[SirBiggles]

Originally Posted by thejeremyman9

The one you linked is "fixed" in the sense that you cannot adjust the length of the bar to "preload" or "tighten" it.

I getcha. And that's a bad thing?

[thejeremyman9]

Originally Posted by SirBiggles

I getcha. And that's a bad thing?

IMO, yes. The deflection of the strut towers that you are trying to prevent is minimal to begin with.... so having any "slop" in a non-adjustable bar kindof defeats the purpose...

[SirBiggles]

Originally Posted by thejeremyman9

IMO, yes. The deflection of the strut towers that you are trying to prevent is minimal to begin with.... so having any "slop" in a non-adjustable bar kindof defeats the purpose...

Ok, not sure I can find an adjustable (or fixed!) in the UK guaranteed to fit (apart from £168 from Motech)

[sdbwisc]

https://rollsperformance.com/shop/ol...mw-mid-chassis

I have this one.

[SirBiggles]

Originally Posted by sdbwisc

https://rollsperformance.com/shop/ol...mw-mid-chassis

I have this one.

The front strut braces looks nice, especially in black. Decent price too. But only in US? https://rollsperformance.com/shop/ol...ut-tower-brace

[dangerus_car]

is it worth it to get the F80/F82 brace? There are two parts, the rear aluminum and the front carbon fiber front strut brace.

i wonder if getting the rear aluminum brace only would accomplish what the aftermarket front strut brace does, or has to get the whole package (aluminum and the carbon fiber)

[sdbwisc]

Originally Posted by SirBiggles

The front strut braces looks nice, especially in black. Decent price too. But only in US? https://rollsperformance.com/shop/ol...ut-tower-brace

Not sure. You'd have to email him. Quality is good.

[SirBiggles]

Originally Posted by sdbwisc

Not sure. You'd have to email him. Quality is good.

It's black and he does ship to UK! but annoyingly I'd have to pay tax & duty, so total cost would probably be about £200 :-(

[thejeremyman9]

Originally Posted by dangerus_car

is it worth it to get the F80/F82 brace? There are two parts, the rear aluminum and the front carbon fiber front strut brace.

i wonder if getting the rear aluminum brace only would accomplish what the aftermarket front strut brace does, or has to get the whole package (aluminum and the carbon fiber)

If i understand what you are referring to, the F3x already have the "rear" one toward the firewall, which is why some argue adding this bar isnt needed.

[sdbwisc]

Originally Posted by thejeremyman9

If i understand what you are referring to, the F3x already have the "rear" one toward the firewall, which is why some argue adding this bar isnt needed.

Yeah I read that too. But I read that the strut bar brace makes a big difference in steering, it really does. Adding that and the VAC monoball upper control arms have transformed the car so much!!!

[SuperLomi]

Honestly the difference you will see with these driving on the street is minimal at best. You really should be doing some for of motorsport before adding this. Especially because it makes access under the engine cover a PIA, if you choose to keep it on (and I would if you're driving on the street)

Originally Posted by thejeremyman9

If i understand what you are referring to, the F3x already have the "rear" one toward the firewall, which is why some argue adding this bar isnt needed.

The f80 "rear" aluminum brace is a bit more substantial, and links multiple points on the chassis, vs the simple 2-point struts braces we have. You can see it here:

https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...0&postcount=20

Retrofitting it isn't a simple part swap, as far as I understand. At minimum it requires new strut top-hats (or camber plates designed to accept it).

A transverse brace would still probably have some effect on the chassis in f80 car's - although I'm sure it would be debatable if it NEEDED it. One reason BMW may avoid it is for serviceability reasons.

Originally Posted by thejeremyman9

IMO, yes. The deflection of the strut towers that you are trying to prevent is minimal to begin with.... so having any "slop" in a non-adjustable bar kindof defeats the purpose...

Judging from the deflection in my weicher’s brace mounting plates it’s more significant than you think.

[thejeremyman9]

Originally Posted by sdbwisc

Yeah I read that too. But I read that the strut bar brace makes a big difference in steering, it really does. Adding that and the VAC monoball upper control arms have transformed the car so much!!!

I'm not saying the bar doesnt make a difference. I installed one, and i think it made a reasonable difference.

[johnung]

Originally Posted by SirBiggles

Ok, not sure I can find an adjustable (or fixed!) in the UK guaranteed to fit (apart from £168 from Motech)

Get a Wiechers. It's German so you should be able to find it in the UK. Removable crossbar that has a fine adjustment like Jeremy mentioned.

https://www.kiesmotorsports.com/prod...8;_ss=r?aff=22

INSTALLATION VIDEO

Photo shows mine, which I had powdercoated black to match my engine compartment.

[visionaut]

Didn’t notice any mention of the Racing Dynamics strut brace.
Here’s one installed on my N55 F36.

I’m very pleased with it. More noticeable than I’d suspected it would be..
I’ve experimented with this brace unloaded, and with two levels of pre-loading. I‘ve ended up just running it unloaded - it’s just simpler.


You can pre-load pretty much all braces. The pre-loading doesn’t matter much if it’s tension or compression pre-loading. It’s just adding a small amount of initial force to take the cross bar off neutral - you’re not trying to alter your alignment or trying to add camber with the strut brace. If you want to try preloading the brace, just install it with the car on jackstands or up in the air via the front center jack point. Only partially unweighted, where the tires haven’t lifted fully yet is a good ‘low’ pre-load level point (and an easily repeatable setting).

Slop in a brace means there’s bad fit or design/fab problems. If the brace’s attachments to the strut top are solid & sound (materially and structurally able to transfer the forces into/from across the strut top mounts), and the cross bar’s fit adjustment when tightened-up makes it rigid, and all’s torqued proper, there should be no mechanical slop. There shouldn’t be any ‘lag’ or ‘softness’ to the brace’s ability to transfer loads at the transition point between tension and compression. BMW doesn’t use any pre-load with their brace designs.

The strut brace is most effective operating in tension (while you’re turning), keeping both tower tops connected so they operate more as one vs. independently. The cross bar only typically transitions into heavy compression when encountering suspension jolts from rapid over-compression (hitting potholes, road bumps, curbing, jumps, etc.).

Ideally it’d be a straight line connection, but the engine’s in the way. So braces bend up and over or even wrap around the front. These indirect paths can still function great, but doing so requires a beefier/stiffer construction of their connecting cross bars. If the attachment fittings or the cross bar are too wimpy, and can’t transfer the forces without deformation, the brace is just decorative.
.

[SirBiggles]

Ok cool thanks guys. So basically; should be adjustable to tighten bolts to reduce slop, which could be more present with a fixed bar.

I think this is the adjustable Wiechers steel bar available in the UK https://www.mstyle.co.uk/wiechers-st...31-models.html

[johnung]

Originally Posted by SirBiggles

Ok cool thanks guys. So basically; should be adjustable to tighten bolts to reduce slop, which could be more present with a fixed bar.

I think this is the adjustable Wiechers steel bar available in the UK https://www.mstyle.co.uk/wiechers-st...31-models.html

Yes that's the F3x steel model. I prefer the design of their aluminum model but I didn't see it for the F3x on that website

UPDATE:
Here is the one that I have...

https://www.mstyle.co.uk/wiechers-ra...0-and-f31.html

[eleven11]

Just installed the Wiecher's carbon fiber. The aesthetics exceeded my expectations compared to photos.

My vehicle is a F31 with the B46 engine. No clearance issues. Mine is post-LCI, so I installed a total of 6 new M8 (3 per side) with 30Nm + 90 degree torque for each (part #31306869931; https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...mw-31306862826).

I can appreciate a noticeable improvement in steering tightness. Surprisingly, I also feel it has slightly reduced the steering-to-wheel slop I'm looking to reduce with monoballs.

[dangerus_car]

Originally Posted by thejeremyman9

If i understand what you are referring to, the F3x already have the "rear" one toward the firewall, which is why some argue adding this bar isnt needed.

this is the one i m talking about. i think it doesn't exists on F3X, only F80/F82

[dangerus_car]

Originally Posted by SuperLomi

Honestly the difference you will see with these driving on the street is minimal at best. You really should be doing some for of motorsport before adding this. Especially because it makes access under the engine cover a PIA, if you choose to keep it on (and I would if you're driving on the street)



The f80 "rear" aluminum brace is a bit more substantial, and links multiple points on the chassis, vs the simple 2-point struts braces we have. You can see it here:

https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...0&postcount=20

Retrofitting it isn't a simple part swap, as far as I understand. At minimum it requires new strut top-hats (or camber plates designed to accept it).

A transverse brace would still probably have some effect on the chassis in f80 car's - although I'm sure it would be debatable if it NEEDED it. One reason BMW may avoid it is for serviceability reasons.



Judging from the deflection in my weicher’s brace mounting plates it’s more significant than you think.

do you think getting this rear aluminum brace from F8x would be enough or has same performance as aftermarket over-the-engine strut bar? cause this cost about $200ish used which is the same price point as some new aftermarket brace, but OEM quality and i prefer OEM.

[eleven11]

Originally Posted by dangerus_car

do you think getting this rear aluminum brace from F8x would be enough or has same performance as aftermarket over-the-engine strut bar? cause this cost about $200ish used which is the same price point as some new aftermarket brace, but OEM quality and i prefer OEM.

Just to make sure you've seen this post, which goes into depth about the F80 retrofit: https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...+reinforcement

I considered doing this, but ultimately decided the gains weren't likely substantial enough to justify the install efforts and extra cost.

[dangerus_car]

Yes, I don’t think i will pay for the whole set, that’s over $1000, too much for a brace, but i am thinking just the aluminum part (in that thread it would be stage 1 and 2 only)

[SirBiggles]

Originally Posted by johnung

Yes that's the F3x steel model. I prefer the design of their aluminum model but I didn't see it for the F3x on that website

UPDATE:
Here is the one that I have...

https://www.mstyle.co.uk/wiechers-ra...0-and-f31.html

Nice, reasonably priced too. Ideally the steel one in black (without having to powder coat/wrap!)

Originally Posted by eleven11

Just installed the Wiecher's carbon fiber. The aesthetics exceeded my expectations compared to photos.

My vehicle is a F31 with the B46 engine. No clearance issues. Mine is post-LCI, so I installed a total of 6 new M8 (3 per side) with 30Nm + 90 degree torque for each (part #31306869931; https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...mw-31306862826).

I can appreciate a noticeable improvement in steering tightness. Surprisingly, I also feel it has slightly reduced the steering-to-wheel slop I'm looking to reduce with monoballs.

The CF one does look great.