[Josephkao]

Originally Posted by Ron************

Hotchkis X- Brace will not fit on the stock exhaust currently(will fit aftermarket exhaust). However there is going to be a fix in this coming week hopefully, we have a car going down to Hotchkis. We've got the X-Braces in-stock.

[IMG]http://www.**********s.com/images/Products/Hotchkis/820_2_.jpg[/IMG]

do you mean all the one that you sold will not fit the stock exhaust of the 3 series.

[Mr. 5]

Originally Posted by Ron************

Hotchkis X- Brace will not fit on the stock exhaust currently(will fit aftermarket exhaust). However there is going to be a fix in this coming week hopefully, we have a car going down to Hotchkis. We've got the X-Braces in-stock.

[IMG]http://www.**********s.com/images/Products/Hotchkis/820_2_.jpg[/IMG]

You are partly correct.
It will fit the e92 stock exhaust but it won't fit the e90 stock exhaust.

The question that we are trying to figure out is if the e92 bar will fit the e90 if we use the appropriate thrust rods.

Have you tried to fit an OEM e92 cross brace on an e90 with stock exhaust?
This is what we're trying to figure out.

[Mr. 5]

I just installed the e92 brace, and I am 99.999% sure that this brace will fit over the stock e90 exhaust.
Here are the pics of my brace over my exhaust and you can see that my resonators are in the same exact place as the e90 resonator.
Look at the picture and see how the bars come from the plate.
I was thinking that the bar might hit the stock resonator but it doesn't extrude out in that direction.
I believe that the fitment over the stock exhaust has been answered.

I went for a quick drive. It didn't feel that much different, but I didn't drive that much.
It might have seemed a bit stiffer, but it may be placebo.

[sambonator]

How's the sound of the exhaust now without the X pipe and with the resonators?

[Mr. 5]

Originally Posted by sambonator

How's the sound of the exhaust now without the X pipe and with the resonators?

Honestly, I liked it with the X pipe better.
I'm still thinking that I just have to get used to it, but I hate that.
I should just like it out of the box if you know what I mean.

It's obvious how I'm getting more flow though.
Who knows, maybe it will brake in and I'll like it in a couple weeks.
Or, maybe I'll just go back to the X pipe.

I drove to the muffler shop with no mufflers though.
I wanted to save the work and cost so I cut the X pipe out myself and drove with only the high flow cats muffling the noise.
It was sooo fricken loud. I never hit boost because I was scared to.

I took a vid of that. I'll see if I can upload it so you can hear.

[sambonator]

You're a brave soul to drive your car on the street with an open exhaust . I have cutouts on mine, so if I open them up, it is VERY LOUD... I tried it once on the street, and I was scared I was going to get pulled over .

I'm guessing without the X pipe, the exhaust sounds a bit "sharper"... mine is a bit "pulsy" or "farty"... that's why I got an X-pipe (haven't got it installed yet though) on ebay and I will get it welded in soon at the shop you recommended .

Its a perfect fit for the 335i exhaust.

[Mr. 5]

Originally Posted by sambonator

You're a brave soul to drive your car on the street with an open exhaust . I have cutouts on mine, so if I open them up, it is VERY LOUD... I tried it once on the street, and I was scared I was going to get pulled over .

I'm guessing without the X pipe, the exhaust sounds a bit "sharper"... mine is a bit "pulsy" or "farty"... that's why I got an X-pipe (haven't got it installed yet though) on ebay and I will get it welded in soon at the shop you recommended .

Its a perfect fit for the 335i exhaust.

Yah, you know, I really think I'm going back to get the X pipe put back because it's pretty bad. It's not obtrusive or anything, but it's not my cup of tee.

[Mr. 5]

Originally Posted by sambonator

You're a brave soul to drive your car on the street with an open exhaust . I have cutouts on mine, so if I open them up, it is VERY LOUD... I tried it once on the street, and I was scared I was going to get pulled over .

I'm guessing without the X pipe, the exhaust sounds a bit "sharper"... mine is a bit "pulsy" or "farty"... that's why I got an X-pipe (haven't got it installed yet though) on ebay and I will get it welded in soon at the shop you recommended .

Its a perfect fit for the 335i exhaust.

And here you go.
Money well wasted.
I should have just left it the way it was, but I learned the hard way.

The resonators made it louder, but it also made it sound like a honda.
It was horrible!
Anyway to stay on topic, here is the cross bar with the X pipe on.
The X pipe is in the same exact place as the OEM resonator, so even if the resonator sits down more than the X pipe, you can see that the bars won't hit the resonator.

[Josephkao]

Originally Posted by Mr. 5

And here you go.
Money well wasted.
I should have just left it the way it was, but I learned the hard way.

The resonators made it louder, but it also made it sound like a honda.
It was horrible!
Anyway to stay on topic, here is the cross bar with the X pipe on.
The X pipe is in the same exact place as the OEM resonator, so even if the resonator sits down more than the X pipe, you can see that the bars won't hit the resonator.

Please tell me where can I get the X pipe.
So the x pipe replaces the OEM resonator.

[sambonator]

Originally Posted by Josephkao

Please tell me where can I get the X pipe.
So the x pipe replaces the OEM resonator.

EBay, jegs.com, summitracing.com, or your local muffler shop may be able to order and install one for you, if they don't have one in stock. Either way, you'll have to have a muffler shop weld it in.

[rwalker]

Originally Posted by Mr. 5

I just installed the e92 brace, and I am 99.999% sure that this brace will fit over the stock e90 exhaust.
Here are the pics of my brace over my exhaust and you can see that my resonators are in the same exact place as the e90 resonator.
Look at the picture and see how the bars come from the plate.
I was thinking that the bar might hit the stock resonator but it doesn't extrude out in that direction.
I believe that the fitment over the stock exhaust has been answered.

I went for a quick drive. It didn't feel that much different, but I didn't drive that much.
It might have seemed a bit stiffer, but it may be placebo.

I finally have the parts from Tischer sitting in my garage.

To install, it looks like I'll be removing a bolt that holds a front corner of the rear subframe.

My questions, for those who have done this installation:

1. can I do this on ramps?
2. what are the torque specs for the bolts (one of them torx) I'll be R&Ring?

Thanks in advance,
Rob

[Mr. 5]

Originally Posted by rwalker

I finally have the parts from Tischer sitting in my garage.

To install, it looks like I'll be removing a bolt that holds a front corner of the rear subframe.

My questions, for those who have done this installation:

1. can I do this on ramps?
2. what are the torque specs for the bolts (one of them torx) I'll be R&Ring?

Thanks in advance,
Rob

There are 3 bolts that hold on the current thrust rod and one push pin that you will probably break, but they only cost something like 29 cents to replace.

I did it on ramps with no problems.
I don't know what the torque specs are but I just hand tightened the bolts for the thrust rods pretty damn tight!

When you drive up on the ramps, you will see that everything is self explanatory.

[rwalker]

Originally Posted by Mr. 5

There are 3 bolts that hold on the current thrust rod and one push pin that you will probably break, but they only cost something like 29 cents to replace.

I did it on ramps with no problems.
I don't know what the torque specs are but I just hand tightened the bolts for the thrust rods pretty damn tight!

When you drive up on the ramps, you will see that everything is self explanatory.

On my car, I see 2 bolts per side: one hex and one torx, outer and inner respectively.

Where's the push pin? I don't see it on my car, or on RealOEM (March 2007 e90, USA).

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...29&hg=33&fg=30

Thanks, and thanks again in advance.

-Rob

[Mr. 5]

Originally Posted by rwalker

On my car, I see 2 bolts per side: one hex and one torx, outer and inner respectively.

Where's the push pin? I don't see it on my car, or on RealOEM (March 2007 e90, USA).

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...29&hg=33&fg=30

Thanks, and thanks again in advance.

-Rob

There's a black cover that covers part of the thrust rod.
Look under the car and you'll see what I mean.
If you don't have the push pin then you're lucky, but there is another hex bolt under the plastic cover.

[rwalker]

Originally Posted by Mr. 5

I just installed the e92 brace, and I am 99.999% sure that this brace will fit over the stock e90 exhaust.

Confirmed. I haven't been able to install it yet (need a larger Torx socket, ug), but I did a test-align/pre-fit of the brace under my car. There's plenty of clearance for the stock resonators and no interference with the stock mufflers.

I'll post pics once I have it installed.

-Rob

[Mr. 5]

Originally Posted by rwalker

Confirmed. I haven't been able to install it yet (need a larger Torx socket, ug), but I did a test-align/pre-fit of the brace under my car. There's plenty of clearance for the stock resonators and no interference with the stock mufflers.

I'll post pics once I have it installed.

-Rob

Awesome!
That's what I thought.

[rwalker]

Originally Posted by Mr. 5

Awesome!
That's what I thought.

As promised, installed pics.

The first shot is an "overall shot".

The second shot is a close-up of the clearance under the stock resonators.

The third and fourth shots are the interesting ones. They are close-ups of the clearance below the stock heat shield, which is obviously notched to accept this brace.

No driving impressions yet.

-Rob

[Mr. 5]

Originally Posted by rwalker

As promised, installed pics.

The first shot is an "overall shot".

The second shot is a close-up of the clearance under the stock resonators.

The third and fourth shots are the interesting ones. They are close-ups of the clearance below the stock heat shield, which is obviously notched to accept this brace.

No driving impressions yet.

-Rob

This is what I figured.
Great news to see that everything is confirmed.
Did you ever see the plastic push pins that I was talking about?

[rwalker]

Originally Posted by Mr. 5

This is what I figured.
Great news to see that everything is confirmed.
Did you ever see the plastic push pins that I was talking about?

Ah! Yes. Were I forced to name them, I'd probably call them "plastic rivets".

I broke the first (passenger side) one. The second one, I used a small punch to gently push the center up through and out, after which the body was easily removed. Saved $0.29, woo-hoo!

-Rob

[stressdoc]

I wonder if the M-sport E90s in Euro have this brace. And what does the E90 M3 look like?

[Mr. 5]

Originally Posted by stressdoc

I wonder if the M-sport E90s in Euro have this brace. And what does the E90 M3 look like?

The e90 M3 does not have this brace since the rear subframe bushings are much stiffer than the 335.

[Gooby]

so how's the ride difference..cuz since we have no brace i would think this would help some what?