[dape90]

Hi All,

Has anyone here fitted either the BMW performance strut brace or aftermarket version on their e90?

Does it make any difference or is it a complete waste if time and money?

I am looking at trying to find a few ways to improve high speed handling and grip for my trackdays this year.

I have fitted barces before and they did help a little but none of the other cars i have had were BMW's!.

Any thoughts on this or any tips would be great.

Cheers

Daniel

[Yahoo]

I have replaced the stock strut brace with an OEM M3 brace - it really is very good and has stiffened up the front end significantly.

[dape90]

Yahoo,

How much did you pay for this brace?

D

[Yahoo]

I can't remember tbh - it needs to be ordered as individual components from BMW. I think it weighed in at between £150 and £200 in total.

[doughboy]

I've done the same recently. its much better than other braces, it really makes the front feel darty and play free.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...61&hg=51&fg=75

about 190 quid all in.

[Yahoo]

Hello DB - I thought you'd be along soon.

Mine has significantly reduced rattles and creaks around the dash also. When you take the standard one out, you realise how inadequate it is compared to the M3 item.

[doughboy]

Yep, mine too, but even the previous weichers brace i had did that toa certain extent.

Especially over speed bumps / slow undulations etc, all trace of creaks gone.

But the M3 brace is structurally much stronger as it is a 3 point brace, not a 2 point brace like aftermarket ones (or the flimsy BMW perf ones). It ties both strut towers together AND then secures them to the bulkhead.

Also the M3 brace looks great, subtle but high quality die cast aluminium parts, and nice M logo'd top clamp covers.

[Captain Chaos]

Strategic opportunity Anneka, time for a group buy!

[m1bjr]

Originally Posted by doughboy

Yep, mine too, but even the previous weichers brace i had did that toa certain extent.

Especially over speed bumps / slow undulations etc, all trace of creaks gone.

But the M3 brace is structurally much stronger as it is a 3 point brace, not a 2 point brace like aftermarket ones (or the flimsy BMW perf ones). It ties both strut towers together AND then secures them to the bulkhead.

Also the M3 brace looks great, subtle but high quality die cast aluminium parts, and nice M logo'd top clamp covers.

Excellent intel, thank you.
Will get this ordered next month

To the OP, if you are looking at better high speed handling, what area is the car lacking?
Straight line stability, corner entry or exit, braking???

I would suggest adjusting the suspension geometry to suit your application initially.
And if that wont sort it, only then move to bolting bits on...

I find bracing is more of a 'fine fettling' excercise.
Often a little subjective too, you can 'feel' what the car is doing more at the limit.
As for improving a lap time? Nah. Not on the E90 which is a pretty rigid chassis out of the box.
Steve

[doughboy]

Steve, the m3 brace does fit straight on, its a bit fiddly getting the 'v' yoke into the bulkhead area.

Also the stud/nut combo at the inboard end of the brace arms (items 8 & 4 on the real oem fiche) will foul the underside of the scuttle plate on our cars as the m3 has a completely different scuttle / micro filter assembly.

This stud/nut combo needs replacing with a slim headed bolt, i'm running with the stud missing until i get a new couple of bolts, M6 i think, but i need to pop into a hardware store with the spare studs!

[toxicnerve]

db,

I assume you can't use the bolt/nut assembly that was originally in place?

[Yahoo]

Originally Posted by toxicnerve

db,

I assume you can't use the bolt/nut assembly that was originally in place?

No - you need to purchase new bolts etc - the 6 that secure the brace to the top of the struts are expensive buggers too, over £5 a go IIRC.

The only one that is reusable is the bolt that secures the brace to the bulk head (no. 6 on real OEM).

[toxicnerve]

Ah ok.

Just looking at THIS GUIDE.

Clearly, to installed the new strut you have to undo the top mounts, will this not throw your suspension/alignment settings out of whack? Would a 4-wheel alignment/KDS be required after this mod?

[Yahoo]

I had M3 geometry dialled in after installation - but I don't know whether this installation threw my geometry out at all.

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by toxicnerve

Ah ok.

Just looking at THIS GUIDE.

Clearly, to installed the new strut you have to undo the top mounts, will this not throw your suspension/alignment settings out of whack? Would a 4-wheel alignment/KDS be required after this mod?

No, if your strut tops are still keyed into the factory locating spigot (they will be unless you've cut them off to alter the fixed camber) then loosening the strut top nuts will do nothing.

Even without the spigot, the strut tops won't move if you don't move the car as the whole car weight is on them, even if they did move, they would only move 1/2mm or so within the stud hole clearances with no tangible effect on settings.

[toxicnerve]

My spigots were knocked out during a (badly performed) Hunter Alignment, thankfully had a well performed KDS done since then!!

[giotecno]

Will this M3 OEM brace fit a E90 320d

[DavS1]

Think I'll need to purchase one of these next

[Yahoo]

Originally Posted by giotecno

Will this M3 OEM brace fit a E90 320d

It will be a direct replacement for the stock strut brace - it just depends on whether the M3 brace will obstruct your cowling / scuttle plate. It does get in the way on the 335i, but this can be overcome relatively easily.

[m1bjr]

Anyone got a kit of parts # to save my eyes?

[Alpina_B3_Lux]

Originally Posted by m1bjr

Anyone got a kit of parts # to save my eyes?

Here you go:

• 51617900821 Ring, dome cross-brace, left
• 51617900822 Ring, dome cross-brace, right
• 51618044553 Strut brace (you need two of those)
• 51618045860 Mount for strut brace
• 51617891281 Covering cap (you need two of those)
• 51618046445 Stud (two of those) *
• 51717898374 Stud (4 of those)
• 07119904401 Hex bolt (2)
• 07146954965 ASA-Bolt with circlip
• 07146963730 Torx bolt (2)
• 51717895241 Hex nut (6)
• 31316769731 Self-locking collar nut (6) *

You will have to replace the items marked with an (*) as otherwise the brace will interfere with the microfilter assembly.

Alpina_B3_Lux

[toxicnerve]

Guys that have done this, have you declared to insurance? Did it impact your insurance much?