Front strut brace

[r4dr]

Bimmerworld collected some data from their Spec E46 car: https://www.bimmerworld.com/About-Us...race-worth-it/

Worth a read. Convertibles might be a different ball game though.

[old///MFanatic]

So long as you don't jack it up, there's enough friction to keep the struts from moving.

^ This. Even if you have to move it you just need to put the nuts back on the strut studs. Just like factory does when there’s no stock brace.

[rbg]

No, there's a pin that sets camber in place.

Not if you run plates.

[poss]

Riiight

• For a strut brace to be effective it needs to be strong enough to stop/reduce very small movements
• A 'vert's chassis moves more than a coupe as it does not have a solid roof as a structural element - Ipso Facto, a vert may well benefit from structural reinforcement elsewhere
• If you put a bend in a metal structure it becomes a weak point
• A solid piece of metal is stronger than the same section made out of sheet metal
• A square section metal extrusion is stronger than a round section - which is again stronger than an oval cross-section (when the forces are perpendicular to the weakest point of an oval cross-section)
• Last - but not least, the BMW design with moveable bolt slots in the bar itself means that it was never seriously designed to carry any structural load (In the aftermarket setup the adjustment slots are on the turret - which are at an angle and therefore the whole stucture is locked together).
• As the side-by side comparison pictures below between the original brace and aftermarket illustrate, the stock brace is an oval cross-section made out of sheet metal with a bend in the middle. The turret mounts are also unsubstantial in comparison - it appears to be a flimsy piece of shyte in every way when compared to my aftermarket solid cast CNC'd aluminium brace with no bends in sight - and my driving experience after replacing it confirms that to me

As I said - once removed the BMW strut bar can be flexed at the bend with your bare hands. It's structurally useless.

[poss]

Riiight

I assume you have not properly examined the original strut bar - nor have you driven my vehicle 🤠

[liam821]

The strut bar that came on my car came broken - it was one of those carbon fiber ones - I ended up picking up an OEM one from a forum member here. I can't say I noticed too much difference...at least on the street.

[Toby22]

I was disappointed with my 'vert's shimmy after owning a coupe - getting the top of the RACP reinforced really stiffened up the backend (and a 'vert is arguably already better than a coupe due to the fixed rear seat) - but that made the frontend shimmy more noticeable. Replacing the 'decorative' original strut brace with a good one was definitely noticeable on a vert. Made it more than livable in the handling dept.

The genuine strut brace is a piece of crap. The bar is a flimsy bit of rolled sheet metal with a crease in the middle to boot! You can flex it with your bare hands. Purely for show.

Riiight

[poss]

Let’s be honest, you want new strut bar for looks lol. Even if it did make a difference, you won’t feel it or be able to prove it’s a performance upgrade over stock

I like stock bar the best. Doesn’t look out of place.

I was disappointed with my 'vert's shimmy after owning a coupe - getting the top of the RACP reinforced really stiffened up the backend (and a 'vert is arguably already better than a coupe due to the fixed rear seat) - but that made the frontend shimmy more noticeable. Replacing the 'decorative' original strut brace with a good one was definitely noticeable on a vert. Made it more than livable in the handling dept.

The genuine strut brace is a piece of crap. The bar is a flimsy bit of rolled sheet metal with a crease in the middle to boot! You can flex it with your bare hands. Purely for show.

[Arith2]

Let’s be honest, you want new strut bar for looks lol. Even if it did make a difference, you won’t feel it or be able to prove it’s a performance upgrade over stock

I like stock bar the best. Doesn’t look out of place.

I agree the stock one looks pretty darn good. Too bad the Turner box runs into it. I have a Dinan one and it just doesn't do it for me.

[Toby22]

Let’s be honest, you want new strut bar for looks lol. Even if it did make a difference, you won’t feel it or be able to prove it’s a performance upgrade over stock

I like stock bar the best. Doesn’t look out of place.

[jbfrancis3]

That DMG Pro-46 R is a nice piece. Pricey, but its evident where the $ is going. $745 with the clearcoat 😬

https://dmg-autosport.myshopify.com/products/dmg-pro-46-re-color-coated

[Triqzy]

Anybody have any input on how much of a difference a strut bar makes on our vehicles? I have an early 01 pre LCI with no strut bar and have been eying the Rogue Engineering bar as my car starts too see more action.

I personally didn't notice any difference. But I also didn't want to drop $300-$400 on a bar and just picked up a megan racing one for $75. Gets the job done and allows for adjustment of camber plates. One day I'll splurge on the DMG eye candy.

[RoyalFlushness]

Anybody have any input on how much of a difference a strut bar makes on our vehicles? I have an early 01 pre LCI with no strut bar and have been eying the Rogue Engineering bar as my car starts too see more action.

[jbfrancis3]

Any danger to mess up your alignment when you unbolt it?

So long as you don't jack it up, there's enough friction to keep the struts from moving.

[Arith2]

Any danger to mess up your alignment when you unbolt it?

No, there's a pin that sets camber in place.