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Strut brace

"M" Specific discussion
nickw6666
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Strut brace

Post by nickw6666 » Thu Sep 05, 2019 5:19 pm

Argenta wrote: Wed Sep 04, 2019 3:48 pm Well, this dude is not an engineer - clearly.
IF you brace an area that was previously PLAIN AIR - you WILL have an effect. It's just a question of how much & if you will notice it as a driver.

Don't listen to fools.
I don't really understand what you're saying here. :?

From what I understand, the quoted statement is that BMW have provided the required bracing with the standard diagonal brace set up. We know the chassis is already very stiff.

So I don't know the answer to this but I'm reading into this that BMW M Engineers felt the level of bracing was correct for the cars application. Now of course you can continue to stiffen, but the question would be would that improve things or actually detract from the handling set up?

I would think a strut brace would be a low cost item for BMW to fit if they thought they needed it, but then would it the case that the standard set up is fine for road use but if you are tracking the car regularly or want the extra bracing to sharpen the front even more at the expense of some compliance then you add a brace aftermarket etc?
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Strut brace

Post by srhutch » Thu Sep 05, 2019 6:33 pm

nickw6666 wrote: Thu Sep 05, 2019 5:19 pm
Argenta wrote: Wed Sep 04, 2019 3:48 pm Well, this dude is not an engineer - clearly.
IF you brace an area that was previously PLAIN AIR - you WILL have an effect. It's just a question of how much & if you will notice it as a driver.

Don't listen to fools.
I don't really understand what you're saying here. :?

From what I understand, the quoted statement is that BMW have provided the required bracing with the standard diagonal brace set up. We know the chassis is already very stiff.

So I don't know the answer to this but I'm reading into this that BMW M Engineers felt the level of bracing was correct for the cars application. Now of course you can continue to stiffen, but the question would be would that improve things or actually detract from the handling set up?

I would think a strut brace would be a low cost item for BMW to fit if they thought they needed it, but then would it the case that the standard set up is fine for road use but if you are tracking the car regularly or want the extra bracing to sharpen the front even more at the expense of some compliance then you add a brace aftermarket etc?
The plain air being over the top of the engine. As a result the turrets will be braced more now they are connected together and back to the firewall.
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Argenta
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Strut brace

Post by Argenta » Fri Sep 06, 2019 8:21 am

Correct.
And, BMW themselves sold the brace as OEM accessory.
It just wasn't vital enough to put on every car they made, they saved that cost (not negligable).

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mr wilks
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Post by mr wilks » Fri Sep 06, 2019 7:03 pm

Argenta wrote: Fri Sep 06, 2019 8:21 am Correct.
And, BMW themselves sold the brace as OEM accessory.
It just wasn't vital enough to put on every car they made, they saved that cost (not negligable).
So they would be similar to aero skirts , umbrellas & plug in cool bags then :oops:
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Post by Argenta » Mon Sep 09, 2019 10:51 am

It's to our interpret each I suppose :)

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Post by Attilio » Mon Sep 09, 2019 3:36 pm

mmm-five wrote: Wed Sep 04, 2019 1:40 pm BMW also considered Contisport M3 tyres suitable for the Z4M as they’d been fine on the M3.
But they never seemed to work as well on the Z4.

They also signed off the terrible suspension.

Shows they don’t know everything.
Agreed! moreover, everything is a compromise between cost and benefit: I am inclined to think that sorting out the suspension set up was going to cost a lot of money and would have driven the price of the Z4M up too far.
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Franzino
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Strut brace

Post by Franzino » Mon Sep 16, 2019 2:34 pm

FYI I have a original Z4M Strut Brace for sale ;)
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=113774

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Post by fogle » Fri Sep 20, 2019 9:56 am

I have a mint bmw oem z4m strut brace for sale all nuts and black caps.

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Post by JoshsZ4M » Sat Oct 12, 2019 3:59 pm

I was following this thread with interest. Here’s the one I’ve invested in :)
I’ve yet to drive it, but I can see how it will be stiffer than the tubular ones. I reserve judgement on the handling improvement until I’ve driven it, but I do like the look of it if nothing else 😂
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Post by baconJazz » Sat Oct 12, 2019 4:14 pm

Would it make a difference on the stiffer coupe I wonder ? :driving:
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RedUn
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Post by RedUn » Sat Oct 12, 2019 6:15 pm

baconJazz wrote: Sat Oct 12, 2019 4:14 pm Would it make a difference on the stiffer coupe I wonder ? :driving:
Of course, the coupe is stiffer overall but the front end is the same as the roadster :thumbsup:
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Post by Simon 3.2M » Sat Oct 12, 2019 8:46 pm

JoshsZ4M wrote: Sat Oct 12, 2019 3:59 pm I was following this thread with interest. Here’s the one I’ve invested in :)
I’ve yet to drive it, but I can see how it will be stiffer than the tubular ones. I reserve judgement on the handling improvement until I’ve driven it, but I do like the look of it if nothing else 😂
Looks very well made and purposeful!!
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Post by Angelus666 » Sun Oct 13, 2019 12:44 pm

Where did you buy that one...looks nice! :thumbsup:

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Post by Beedub » Mon Oct 14, 2019 12:36 pm

JoshsZ4M wrote: Sat Oct 12, 2019 3:59 pm I was following this thread with interest. Here’s the one I’ve invested in :)
I’ve yet to drive it, but I can see how it will be stiffer than the tubular ones. I reserve judgement on the handling improvement until I’ve driven it, but I do like the look of it if nothing else 😂
that looks fantastic... thats a serious brace!
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JoshsZ4M
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Strut brace

Post by JoshsZ4M » Mon Oct 14, 2019 1:22 pm

Angelus666, was on eBay but from a pretty reputable brand... here’s the link 👍👍

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 3094296733
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