Strut tower reinforcements

wss4 · 04-23-2012, 03:30 PM

Has anyone installed the e46 strut tower reinforcements in their car? I have seen a thread with them installed, so I know they will fit, but not sure if they are a good idea or not. There was a post by Randy about how he thought it was a bad idea, but no explanation beyond that. Interested in putting them in with a new suspension as peace of mind, since the towers look flimsy to begin with, and the roads I drive on are far from smooth.

inTgr8r · 04-23-2012, 04:55 PM

I have them, IMO, If you're running coilovers its a good idea.

Most coilovers have a smaller surface area at the top plate & usually stiffer springs.
That leads to more mechanical loading stress in that area.

I haven't seen any failed Z4 towers reported but for the cost they're cheap insurance.

EMP07 · 04-23-2012, 09:01 PM

It is incredible how some of these M cars have such failures especially the e46 with the rear sub-frame and shock towers and our Z4's with the sway bar and possibly shock tower.

I understand it stems from going beyond intended street use, but...

Any who, got them on order now.

3002 tii · 04-23-2012, 09:50 PM

Part numbers?

wss4 · 04-23-2012, 10:29 PM

Here's link to only other thread I could find that was z4 specific, includes part numbers:

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=346508

inTgr8r · 04-24-2012, 05:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dubbedown

Part numbers?

Rogue eng has them (OE part)
The E46 plates fit.
http://www.rogueengineering.com/rogue/REIN/REINFT.html

3002 tii · 04-24-2012, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inTgr8r

Rogue eng has them (OE part)
The E46 plates fit.
http://www.rogueengineering.com/rogue/REIN/REINFT.html

Would the mounting points of a strut bar achieve the same thing as the reinforcement plates?

inTgr8r · 04-24-2012, 09:11 AM

They will help, but I wouldn't say it's the same.
I really liked the idea of the combination of a full plate underneath & the STB mount on top.
& for only $25 it made sense to me.

One thing to watch out for is the length of the studs on your coilovers.
My Clubsports were fine, but I was helping a friend with GC coilovers & the studs weren't long enough for the added plate thickness.

3002 tii · 04-24-2012, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inTgr8r

They will help, but I wouldn't say it's the same.
I really liked the idea of the combination of a full plate underneath & the STB mount on top.
& for only $25 it made sense to me.

One thing to watch out for is the length of the studs on your coilovers.
My Clubsports were fine, but I was helping a friend with GC coilovers & the studs weren't long enough for the added plate thickness.

That was going to be my next question, I wonder if the studs will be long enough on my AST's.

inTgr8r · 04-24-2012, 11:56 AM

if you have about 3 threads showing at the nut now, you should be OK

pyo · 04-26-2012, 03:51 PM

Just purchases the re racebrace today and figured I might as well get the strut tower reinfor plates.

What are the torque specs with strut bar? 35nm?

Beedub · 04-26-2012, 04:10 PM

imo these are must if you got coilovers, they are really thick pieces of metal, dont be fooled by the pics, they are thick and will add significant "load" spreading... with these in place ill be happily running along with my clubsports without a worry..... cheap insurance for sure, added with the SB uptop i think you simply protecting your car.... They are heavy plates however....

3002 tii · 04-26-2012, 10:21 PM

I called Vorshlag and was told unfortunately these would not work with their camber plates, oh well...

Beedub · 04-27-2012, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dubbedown

I called Vorshlag and was told unfortunately these would not work with their camber plates, oh well...

why??? its only a case of them adding a very slightly longer bolt??? lazy bastards.

3002 tii · 04-27-2012, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beedub

why??? its only a case of them adding a very slightly longer bolt??? lazy bastards.

Nah, it's b/c of the rounded lip of the oe reinforcement plates limit the camber adjustment. But reading up on m3forum, turns out I can just cut out some notches so the plates have more play. Going to go that route...

Finnegan · 04-27-2012, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pyo

Just purchases the re racebrace today and figured I might as well get the strut tower reinfor plates.

What are the torque specs with strut bar? 35nm?

Yes, 35nm.

Caddyshk · 04-27-2012, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inTgr8r

They will help, but I wouldn't say it's the same.
I really liked the idea of the combination of a full plate underneath & the STB mount on top.
& for only $25 it made sense to me.

One thing to watch out for is the length of the studs on your coilovers.
My Clubsports were fine, but I was helping a friend with GC coilovers & the studs weren't long enough for the added plate thickness.

OE STB the real issue...

3002 tii · 04-28-2012, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caddyshk

OE STB the real issue...

What's wrong with the oe bar?

Btw -installed the oem reinforcement plates today. I asked Ben at Rogue to trim off the curved lip of the plates that way camber could be adjusted freely. Pix of how it looks installed:

Kgolf31 · 04-28-2012, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dubbedown

What's wrong with the oe bar?

Btw -installed the oem reinforcement plates today. I asked Ben at Rogue to trim off the curved lip of the plates that way camber could be adjusted freely. Pix of how it looks installed:

/off-topic.

How do you like your Vorshlag Plates? Range of adjustment good and easy to do?

3002 tii · 04-28-2012, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kgolf31

/off-topic.

How do you like your Vorshlag Plates? Range of adjustment good and easy to do?

I'll get back to you in a week after I get the corner/alignment done. I have no doubt the Vorshlag plates give a wide range of adjustability but the one thing that's limiting it is the fact that the top mount adjusters on my AST's make contact with the strut tower. Thus I had to bring it in which resulted in LESS camber than what I had before when using Rogue's fixed camber plates (but I was also on stock suspension then, ie no adjusters). How it looked prior to bringing in the adjuster (ie adding positive camber).

PS - when I left it there for the first day or two, the contact from adjuster & strut tower caused a squeaking noise so that's why I brought it in.

Caddyshk · 04-28-2012, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dubbedown

What's wrong with the oe bar?

Btw -installed the oem reinforcement plates today. I asked Ben at Rogue to trim off the curved lip of the plates that way camber could be adjusted freely. Pix of how it looks installed:

Not enough stud left on the GC's once the bar is installed.

3002 tii · 04-28-2012, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caddyshk

Not enough stud left on the GC's once the bar is installed.

Can you you ask GC to send you longer studs?

04-23-2012, 03:30 PM	#1
wss4 Private First Class 35 Rep 159 Posts Drives: 2008 Z4 M Coupe Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: San Diego iTrader: (3)	Strut tower reinforcements Has anyone installed the e46 strut tower reinforcements in their car? I have seen a thread with them installed, so I know they will fit, but not sure if they are a good idea or not. There was a post by Randy about how he thought it was a bad idea, but no explanation beyond that. Interested in putting them in with a new suspension as peace of mind, since the towers look flimsy to begin with, and the roads I drive on are far from smooth.
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04-23-2012, 04:55 PM	#2
inTgr8r Lieutenant General 2432 Rep 11,667 Posts Drives: M2 Comp Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Toronto iTrader: (10)	I have them, IMO, If you're running coilovers its a good idea. Most coilovers have a smaller surface area at the top plate & usually stiffer springs. That leads to more mechanical loading stress in that area. I haven't seen any failed Z4 towers reported but for the cost they're cheap insurance. __________________ '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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04-23-2012, 09:01 PM	#3
EMP07 First Lieutenant 37 Rep 398 Posts Drives: Z4M Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (6)	It is incredible how some of these M cars have such failures especially the e46 with the rear sub-frame and shock towers and our Z4's with the sway bar and possibly shock tower. I understand it stems from going beyond intended street use, but... Any who, got them on order now. __________________ BSM Z4M Coupe
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04-23-2012, 09:50 PM	#4
3002 tii Lieutenant General 2285 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) [9.24]	Part numbers? __________________ Follow for latest mods
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04-23-2012, 10:29 PM	#5
wss4 Private First Class 35 Rep 159 Posts Drives: 2008 Z4 M Coupe Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: San Diego iTrader: (3)	Here's link to only other thread I could find that was z4 specific, includes part numbers: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=346508
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04-24-2012, 09:11 AM	#8
inTgr8r Lieutenant General 2432 Rep 11,667 Posts Drives: M2 Comp Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Toronto iTrader: (10)	They will help, but I wouldn't say it's the same. I really liked the idea of the combination of a full plate underneath & the STB mount on top. & for only $25 it made sense to me. One thing to watch out for is the length of the studs on your coilovers. My Clubsports were fine, but I was helping a friend with GC coilovers & the studs weren't long enough for the added plate thickness. __________________ '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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04-24-2012, 11:56 AM	#10
inTgr8r Lieutenant General 2432 Rep 11,667 Posts Drives: M2 Comp Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Toronto iTrader: (10)	if you have about 3 threads showing at the nut now, you should be OK __________________ '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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04-26-2012, 03:51 PM	#11
pyo Lieutenant 551 Rep 541 Posts Drives: 2022 X3MC Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Fairfax, VA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2022 BMW X3M Compet ... [7.13]	Just purchases the re racebrace today and figured I might as well get the strut tower reinfor plates. What are the torque specs with strut bar? 35nm? __________________ '00 328i // Sold '04 Z4 3.0i // Sold '22 X3MC LCI
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04-26-2012, 04:10 PM	#12
Beedub Major General 423 Rep 5,328 Posts Drives: 2007 Z4 M roadster vt2-500 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	imo these are must if you got coilovers, they are really thick pieces of metal, dont be fooled by the pics, they are thick and will add significant "load" spreading... with these in place ill be happily running along with my clubsports without a worry..... cheap insurance for sure, added with the SB uptop i think you simply protecting your car.... They are heavy plates however.... __________________ Z4MR VT2 - Clubsport build. Multi award winning Detailing \| Wrap \| PPF specialists UK based - www.topwrapz.com
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04-26-2012, 10:21 PM	#13
3002 tii Lieutenant General 2285 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) [9.24]	I called Vorshlag and was told unfortunately these would not work with their camber plates, oh well... __________________ Follow for latest mods
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