Where to source strut brace

Rossm09 · Post by **Rossm09** » Tue Sep 14, 2021 11:34 pm

Iv had a bit of a dig online and struggling to find where to buy a strut brace?
Cheers

Optinium · Post by **Optinium** » Tue Sep 14, 2021 11:45 pm

Gonna follow this, I've seen a few but when digging deeper every one has mixed results. 2 I've seen/wanted are no longer made as well, was thinking maybe the one from the E46 M3 but they're pretty pricey for a heavily used part and still need some modification. Hopefully there is nice off the shelf one suggested.

RedUn · Post by **RedUn** » Wed Sep 15, 2021 12:15 am

There is a z4 specific oem one, rocking horse these days though..

AndyBeech · Post by **AndyBeech** » Wed Sep 15, 2021 12:20 am

The E46 M3 does fit, only needs modding if you run the camber pin still, which if you want any kind of meaningful camber you won’t.
Not a perfect a fit as the Z4 specific one but much more availability. If it helps I picked one up off eBay 6 months ago for £145 in v good condition. Fit and forget, hasn’t given me any issues so far….

JamesClements · Post by **JamesClements** » Wed Sep 15, 2021 9:26 am

I ordered this one last year direct from Wiechers in Germany

https://www.wiechers-sport.de/en/shop/d ... ben-detail

I think it was about £100.00 delivered at the time. They also do one for the M, bolt straight in no need to modify anything. Can send a pic if you like

RvsBmw · Post by **RvsBmw** » Wed Sep 15, 2021 9:37 am

Rossm09 wrote: Tue Sep 14, 2021 11:34 pm Iv had a bit of a dig online and struggling to find where to buy a strut brace?

Hi Ross,

there different option:
- OEM z4 isnt in production anymore i think';
- OEM M3, will fit (i did also) but less space between engine (fuel rail) and the bar. Personal i wont buy it again, its to close and can damage the rail or motor mounts.
- Just go with the Skyer Motorsport ones, good 3-way strutbrace which is comming out soon

. Check there instagram and sent Jordan a message.

AndyBeech · Post by **AndyBeech** » Wed Sep 15, 2021 12:27 pm

RvsBmw wrote: Wed Sep 15, 2021 9:37 am
Rossm09 wrote: Tue Sep 14, 2021 11:34 pm Iv had a bit of a dig online and struggling to find where to buy a strut brace?
- OEM M3, will fit (i did also) but less space between engine (fuel rail) and the bar. Personal i wont buy it again, its to close and can damage the rail or motor mounts.

It is close but not that close, there's no contact, did you fit it properly? I've done numerous track days and general driving with it. Not sure how it can damage (I presume you mean) engine mounts?! Have you got any evidence of the above as I would be interested.

Skyer.....sure it'll be a bargain, they still flogging side covers for £300?

tomscott · Post by **tomscott** » Wed Sep 15, 2021 1:09 pm

I bought one for sale on here but they aren't cheap now and a few have come up for £300-350 not many were made. The M3 version will fit if the camber pin is removed. These are a bit cheaper.

XMetal · Post by **XMetal** » Wed Sep 15, 2021 2:38 pm

AndyBeech wrote: Wed Sep 15, 2021 12:27 pm It is close but not that close, there's no contact, did you fit it properly? I've done numerous track days and general driving with it. Not sure how it can damage (I presume you mean) engine mounts?! Have you got any evidence of the above as I would be interested.

Skyer.....sure it'll be a bargain, they still flogging side covers for £300?

The engine height is very much dependent on the condition of your motor mounts. The engine usually sit a bit lower as the motor mounts age, assuming that you're not running solid motor mounts. So...Your Mileage May Vary. It's not a blanket statement that just because the bar cleared your car without issues that it will do the same on another car with newer/different engine mounts

AndyBeech · Post by **AndyBeech** » Wed Sep 15, 2021 2:43 pm

XMetal wrote: Wed Sep 15, 2021 2:38 pm
AndyBeech wrote: Wed Sep 15, 2021 12:27 pm It is close but not that close, there's no contact, did you fit it properly? I've done numerous track days and general driving with it. Not sure how it can damage (I presume you mean) engine mounts?! Have you got any evidence of the above as I would be interested.

Skyer.....sure it'll be a bargain, they still flogging side covers for £300?
The engine height is very much dependent on the condition of your motor mounts. The engine usually sit a bit lower as the motor mounts age, assuming that you're not running solid motor mounts. So...Your Mileage May Vary...

Mine are virtually brand new and I’ve no contact…..so I really don’t think that’s an issue.

AndyBeech · Post by **AndyBeech** » Wed Sep 15, 2021 3:07 pm

XMetal wrote: Wed Sep 15, 2021 2:38 pm
AndyBeech wrote: Wed Sep 15, 2021 12:27 pm It is close but not that close, there's no contact, did you fit it properly? I've done numerous track days and general driving with it. Not sure how it can damage (I presume you mean) engine mounts?! Have you got any evidence of the above as I would be interested.

Skyer.....sure it'll be a bargain, they still flogging side covers for £300?

It's not a blanket statement that just because the bar cleared your car without issues that it will do the same on another car with newer/different engine mounts

Maybe not but again are we talking anything evidential or just musings? My point is that non-evidential / hypothetical information isn't very useful, anyone can assume that something might or might not be the case but without anything to back it up it's not that useful as 'information'.

I'm not particularly defending the M3 strut, I'd happily take it off if there's reason to, I'm not affiliated with it in any way!

I could happily sell it for what I brought it for so I've no reason to defend it, just passing on my actual experience with it so far which is the camber bolt needs removing and it slightly touches on the bonnet above one of the strut mountings.

I would agree though if Rvs said his was touching or close to it then I guess mileage can vary, seems odd though, should all fit the same. Maybe it was damaged, not fitted correctly, who knows, I'm not convinced it's engine mount related though. I think it's fair to say it's an imperfect solution but not unusable either.

Just as a reference point this is mine as fitted re: clearance

: D326B805-6162-4F0F-B707-43DC98FE015D.jpeg (108.91 KiB) Viewed 937 times

Jon2215 · Post by **Jon2215** » Wed Sep 15, 2021 4:27 pm

Reference Andys picture with the clearance,mines the same with the M3 brace,just about get my finger between the rail and brace.

Optinium · Post by **Optinium** » Wed Sep 15, 2021 5:48 pm

If purchasing from Ebay or second hand in general the Strut Brace could have came off a car that was in an accident and warped it slightly so if possible it's worth asking. How much did you peeps pay for the M3 brace?

Post by **srhutch** » Wed Sep 15, 2021 9:31 pm

As mentioned above M3 brace fits fine, just remove the camber pins or cut down like I did.

: D73BC090-2734-44D8-8F5A-E65080E97E5A.jpeg (59.93 KiB) Viewed 871 times

: CAEF43EA-FAD8-414F-97F8-544E192C9995.jpeg (64.45 KiB) Viewed 871 times

Jon2215 · Post by **Jon2215** » Wed Sep 15, 2021 9:52 pm

Optinium wrote: Wed Sep 15, 2021 5:48 pm If purchasing from Ebay or second hand in general the Strut Brace could have came off a car that was in an accident and warped it slightly so if possible it's worth asking. How much did you peeps pay for the M3 brace?

eBay last year £165 with all the mounting nuts and caps.

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