[NoGuru]

It looks like it doesn't match but I can assure you it does. I think it's the angle.

[Biginboca]

Originally Posted by NoGuru

It looks like it doesn't match but I can assure you it does. I think it's the angle.

Did you just do the 2 side pieces or did you add some under the middle of the bumper also?

[NoGuru]

Originally Posted by Biginboca

Did you just do the 2 side pieces or did you add some under the middle of the bumper also?

Sorry, just the sides. I have a 335IS so it's all muffler in the middle.

[Biginboca]

Small update... deleted the rear seats yesterday.





This took off another 40lbs or so and brings the car to right around 300lbs total weight loss. Should be somewhere between 2,950lbs and 3,000lbs. I don’t have any more weight loss mods in mind now. I’m still running the full oem interior and trunk liners. Road noise is unchanged from stock too!

[Phil325i]

Originally Posted by Biginboca

Road noise is unchanged from stock too!

Surprised noise hasn't changed. Whenever I drive with my rear seat backs folded down, the Perf Exhaust sounds loads louder!

[Vivek.]

20% less weight than my e92. Incredible! Have you gotten it on a scale to see how your distribution is?

[Biginboca]

Originally Posted by Vivek.

20% less weight than my e92. Incredible! Have you gotten it on a scale to see how your distribution is?

Funny you should ask, I just figured it up this morning lol. (As best I can without getting it on a scale.)

I did a lot of reading and research as best I can see my car was 3250-3300lbs stock. Subtracting 300lbs gets me to say 3000lbs.

I know where the lbs of weight changes were on the car...

I figure about 140lbs from either over or behind the back tires with trunk lid, rear seats, lithium battery, muffler, and rear bumper carrier.

The roof and front seats dropped 100lbs from the center section, plus the 50lbs weight loss from Apex wheels and non runflat tires doesn’t affect the weight distribution.

For the front only the hood, catless headers, and the front bumper carrier dropped weight, like 40lbs but then I added some weight back with the oil cooler and some chassis bracing.

So the distribution of weight off the car is biased to the rear with probably like 120lbs more off the rear than the front.

So assuming the car was 50/50 weight distribution stock and is now 3000lbs I get weights of 1560lbs front and rear 1440lbs, or a weight distribution of 52/48.

I just did a search for weight distribution on some other good handling cars and found the Camaro SS1LE is 54/46 and so is the current Mustang GT with the performance pack. And both of those are supposed to be great handling rwd cars. So I think it’s changed some from stock but is not a huge detriment that can’t (maybe already has) been addressed with suspension and rubber.

[Biginboca]

Originally Posted by Phil325i

Surprised noise hasn't changed. Whenever I drive with my rear seat backs folded down, the Perf Exhaust sounds loads louder!

Same here! It was noticeably louder with seats folded but not so with these panels installed.

[Vivek.]

Here's my weight data based on a local truck scale that's always on. Reads in 10lb increments and seems pretty accurate based on me standing on it (or weighing the car with/without me sitting in it--can't remember but I suspect its more accurate with several thousand lbs on it vs just my skinny ass).

2011 335is, 55% indicated fuel level. Bone stock other than m3 sized re71r tires
1880lb front (52%)
1740lb rear (48%)

[Phil325i]

Hi Al (OP). Knowing how much you like bracing, I thought I'd share my latest effort. A bar to link the lower fixing points of the two front 'fender braces'. Further sharpens the steering and reduces flexing of the body shell over bumps.

[Biginboca]

Phil325i Thats awesome bro! You went straight across and attached the 2 fender brace points? How long and thick is the brace, what did you use? Looks like aluminum bar stock?

[Phil325i]

Yes, aluminium bar. 1m long x 6mm thick x 25mm wide. Cut to length, and I put a slight bend in each end to match the angle of the fender bar end piece.

[Biginboca]

Originally Posted by Phil325i

Yes, aluminium bar. 1m long x 6mm thick x 25mm wide. Cut to length, and I put a slight bend in each end to match the angle of the fender bar end piece.

So I’ve been contemplating what you did and wondering how much difference it could make. The front crash bar fixes the 2 frame rails ahead of where you added your brace and it seems like whatever rigidity your brace adds would already be well handled by the crash bar which attaches at the ends of the frame horns with 4 large bolts and it’s extremely rigid:



Your brace definitely doesn’t add much weight but I don’t see how it can benefit without some sort of triangulation. I also considered using a 1” square aluminum tubing instead of your flat bar stock seems like the square tubing would add more rigidity if there is a benefit and you wanted to maximize bracing at the point you added it:

Unpolished (Mill) 1008-1010 Steel Square Tube, 1" Square Tube, 0.083" Wall Thickness, 0.0834" Inner Diameter, 4' Length https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003TPFK8U..._WGl2FbKBHS13D

[ornicar]

Originally Posted by Biginboca

So I've been contemplating what you did and wondering how much difference it could make. The front crash bar fixes the 2 frame rails ahead of where you added your brace and it seems like whatever rigidity your brace adds would already be well handled by the crash bar which attaches at the ends of the frame horns with 4 large bolts and it's extremely rigid:

[img]https://i.postimg.cc/3NmQs3Ct/1609-D...A9055-FB09.jpg[/img]

Your brace definitely doesn't add much weight but I don't see how it can benefit without some sort of triangulation. I also considered using a 1" square aluminum tubing instead of your flat bar stock seems like the square tubing would add more rigidity if there is a benefit and you wanted to maximize bracing at the point you added it:

Unpolished (Mill) 1008-1010 Steel Square Tube, 1" Square Tube, 0.083" Wall Thickness, 0.0834" Inner Diameter, 4' Length https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003TPFK8U..._WGl2FbKBHS13D

Convertible reinforcement bar is another solution. This + Phil bar can make a winner combo (triangulation) don't you think? But you are correct the crash bar seems to ever doing the job.

You, 3 series owners, are lucky to have the fiting point (Nº2) on the longeron. 1 series don't have it except convertibles of course.

[Biginboca]

Originally Posted by ornicar

Convertible reinforcement bar is another solution. This + Phil bar can make a winner combo (triangulation) don't you think? But you are correct the crash bar seems to ever doing the job.

You, 3 series owners, are lucky to have the fiting point (Nº2) on the longeron. 1 series don't have it except convertibles of course.

Now what you have suggested there seems right on the money. This is the breakdown of parts for the e93 front braces:



Looking at that diagram there’s a lot of parts the e92 lacks which would have to be added (or fabricated) to mount them to the center of the subframe, but those 2 braces (parts 1 and 2) anchored at the subframe in the center, plus a crossbar like Phil added, would really do something worthwhile to box up the front. This would be very similar in function to the braces visible behind the grill of the F80.

Part #1:
51617135647
Diagonal rod, front, left

Part #2:
51617135648
Diagonal rod, front, right

It looks to me like part number 6 (faded out from the center of that part diagram) would need to be added to a E90/E92 subframe to mount those diagonal braces. I can’t find a part number for it though I did find this image of a e93 subframe and that shows the part mounted on it:



Edit:

Found another pic from a e93 subframe. Looks like that piece is welded to the subframe not a bolted on part. It contains the mounting point for those V braces (circled in red). So another way to mount those braces would have to be added to the existing subframe.

[Tambohamilton]

I've seen a thread before about retrofitting these. Can't remember where though, sorry....

[Biginboca]

Originally Posted by Tambohamilton

I've seen a thread before about retrofitting these. Can't remember where though, sorry....

Thanks for that. I just found it!

https://www.1addicts.com/forums/show...=999751&page=2

I ordered some of the parts and will see how my retrofit goes. Seems pretty straightforward there’s a bracket you can attach to the subframe with some nutserts (same type of nutserts the M3 front brace uses), then just swap the 2 short fender braces the E92 has for the longer bars from the E93. If it all works out I’ll post up all the part numbers.

[ornicar]

Originally Posted by Biginboca

Thanks for that. I just found it!

https://www.1addicts.com/forums/show...751&page=2

I ordered some of the parts and will see how my retrofit goes. Seems pretty straightforward there's a bracket you can attach to the subframe with some nutserts (same type of nutserts the M3 front brace uses), then just swap the 2 short fender braces the E92 has for the longer bars from the E93. If it all works out I'll post up all the part numbers.

Exact!

this is what i did. (without the front V braces)

be careful your plastic underpanel won't fit. There is a special P/N for the cab.


In my opinion if you have hydraulic steering rack M3 plate reinforcement is better than the underside V braces.

## The M10 Hexagonal insert nuts are difficult to fit without a correct tool.##

edit: sorry i forgot that you ever have the M3 reinforcement plate.

it can be a little tricky to fit the front bracket with the m3 reinforcement plate.

[ornicar]

Originally Posted by Biginboca

Now what you have suggested there seems right on the money. This is the breakdown of parts for the e93 front braces:



Looking at that diagram there's a lot of parts the e92 lacks which would have to be added (or fabricated) to mount them to the center of the subframe, but those 2 braces (parts 1 and 2) anchored at the subframe in the center, plus a crossbar like Phil added, would really do something worthwhile to box up the front. This would be very similar in function to the braces visible behind the grill of the F80.

Part #1:
51617135647
Diagonal rod, front, left

Part #2:
51617135648
Diagonal rod, front, right

It looks to me like part number 6 (faded out from the center of that part diagram) would need to be added to a E90/E92 subframe to mount those diagonal braces. I can't find a part number for it though I did find this image of a e93 subframe and that shows the part mounted on it:



Edit:

Found another pic from a e93 subframe. Looks like that piece is welded to the subframe not a bolted on part. It contains the mounting point for those V braces (circled in red). So another way to mount those braces would have to be added to the existing subframe.

"This would be very similar in function to the braces visible behind the grill of the F80."

I totally agree with your remark.

This is exactly what I told to myself after studying how the F80 reinforcements came out.

I am really curious to know your feedback once the pieces are assembled.

[J4mesW]

Originally Posted by intervigil

Managed to fit it in.

View post on imgur.com

Thanks for the pics and pointers!



I'll hit 270 driving up in the mountains, 280 driving down to southern California in the middle of summer. To be fair, it has been abnormally hot this year with >100F temps. I don't have issues, but stabilizing the oil temps at 240-250F is peace of mind for me.

Did you fit the oil line connect the oil cooler and oil filter housing? Seems the secondary air pump will block it.

[Biginboca]

[Tambohamilton]

That's added weight!