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E86 Front Triangulation Braces Retrofit

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    Or a hex head bolt with a pill shape for it? No need to mill a hex shape right? Just two flat sides to stop the bolt head rotating?


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    2005 ///M3 SMG Coupe Silbergrau Metallic/CSL bucket seats/CSL airbox/CSL console/6 point RACP brace/Apex ARC-8s
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      Originally posted by Bry5on View Post
      Why not just tap and put a helicoil in then thread a cap head bolt into the hole with some loctite. Seems easy enough if there’s enough depth in the counterbore.
      Mostly for serviceability. Getting a bolt threaded in back there is harder than a nut.

      I guess you could tap and thread in a stud, but at that point, the captive bolt approach is not that much more work.

      Edit: Oh wait, I think I misunderstood this. Thought you were talking about threading a bolt in from below. Either this or karter16's flats suggestion would work, you barely need any force to hold the fastener in place before friction takes over.
      Last edited by heinzboehmer; 06-05-2026, 03:58 PM.
      2002 Topasblau M3 - Coupe - 6MT - Karbonius CSL Airbox - SSV1 - HJS - Mullet Tune - MK60 Swap - E86 Front Triangulation - ZCP Rack - Nogaros - AutoSolutions - 996 Brembos - Slon - CMP - VinceBar - Koni - Eibach - BlueBus - Journal

      2012 Alpinweiss 128i - Coupe - 6AT - Slicktop - Manual Seats - Daily - Journal

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        Originally posted by karter16 View Post
        Or a hex head bolt with a pill shape for it? No need to mill a hex shape right? Just two flat sides to stop the bolt head rotating?


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        Oh yeah, duh. That would totally work and is way simpler
        2002 Topasblau M3 - Coupe - 6MT - Karbonius CSL Airbox - SSV1 - HJS - Mullet Tune - MK60 Swap - E86 Front Triangulation - ZCP Rack - Nogaros - AutoSolutions - 996 Brembos - Slon - CMP - VinceBar - Koni - Eibach - BlueBus - Journal

        2012 Alpinweiss 128i - Coupe - 6AT - Slicktop - Manual Seats - Daily - Journal

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          Originally posted by heinzboehmer View Post

          Oh yeah, duh. That would totally work and is way simpler
          Something like this should be fine right? Obviously I haven't done FEA on it, but I did go through all your screenshots and don't believe this design impacts the areas of highest stress. I'm also not particularly stressed if it does prove to be a problem as easily swapped out if there are any issues.

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          2005 ///M3 SMG Coupe Silbergrau Metallic/CSL bucket seats/CSL airbox/CSL console/6 point RACP brace/Apex ARC-8s
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            I mean thread a bolt in in place of a stud, not a bolt to replace a nut. I think adding the flats is no better than adding a hex pattern personally. Either way it’s a printed part job. Seems easier to add threads there and eliminate all semblance of a press fit. Just bolt a bolt in instead of pressing a stud..
            ‘02 332iT / 6 | ‘70 Jaguar XJ6 electric conversion

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              Originally posted by Bry5on View Post
              I mean thread a bolt in in place of a stud, not a bolt to replace a nut. I think adding the flats is no better than adding a hex pattern personally. Either way it's a printed part job. Seems easier to add threads there and eliminate all semblance of a press fit. Just bolt a bolt in instead of pressing a stud..
              What is it about the flats that makes it a printed part job? I don't see how it's different from a manufacturing perspective to the circular pocket Heinz has in the current design?


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              2005 ///M3 SMG Coupe Silbergrau Metallic/CSL bucket seats/CSL airbox/CSL console/6 point RACP brace/Apex ARC-8s
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                Originally posted by karter16 View Post

                What is it about the flats that makes it a printed part job? I don't see how it's different from a manufacturing perspective to the circular pocket Heinz has in the current design?


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                Very easy to machine/drill a circle/cylinder, not so easy to machine an arc to flat transition, especially if you are short on packaging space and need a tight radius on the transition from arc to flat. You’ve gotta think about what tool(s) you’d use to make that part. A tap and hole is about as simple as it gets
                ‘02 332iT / 6 | ‘70 Jaguar XJ6 electric conversion

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                  Originally posted by karter16 View Post

                  Something like this should be fine right? Obviously I haven't done FEA on it, but I did go through all your screenshots and don't believe this design impacts the areas of highest stress. I'm also not particularly stressed if it does prove to be a problem as easily swapped out if there are any issues.

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                  Bryson spoke to this already, but the problem lies with the sharp corners. Elongating the bore and adding transition fillets would help.

                  The issue I see with printing this is that the machined mating surface on the windshield mount is super smooth and flat. If printing, I would add material to the E86 attachment point and mill it down so it's also flat.
                  2002 Topasblau M3 - Coupe - 6MT - Karbonius CSL Airbox - SSV1 - HJS - Mullet Tune - MK60 Swap - E86 Front Triangulation - ZCP Rack - Nogaros - AutoSolutions - 996 Brembos - Slon - CMP - VinceBar - Koni - Eibach - BlueBus - Journal

                  2012 Alpinweiss 128i - Coupe - 6AT - Slicktop - Manual Seats - Daily - Journal

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                    Of course, thanks both, I'm a bit dumb.

                    I envisaged one thing - a slot cut with a (virtual) 17mm end mill, and then designed something completely different.

                    This version takes my actual original plan and improves on it by reducing the amount of extra material removed. a 17.2mm x 20mm pocket, with 10mm sides that hold the bolt head, suitable for a 6mm end mill. Note that the shape is intentionally not a regular hexagon as this design only intends to hold the bolt head on two sides.

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                    2005 ///M3 SMG Coupe Silbergrau Metallic/CSL bucket seats/CSL airbox/CSL console/6 point RACP brace/Apex ARC-8s
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                      Just check your wall thicknesses to make sure there’s nothing too thin and you’re good. That should work.

                      Pro tip: Note that you should always pick a corner radius slightly larger than the diameter of the tool you’ll be using so the end mill can make the corner without chattering.

                      edit: just remember that with a design like that, the fastener is still technically floating and won’t be rigid when you start running the nuts down and/or it can fall out when this part is removed. Last attempt to get you to switch to threads
                      Last edited by Bry5on; 06-06-2026, 06:59 AM.
                      ‘02 332iT / 6 | ‘70 Jaguar XJ6 electric conversion

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                        Awesome thanks! Yep I made sure the wall thicknesses were going to be okay. Thanks for that tip, I probably knew that once upon a time but had completely forgotten and hadn't considered it at all!

                        Haha I do appreciate that the thread approach is better, my thinking with this approach is part me being stubborn but also part it saves me needing any M10 helicoil hardware.
                        2005 ///M3 SMG Coupe Silbergrau Metallic/CSL bucket seats/CSL airbox/CSL console/6 point RACP brace/Apex ARC-8s
                        Build Thread | Community Patch | MSS54 DS2 Tool

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                          A little 3D printed retainer would help with keeping the fastener from moving too much when you start the nuts, but yes still floating.
                          2002 Topasblau M3 - Coupe - 6MT - Karbonius CSL Airbox - SSV1 - HJS - Mullet Tune - MK60 Swap - E86 Front Triangulation - ZCP Rack - Nogaros - AutoSolutions - 996 Brembos - Slon - CMP - VinceBar - Koni - Eibach - BlueBus - Journal

                          2012 Alpinweiss 128i - Coupe - 6AT - Slicktop - Manual Seats - Daily - Journal

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                            Well just heard back and the fab house (ApexBatch) are happy with the design, and the quote seems reasonable to me so think I'll probably give this approach a go, if for nothing else but to prove it out as an option for those who find it harder to source the specialist hardware.

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                            2005 ///M3 SMG Coupe Silbergrau Metallic/CSL bucket seats/CSL airbox/CSL console/6 point RACP brace/Apex ARC-8s
                            Build Thread | Community Patch | MSS54 DS2 Tool

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                              Originally posted by Bry5on View Post
                              I mean thread a bolt in in place of a stud, not a bolt to replace a nut. I think adding the flats is no better than adding a hex pattern personally. Either way it’s a printed part job. Seems easier to add threads there and eliminate all semblance of a press fit. Just bolt a bolt in instead of pressing a stud..
                              Why not just insert the helicoil and cut a threaded rod. On my carbon part, I molded threaded inserts and then used an M8 class 8.8 threaded rod cut to length. Loctite on the end that goes into the bracket.

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                                Are these the studs in question? M10x1.5x20 and M10x1.5x30 from MRO?



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