BMW OEM Strut bar vs. Dinan Strut Bar

[SD ///M4]

I've been wanting a strut bar for my M Roadster and the BMW OEM strut bar for the Z4 seems perfectly reasonable and functional. The best price I've seen is at Tomkinson BMW Parts, $308.89 including shipping and handling (no tax).

Dinan is currently having a 15% off sale on their suspension parts which includes their strut bars. The list price for the Z4 M strut bar is $499.00 and with 15% off it comes to $424.15. We have a couple of Dinan dealers in San Diego so there wouldn't be any cost for shipping but the tax would be 8% which brings the total to $458.08. Since Dinan is located in CA, ordering from them would still incur the same tax.

So the question is, is the Dinan strut bar is worth $149.12 more than the BMW OEM strut bar? Is it $149.12 more functional than the BMW OEM strut bar?

Give me the pros and cons of each.

[Caddyshk]

No - If the Dinan Bar is still hinged... At the end of the day which one appeals to your eye better?

[SD ///M4]

Originally Posted by Caddyshk

No - If the Dinan Bar is still hinged... At the end of the day which one appeals to your eye better?

I haven't seen either one in person but from the pictures I've seen either one looks fine. Of course the Dinan bar has "DINAN" on it, which I suppose makes for some measure of increased eye appeal, although I'm not sure that's worth an extra $150.

What do you mean by the Dinan bar being "hinged"?

[inTgr8r]

It has a hinge joint where the bar attaches to the tower rings.

There are many discussions posted (not just here) about STBs & hinged joints.
Basically Hinges pivot and are not as structurally sound.

That said; Our cars are so stiff already that an STB really is more about look than function. Especially for street.

[Jroc]

I would get the OEM one.

[SD ///M4]

Originally Posted by inTgr8r

It has a hinge joint where the bar attaches to the tower rings.

There are many discussions posted (not just here) about STBs & hinged joints.
Basically Hinges pivot and are not as structurally sound.

That said; Our cars are so stiff already that an STB really is more about look than function. Especially for street.

Got it, kind of what I figured. I also use my car for autocrossing. At some point, probably next year, I'll get my car on the track with Speed Ventures, which was started by an S2000 owner who got tired of being turned away from track events because he had a roadster. I think that they still run an S2000 Challenge series at a number of CA tracks. I ran my previous S2000 with SV for 2-3 years about 10-12 years ago. My wife and I currently use her 335is Coupe for BMW CCA track events.

So far it seems like the Dinan bar isn't worth it.

[3point0]

FWIW i have the E46 OMP bar in mine, and it looks great, needed a minor tweak so as not to rub on my DISA valve, performance-wise I'm not sure it did anything other than add weight, but it feels like it might be stiffer

[XMetal]

Originally Posted by 3point0

FWIW i have the E46 OMP bar in mine, and it looks great, needed a minor tweak so as not to rub on my DISA valve, performance-wise I'm not sure it did anything other than add weight, but it feels like it might be stiffer

That appears to be a hinged design as well. Looking at the picture, I'm not sure if it will clear the center air tube of the S54

Functionally and value-wise, the OE bar seems best. I have a set of strong strut braces for the "bling" factor and because I didn't pay retail for it (thanks to the group buy a couple of years back). But if I can take a re-do, I would probably opt for the OE unit and save some cash to boot.

[pal]

Not sure if Rogue has any left, but I am running their 1 piece bar. Fitment is tight, but the one piece design most def makes for a stiff front end.

[DerekSelmanRacing]

I have the OEM bar in the roadster and I believe it made a difference.

[johanness]

Originally Posted by pal

Not sure if Rogue has any left, but I am running their 1 piece bar. Fitment is tight, but the one piece design most def makes for a stiff front end.

Agreed. All this chatter about how it's just for looks etc, can very well apply to every other strut brace out there. However the RE RaceBrace definitely made a difference you could feel. I love mine.
Doubters - go buy one and report.

[mfanatic325]

I have the OEM one, painted matte black to better match the rest of the engine bay. I couldn't justify paying any more than $300 for just the one bar. The StrongStrut looks nice with the wrinkle finish though.

[Aries326]

I bought this last week. Still waiting for it to arrive. Looks nice and it is way cheaper than the Dinan strut bar.

[Bossdog]

I just received the OEM strut tower brace. Best argument I read for the OEM version is that BMW engineered it to collapse in a crash.
I don't understand why in the world they would leave the finish bright silver??
Nearly everything under the hood is BLACK!
So, I took the brace to be anodized Black today. I'll post a picture when I get it back.

[Beedub]

talking of strut braces, look at the range of braces this company offers!!


http://www.ultraracinguk.co.uk/info-...ch=Part+Number


was particular interesting in the underside rear brace as this surely must add some stiffness as opposed to the separate pieces on the stock car.

[UntzUntzUntz]

Originally Posted by Beedub

talking of strut braces, look at the range of braces this company offers!!


http://www.ultraracinguk.co.uk/info-...ch=Part+Number


was particular interesting in the underside rear brace as this surely must add some stiffness as opposed to the separate pieces on the stock car.

I contacted them a while ago for the tower brace asking if it clears the center tube on the s54, they said it does not, so I opted out. I'd be interested if anyone has experience with any of Ultra Racing's products, particularly the rear brace.

After doing some research, I really wanted the Rogue Engineering design. But they don't make it anymore
So I turned to StrongStrut. Installed it, eh, the gains were barely noticeable. If I can sell it for the same price and get an OEM one, I'd do it, just to have the insurance of the collapse point. The Stront-Strut maker claims it does collapse just like the OEM one but by just looking at the design you don't see any collapse points It's a great product, and maybe stiffer than the OEM strut, but by no mean's ANY strut brace should be more than $400. The gains are not $400+ worth of gains. You're better off spending your money on some H&R anti-roll bars.

[CJW2OO4]

I dont know if anyone has ever bought any of these....if you have please chime in. TIA

[Beedub]

shall i be a guinea pig and buy the rear underside piece?? this piece MUST MUST offer an increase in rigidity just be the one piece trianglation of the unit compared to the stock single side bars. Looking at their pic I'm pretty certain this one will fit ///M as the mounts are identical.

the inside boot brace looks interesting too, i can workout how that bolts in?? mine car has no mount points their?

[UntzUntzUntz]

Pick one and I'll be the guinea pig for the other part

[UntzUntzUntz]

It's gotta fit because the body doesn't change from the serie to the ///M to my knowledge. Especially the rear of the car. IF anything, the FRONT anti-roll bars and braces shouldn't fit. I'll give these guys a call on my lunch to confirm.

[Beedub]

Originally Posted by UntzUntzUntz

Pick one and I'll be the guinea pig for the other part

ill do the rear under brace..... i feel that will offer a significant stiffness over the stock piece as its a one piece triangulated bar.

[Bossdog]

Here is the OEM Strut Tower Brace for the Z4M



Here it is Anodized Black





I'll post pics installled later this weekend