Strut Bar and Tower bars

FD3S · Post by **FD3S** » Sat Jun 30, 2018 9:08 pm

The last week a noise started braking my nerves while driving the car. The sound was metallic and today that I went to the mechanic, we discovered that I have a broken Tower brace. You can see attached the images.
Should I buy a new one or should I weld the old one? Is it something that will happen again?

Ducklakeview · Post by **Ducklakeview** » Sat Jun 30, 2018 9:27 pm

I've seen quite a few of these, I believe there was a recall or QA fix for sub standard welds..

Mike

Mangozac · Post by **Mangozac** » Sat Jun 30, 2018 10:33 pm

Either way there's a fair bit of metalwork and rewelding required

The part itself is surprisingly cheap though, so I'd just replace it:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/part?id ... 1007193040

Worcester_spoon · Post by **Worcester_spoon** » Sat Jun 30, 2018 11:32 pm

Looks like it’s the bracket that’s broken, not the bar, so looks like it’ll need welding whatever you do.p (*edit* which I’ve just realised is exactly what the other 2 answers say - note to self, read the whole thread first!)

Vanne · Post by **Vanne** » Sun Jul 01, 2018 11:29 am

Just weld up the bracket, no worries

FD3S · Post by **FD3S** » Sun Jul 01, 2018 8:26 pm

Ducklakeview wrote: ↑Sat Jun 30, 2018 9:27 pm I've seen quite a few of these, I believe there was a recall or QA fix for sub standard welds..

Mike

Duck thanks for the answer. I googled yesterday for any recalls for the Z4M but couldn't find anything related. Let me know if you have something in mind.

Post by **srhutch** » Sun Jul 01, 2018 8:41 pm

I don’t believe there has been a recall for this issue.

FD3S · Post by **FD3S** » Sun Jul 01, 2018 9:03 pm

Mangozac wrote: ↑Sat Jun 30, 2018 10:33 pm Either way there's a fair bit of metalwork and rewelding required
?
The part itself is surprisingly cheap though, so I'd just replace it:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/part?id ... 1007193040

Xaxa indeed it must be the cheeper thing about our cars.

Guys would you think the replacement with a full kit of tower and strut bars? I found the following available options for our cars.
The OEM solution is not valid since it is sold out.

Strong Struts
http://www.strong-strut.com/Z4/front_%2 ... rut/Z4.htm

Turner Motorsorts
https://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-1225 ... r-m-coupe/

Cosmo Racing
https://www.cosmoracing.com/E85-E86-MRO ... 54-MZ4-Z4M

Racing Dynamics
https://www.racdyn-usa.com/PROD/196+99+85+011.html

Mechunic
https://bimmian.com/Accessories-for-BMW ... rs/?veh=Z4

Mason Engineering
http://www.masonengineering.net/Subpages/Z4.htm

Post by **srhutch** » Sun Jul 01, 2018 9:59 pm

Quick look at those and think they all use factory mounts so no good for you.

There is one, normally in White that would work though but no idea of quality

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ultra-Racing ... SwmrlU1OTa

Beedub · Post by **Beedub** » Tue Jul 03, 2018 11:30 pm

This has been happening for ages, this is one of many ive seen reported, ive had a strut brace and shock tower reinforcement on my car for most of its life and id like to think this has negated some of the twist those braces may experience ( more the SB) So far so good tbh..... imo the SB is cheap insurance as it created the triangle of braces leading to a stiffer platform. FWIW most the car i see this happen to are track type suspension z4ms.... not really the stock stuff...

Mangozac · Post by **Mangozac** » Wed Jul 04, 2018 12:36 am

Beedub wrote: ↑Tue Jul 03, 2018 11:30 pm This has been happening for ages, this is one of many ive seen reported, ive had a strut brace and shock tower reinforcement on my car for most of its life and id like to think this has negated some of the twist those braces may experience ( more the SB)

Got a pic of your shock tower reinforcements, Beedub?

Beedub · Post by **Beedub** » Wed Jul 04, 2018 6:24 pm

Mangozac wrote: ↑Wed Jul 04, 2018 12:36 am
Beedub wrote: ↑Tue Jul 03, 2018 11:30 pm This has been happening for ages, this is one of many ive seen reported, ive had a strut brace and shock tower reinforcement on my car for most of its life and id like to think this has negated some of the twist those braces may experience ( more the SB)
Got a pic of your shock tower reinforcements, Beedub?

ill take a look and see what i have

FD3S · Post by **FD3S** » Fri Jul 06, 2018 9:19 pm

Beedub wrote: ↑Tue Jul 03, 2018 11:30 pm FWIW most the car i see this happen to are track type suspension z4ms.... not really the stock stuff...

Beedub thanks for the answer.
bumpy roads here might be an explanation, because I never track the car and I still have the stock suspension.

FD3S · Post by **FD3S** » Fri Jul 06, 2018 9:22 pm

srhutch wrote: ↑Sun Jul 01, 2018 9:59 pm Quick look at those and think they all use factory mounts so no good for you.

There is one, normally in White that would work though but no idea of quality

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ultra-Racing ... SwmrlU1OTa

Thanks srhutch looks solid and serves all the needs at once.

TomK · Post by **TomK** » Fri Jul 06, 2018 10:36 pm

FD3S wrote: ↑Fri Jul 06, 2018 9:22 pm
srhutch wrote: ↑Sun Jul 01, 2018 9:59 pm Quick look at those and think they all use factory mounts so no good for you.

There is one, normally in White that would work though but no idea of quality

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ultra-Racing ... SwmrlU1OTa
Thanks srhutch looks solid and serves all the needs at once.

If you had a normal Z yes, but these won't fit the M, oil filler cap gets in the way iirc.

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