Strut bar advise

chrisw335i · 11-18-2011, 10:31 PM

Hello all...I need some advice on what strut brace to get. I have read online and here and cant make a good decision on which performs and looks the best.. I know there are many brands and styles out there, does anyone have any experience or opinions on what setup would be the best? TIA!!

yakev724 · 11-18-2011, 11:28 PM

OEM M3. ~$320

aj555 · 11-19-2011, 12:04 AM

http://www.vipcustomparts.com/aboutus.htm

Scroll down. $125 shipped, and you dont have to remove it to add oil. A friend of mine has one in his 135i, and the quality is good.

JDLM · 11-19-2011, 12:09 AM

///M3

chrisw335i · 11-19-2011, 09:36 AM

for those who said M3..is it really worth the price being its looks very similar as the stock design, and not an additional bar that ties the struts together like the BMW Performance Bar does. The M3 kit basically keeps the V style bracing, and something like the BMW Performance brace keeps the stocker and makes a triangle style brace, which seems to add more rigidity through multiple pressure points????

tscdennab · 11-19-2011, 10:00 AM

I think the M3 strut bar is worth it, much stronger than stock. If you get a "straight" brace,make sure you get a straight one (like Dinan) and not a curved one, especially not curved up.

capo1m · 11-19-2011, 11:13 AM

i just bought the aluminum bmw performance strut bar.. looks good and cost effective.. although according to research the aluminum expans when heated a lot more compared to carbon fiber and can actually cause a reverse effect. my opinion is bmw wouldnt make a strut bar to have negative effects.. i got mine for $250 pm me if anyone wants one

chrisw335i · 11-19-2011, 11:55 AM

Im sure if its an M3 part its got to be good..BMW has set the bar with handling and control with the M3. I already have many of the M3 Suspension Bits, so it might be beneficial to me to stay the course with M3 brace

joegeeZe · 12-02-2011, 11:26 PM

What about the ECS strut bar? Any thoughts/experiences with this?

yakev724 · 12-05-2011, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joegeeZe

What about the ECS strut bar? Any thoughts/experiences with this?

Also curious to see if anyone has this installed. From the design, I can't imagine it would be very supportive.

SmellyGreek · 12-09-2011, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yakev724

Also curious to see if anyone has this installed. From the design, I can't imagine it would be very supportive.

Does this clear the N54 airbox? It's only listed as a choice for the N52 engine.

YoYosE90 · 12-21-2011, 04:57 PM

I have an E90 335 and I got the VIPcustomparts one. heres the link: http://vipcustomparts.com/aboutus.htm - scroll to the bottom. It says its for the 135, but it fits perfectly. I was going to go with a masonengineering one, but I was unable to drive the distance to get dimensions measured. I really like this VIP one because it does not block the stock airbox or oil cap. It is similar to the dinan one, and it is what I've been looking for- another alternative to the M3 one and one that connects both strut towers.

11-18-2011, 10:31 PM	#1
chrisw335i First Lieutenant 13 Rep 377 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW 335i Coupe Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Columbus, Ga. iTrader: (3)	Strut bar advise Hello all...I need some advice on what strut brace to get. I have read online and here and cant make a good decision on which performs and looks the best.. I know there are many brands and styles out there, does anyone have any experience or opinions on what setup would be the best? TIA!! __________________ 2007 335i Coupe 6AT - Sports Package - Premium Package - Procede V5 Rev 2.5 - Vishnu PWM - Vishnu DCI - Vanguard Exhaust - AR Downpipes - Helix FMIC - 19" Avant Garde M6 Reps - Michelin Pilot Super Sports - Bilstein PSS10 - M3 Suspension Bits - M3 Sway - M3 Strut Brace - GP Thunder -Forge DV -15% Tint - Aero Lip
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11-18-2011, 11:28 PM	#2
yakev724 Brigadier General 245 Rep 3,563 Posts Drives: 15 S3 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: NYC iTrader: (49)	OEM M3. ~$320
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11-19-2011, 12:04 AM	#3
aj555 Second Lieutenant 11 Rep 251 Posts Drives: 2012 BMW xDrive35i Join Date: May 2011 Location: Tampa, Florida iTrader: (3) Garage List 2000 BMW 328ci [0.00] 2012 BMW X5 xDrive35i [0.00]	http://www.vipcustomparts.com/aboutus.htm Scroll down. $125 shipped, and you dont have to remove it to add oil. A friend of mine has one in his 135i, and the quality is good. __________________ 2012 BMW X5 xDrive35i E70 Sport Activity (Wife's Daily Driver) 2000 BMW 328ci E46 - less than 90k miles (Gone) 2007 BMW 335i E90
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11-19-2011, 12:09 AM	#4
JDLM Banned 73 Rep 3,276 Posts Drives: 2009 335i Sedan Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Kansas iTrader: (4)	///M3
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11-19-2011, 09:36 AM	#5
chrisw335i First Lieutenant 13 Rep 377 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW 335i Coupe Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Columbus, Ga. iTrader: (3)	for those who said M3..is it really worth the price being its looks very similar as the stock design, and not an additional bar that ties the struts together like the BMW Performance Bar does. The M3 kit basically keeps the V style bracing, and something like the BMW Performance brace keeps the stocker and makes a triangle style brace, which seems to add more rigidity through multiple pressure points???? __________________ 2007 335i Coupe 6AT - Sports Package - Premium Package - Procede V5 Rev 2.5 - Vishnu PWM - Vishnu DCI - Vanguard Exhaust - AR Downpipes - Helix FMIC - 19" Avant Garde M6 Reps - Michelin Pilot Super Sports - Bilstein PSS10 - M3 Suspension Bits - M3 Sway - M3 Strut Brace - GP Thunder -Forge DV -15% Tint - Aero Lip
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11-19-2011, 10:00 AM	#6
tscdennab Banned 156 Rep 1,809 Posts Drives: BMW 335i Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Europe iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW [6.24]	I think the M3 strut bar is worth it, much stronger than stock. If you get a "straight" brace,make sure you get a straight one (like Dinan) and not a curved one, especially not curved up.
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11-19-2011, 11:13 AM	#7
capo1m Colonel 91 Rep 2,030 Posts Drives: 1M, M4 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Middletown,Ny iTrader: (17)	i just bought the aluminum bmw performance strut bar.. looks good and cost effective.. although according to research the aluminum expans when heated a lot more compared to carbon fiber and can actually cause a reverse effect. my opinion is bmw wouldnt make a strut bar to have negative effects.. i got mine for $250 pm me if anyone wants one __________________ AW E82 1M MW F82 M4
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11-19-2011, 11:55 AM	#8
chrisw335i First Lieutenant 13 Rep 377 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW 335i Coupe Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Columbus, Ga. iTrader: (3)	Im sure if its an M3 part its got to be good..BMW has set the bar with handling and control with the M3. I already have many of the M3 Suspension Bits, so it might be beneficial to me to stay the course with M3 brace __________________ 2007 335i Coupe 6AT - Sports Package - Premium Package - Procede V5 Rev 2.5 - Vishnu PWM - Vishnu DCI - Vanguard Exhaust - AR Downpipes - Helix FMIC - 19" Avant Garde M6 Reps - Michelin Pilot Super Sports - Bilstein PSS10 - M3 Suspension Bits - M3 Sway - M3 Strut Brace - GP Thunder -Forge DV -15% Tint - Aero Lip
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12-02-2011, 11:26 PM	#9
joegeeZe Private First Class 14 Rep 170 Posts Drives: 2007 328i Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Freehold iTrader: (1)	What about the ECS strut bar? Any thoughts/experiences with this?
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12-21-2011, 04:57 PM	#12
YoYosE90 Lurking Member and prior E46Fanatic 5 Rep 65 Posts Drives: '08 AW 6MT 335i Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Springs iTrader: (2) Garage List 2008 BMW 335i [8.90]	Strut Bar Alternative I have an E90 335 and I got the VIPcustomparts one. heres the link: http://vipcustomparts.com/aboutus.htm - scroll to the bottom. It says its for the 135, but it fits perfectly. I was going to go with a masonengineering one, but I was unable to drive the distance to get dimensions measured. I really like this VIP one because it does not block the stock airbox or oil cap. It is similar to the dinan one, and it is what I've been looking for- another alternative to the M3 one and one that connects both strut towers. Attached Images
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