at the holes.

RADRACR · 11-22-2011, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inTgr8r

lots of good info here, but that^ is an exaggeration based on your opinion that others have floated here before.

Take a few measurements (I did)
If your front suspension tower was driven all the way to the firewall (can't realistically happen)
The firewall brace still wouldn't reach the driver.

Also; IDK about other mfgs, but Strongstrut have posted that their bar will fold at the holes.

I've seen Ron Stygar over at Bimmerfest post official BMW documentation about it. I would trust BMW over Strongstrut. But interesting point about the measurments.

G80indy · 11-22-2011, 03:27 PM

Dinan

Shipkiller · 11-22-2011, 05:14 PM

StongStut. Disregard the front end. I had the bumper cover off the car.

Beedub · 11-23-2011, 04:47 AM

oem is the only bar ill ever need..... definatly makes a difference on the track with a proper tyre and suspension setup... The z4m roadster was always designed as a roadster and is incredibly stiff, chassis wobble just doesnt apply on this car....... This brace will just add alittle more strenthening under high loads, Big brakes, Sticky tyres and power upgrades all addup to more stress on the chassis.

dcoff2 · 12-03-2011, 12:43 AM

I added a Strong Strut tower brace only, and I like it. I have an M Coupe and I'm not sure it helped that much (as everyone says, the car is stiff to begin with-- probably helps more with a roadster). It may have been a little flatter at the track, and (let's face it, this counts...) it looks cool. This is a beefy piece of equipment so probably a bit more bang for the buck than the OEM. Icing on the cake, Paul at Strong Strut is a good guy to work with. Mine is brushed aluminum, which I liked better than the black (sorry, no pic).

11-21-2011, 11:18 AM	#1
suprtran Captain 111 Rep 919 Posts Drives: BMWs Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: CA iTrader: (18) Garage List 2008 E60 M5 6MT [0.00] 2019 G01 X3 sDrive30i [0.00] 2007 E86 M Coupe [0.00] 1997 E36 M3 [10.00] 2006 E53 X5 4.8is ( ... [0.00] 2006 E85 M Roadster ... [0.00] 2002 DINAN 5 (sold) [0.00] 2013 E89 Z4 sDrive3 ... [7.00] 2011 E92 M3 (sold) [0.00] 2001 E46 M3 (sold) [0.00] 2007 R56 Cooper S ( ... [0.00] 2002 996TT (sold) [10.00] 2009 E82 135i (sold) [9.00] 2006 E85 Z4 M (sold) [6.00] 2007 B7 A4 2.0T (re ... [0.00] 2003 E46 M3 (sold) [0.00] 2002 E46 325Ci (sold) [0.00]	Strut Brace: OEM or Strong Strut?? Owners, please provide your feedback and experience.
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11-21-2011, 06:30 PM	#3
Mirko Major 182 Rep 1,031 Posts Drives: E86 Z4M, E90 328i, E84 X1 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Toronto iTrader: (2)	I have the OEM one and I think I felt the front a little more stable at higher speeds. Not sure I understand how that is possible but it was the only change I made and the front felt a little more planted. Also, turn in is a tiny bit sharper and more composed. I like it though.
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11-21-2011, 06:31 PM	#4
inTgr8r Lieutenant General 2426 Rep 11,667 Posts Drives: M2 Comp Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Toronto iTrader: (10)	^whs pick the one that you like the looks of. __________________ '21 M2C Hockenheim Silver '18 718 Cayman S Lava Orange (sold) '13 E92 M3 Santorini Blue (sold) '07 Z4 M Coupe Alpine White (sold)
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11-22-2011, 11:50 AM	#5
mfanatic325 ///M-fanatic 193 Rep 3,885 Posts Drives: '01 911 Turbo Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Cupertino, CA. iTrader: (23)	Decide based on need/requirement, price, and aesthetics (in that order). It definitely makes a difference if you take your car to the track and/or autocross, etc. But for those that don't do any performance driving, the structural rigidity of the Z4s in stock form are already plenty stiff for regular street use; so you may as well save a few hundred hard-earned bucks! P.S. Oh, and I personally have an OEM one, painted flat black to match the other stuff in the engine bay. I got mine for quite a bit under MSRP, but I still think it's such a rip-off. BMW stuff usually are after all
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11-22-2011, 11:52 AM	#7
suprtran Captain 111 Rep 919 Posts Drives: BMWs Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: CA iTrader: (18) Garage List 2008 E60 M5 6MT [0.00] 2019 G01 X3 sDrive30i [0.00] 2007 E86 M Coupe [0.00] 1997 E36 M3 [10.00] 2006 E53 X5 4.8is ( ... [0.00] 2006 E85 M Roadster ... [0.00] 2002 DINAN 5 (sold) [0.00] 2013 E89 Z4 sDrive3 ... [7.00] 2011 E92 M3 (sold) [0.00] 2001 E46 M3 (sold) [0.00] 2007 R56 Cooper S ( ... [0.00] 2002 996TT (sold) [10.00] 2009 E82 135i (sold) [9.00] 2006 E85 Z4 M (sold) [6.00] 2007 B7 A4 2.0T (re ... [0.00] 2003 E46 M3 (sold) [0.00] 2002 E46 325Ci (sold) [0.00]	Thanks for everyone's feedback. Seems like the implication is that the Strong Strut kit (firewall bars + main strut tower brace) might be overkill, unless car is heavily tracked. Next question: Would an E46 M3 bar with the strut tower cap fit in the E85 M?
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11-22-2011, 03:27 PM	#13
G80indy Save the Manuals 1714 Rep 2,937 Posts Drives: Z3, E46, G80 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Indy iTrader: (0)	Dinan __________________ 2023 G80 6MT, CCBs 2002 330i Dinan, 5MT 2000 Z3 Conforti, 5MT
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11-22-2011, 05:14 PM	#14
Shipkiller Colonel 187 Rep 2,138 Posts Drives: Me Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Virginia Beach iTrader: (3) Garage List 2008 BMW Z4M Coupe [8.50] 2003 BMW Z4 Roadster [8.33]	StongStut. Disregard the front end. I had the bumper cover off the car. Attached Images
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11-23-2011, 04:47 AM	#15
Beedub Major General 423 Rep 5,327 Posts Drives: 2007 Z4 M roadster vt2-500 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	oem is the only bar ill ever need..... definatly makes a difference on the track with a proper tyre and suspension setup... The z4m roadster was always designed as a roadster and is incredibly stiff, chassis wobble just doesnt apply on this car....... This brace will just add alittle more strenthening under high loads, Big brakes, Sticky tyres and power upgrades all addup to more stress on the chassis. __________________ Z4MR VT2 - Clubsport build. Multi award winning Detailing \| Wrap \| PPF specialists UK based - www.topwrapz.com
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12-03-2011, 12:43 AM	#16
dcoff2 New Member 0 Rep 16 Posts Drives: '07 Z4 M Coupe/ '02 330ci Conv Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Marin County, CA iTrader: (0)	I added a Strong Strut tower brace only, and I like it. I have an M Coupe and I'm not sure it helped that much (as everyone says, the car is stiff to begin with-- probably helps more with a roadster). It may have been a little flatter at the track, and (let's face it, this counts...) it looks cool. This is a beefy piece of equipment so probably a bit more bang for the buck than the OEM. Icing on the cake, Paul at Strong Strut is a good guy to work with. Mine is brushed aluminum, which I liked better than the black (sorry, no pic).
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