[miringrains]

I figured for $100 its not a bad investment to stiffer the towers, is there any noticeable difference?

[ChipB]

You will not notice any difference unless you track the car. IMO the design of most strut tower braces really aren't very effective at keeping the towers from moving relative to each other - any bar with a hinge, adjusting bolts, or made of aluminum is just not going to do much except look pretty. If you do decide to get a bar for functional reasons get a steel bar with welded joints (no bolts or hinges).

[AzureHaze]

Originally Posted by ChipB

You will not notice any difference unless you track the car.

There's your definitive answer right there. Don't waste your dough unless you hit the tracks often but even then you'll need more chassis upgrades than just the strut bar to see some performance gains as far as handling goes.

[benjlv]

You're not going to notice anything. You might if you were running a stiff suspension and tracking the car...etc. but even then i wonder. If a strut bar provided a significant improvement BMW would have added one from the factory as it would be relatively easy for them to do so since this isnt a $20k compact car where the margins are narrow.

i suspect that the chassis is already substantially stiff. As far as i know there is no BMW factory strut brace like the X brace that benefits the e36 chassis. And from owning both a e36 and a e90, i can tell you the chassis of the e36 feels like a limp noodle compared to the e90.

[roadkillrob]

Just for looks!

[Dark_Knight_335]

Got a strut brace for my E93. Starting to think it was a mistake- I have this irrational fear that it's stopping my car from flexing the way it should. Overreaction?

[Torgus]

Originally Posted by Dark_Knight_335

Got a strut brace for my E93. Starting to think it was a mistake- I have this irrational fear that it's stopping my car from flexing the way it should. Overreaction?

Yes.

[Dark_Knight_335]

Originally Posted by Torgus

Yes.

Ah good. Thank you!

[benzo23]

Just take the 100$ and go to the bar, you'll get better use out of it.

[edirtaynine]

you can just tape a $100 bill to your shock tower. it'll have the same effect and you can show it off at car meets

[CJ421]

They're ineffectual in our cars ...the chassis is super stiff as-is.

Originally Posted by edirtaynine

you can just tape a $100 bill to your shock tower. it'll have the same effect and you can show it off at car meets

Best post all day.

[Dark_Knight_335]

Interesting thread on one of my fav sites:

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=574560

[335okc]

Originally Posted by edirtaynine

you can just tape a $100 bill to your shock tower. it'll have the same effect and you can show it off at car meets

lolz winning!
i think the chassis is stiff enough for daily stuff. If you track your car (I do), you're better off with camber plates, suspension, and sway bar.
But be warned, these things rob the comfort of your car, my wife hate riding in my 335 now because it's too "responsive".

[ChasVS]

BMW already has a shock tower brace installed. It's just that it runs back to the firewall and is pretty well hidden from view. Those installed over the engine are pretty much ineffective and just get in the way of oil and washer fluid caps in many cases.

[JAL0988]

Originally Posted by benzo23

Just take the 100$ and go to the bar, you'll get better use out of it.

+1

[Ml3456]

Good post. I was always wondering how BMW thought replacing a steel brace with a aluminum 3 piece one with 4 bolts in it would be better. Just a way to spend $100.

[Haegon]

Originally Posted by benzo23

Just take the 100$ and go to the bar, you'll get better use out of it.

[benzo23]

Whats crazy is how some people will spend $1300 on the carbon fiber performance strut bar lmao

[Haegon]

I really like the look of them, but as is said above plenty of times, with such a stiff chassis, the difference won't really be noticeable.

[Dark_Knight_335]

I bought the Dinan performance strut tower brace because A) it looks great and B) it makes working under the hood so much easier than that shit OEM brace thing.