Should I bother buying a strut bar?

miringrains · 06-24-2013, 11:14 AM

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

ChipB · 06-24-2013, 12:30 PM

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 · 06-24-2013, 01:46 PM

Quote:

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 · 06-24-2013, 02:53 PM

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 · 06-24-2013, 04:24 PM

Just for looks!

Dark_Knight_335 · 06-24-2013, 04:36 PM

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 · 06-24-2013, 05:42 PM

Quote:

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 · 06-24-2013, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torgus

Quote:

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.

Ah good. Thank you!

benzo23 · 06-24-2013, 05:53 PM

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

edirtaynine · 06-24-2013, 06:03 PM

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 · 06-24-2013, 06:05 PM

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

06-24-2013, 06:44 PM

Quote:

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 · 06-24-2013, 06:49 PM

Interesting thread on one of my fav sites:

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

335okc · 06-24-2013, 07:07 PM

Quote:

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 · 06-25-2013, 08:05 AM

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 · 06-25-2013, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benzo23

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

+1

Ml3456 · 06-25-2013, 08:45 AM

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 · 06-25-2013, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benzo23

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

benzo23 · 06-25-2013, 10:49 AM

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

Haegon · 06-25-2013, 10:52 AM

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 · 06-25-2013, 11:36 AM

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.

06-24-2013, 11:14 AM	#1
miringrains Banned 78 Rep 702 Posts Drives: '11.5 M3 E93 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: New York iTrader: (2)	Should I bother buying a strut bar? I figured for $100 its not a bad investment to stiffer the towers, is there any noticeable difference?
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06-24-2013, 12:30 PM	#2
ChipB First Lieutenant 57 Rep 374 Posts Drives: 2015 M4, 2022 X5, 2014 X5 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Vero Beach, FL iTrader: (0)	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). __________________ F83 M4 convertible, F15 X5 xDrive35i Previous: E93 335i, E36 328iC, E28 528e, E21 320i
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06-24-2013, 02:53 PM	#4
benjlv Private First Class 6 Rep 138 Posts Drives: 97 m3, 06 330i, '13 x3, '14 x5 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Metro Detroit iTrader: (1)	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 $20k compact car where the margins are narrow. i suspect that the chassis is already substantially stiff. As far as i know there is no BMW factory strut brace like the X brace that benefits the e36 chassis. And from owning both a e36 and a e90, i can tell you the chassis of the e36 feels like a limp noodle compared to the e90.
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06-24-2013, 04:24 PM	#5
roadkillrob Major General 892 Rep 5,475 Posts Drives: 08 335i,22 X3M, 2012 C63 Black Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: NH iTrader: (15)	Just for looks! __________________ 2025 X5 Msport 2008 E93 335i FBO 2012 Mercedes C63 Black Series Alanite Grey
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06-24-2013, 04:36 PM	#6
Dark_Knight_335 Came to the N55 Darkside 1131 Rep 12,740 Posts Drives: 2011 335 E93 M-Sport Join Date: May 2010 Location: NY/NJ iTrader: (28)	Got a strut brace for my E93. Starting to think it was a mistake- I have this irrational fear that it's stopping my car from flexing the way it should. Overreaction?
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06-24-2013, 05:53 PM	#9
benzo23 Colonel 74 Rep 2,848 Posts Drives: 14 F30 AW MSport Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: FL iTrader: (1)	Just take the 100$ and go to the bar, you'll get better use out of it.
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06-24-2013, 06:03 PM	#10
edirtaynine Major General 84 Rep 6,088 Posts Drives: e92 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	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 __________________ e90post killed plastidip Just say no to painted stock wheels jm3as hooks it up
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06-24-2013, 06:05 PM	#11
CJ421 Brigadier General 1919 Rep 4,201 Posts Drives: BMW G80 M3 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: PA, USA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2024 BMW M3 Sedan [9.67]	They're ineffectual in our cars ...the chassis is super stiff as-is. __________________ 2024 BMW M3 Sedan Frozen Pure Grey II/Fjord Blue, 6MT Past: 2021 Z4 M40i Frozen Grey II/Black Alcantara \| 2017 F30 340i Mineral Gray/Coral Red, 6MT \| 2011 E92 335i Le Mans Blue/Black, 6MT
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06-24-2013, 06:49 PM	#13
Dark_Knight_335 Came to the N55 Darkside 1131 Rep 12,740 Posts Drives: 2011 335 E93 M-Sport Join Date: May 2010 Location: NY/NJ iTrader: (28)	Interesting thread on one of my fav sites: http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=574560
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06-25-2013, 08:05 AM	#15
ChasVS Colonel 41 Rep 2,431 Posts Drives: 2012 MB ML350 Bluetec Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Central FL iTrader: (10)	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. __________________ My speeding isn't the problem. It's the Slow Folks ahead of me that cause accidents!
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06-25-2013, 08:45 AM	#17
Ml3456 Second Lieutenant 23 Rep 264 Posts Drives: 2018 X1 & 335i E93 Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Chicago West Burbs iTrader: (0)	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.
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06-25-2013, 10:49 AM	#19
benzo23 Colonel 74 Rep 2,848 Posts Drives: 14 F30 AW MSport Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: FL iTrader: (1)	Whats crazy is how some people will spend $1300 on the carbon fiber performance strut bar lmao
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06-25-2013, 10:52 AM	#20
Haegon New Member 2 Rep 8 Posts Drives: 2009 BWM 335i Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Orlando, FL iTrader: (0)	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.
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06-25-2013, 11:36 AM	#21
Dark_Knight_335 Came to the N55 Darkside 1131 Rep 12,740 Posts Drives: 2011 335 E93 M-Sport Join Date: May 2010 Location: NY/NJ iTrader: (28)	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.
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