cold air intake on a brand new Handschalter Ed.

[Michael DeVoge]

What does anyone think about installing a cold air intake on a new Handschalter Ed. I know better than to put a tuning module on it.
but I never thought a cold air intake was going to cause any problems. My dealer, of course, is telling me it will void my engine warranty.
I know there is a law against that. They would have to prove that the intake I installed caused a lean condition and damaged the engine.

 

[Pondy]

They would have to prove that the intake I installed caused a lean condition and damaged the engine.

I would have thought it would be the other way around; ie you would have to prove it didn't. And I would bet BMW have better lawyers than you.
My advice is don't touch anything until the BMW warranty is finished. Just not worth the risk.

 

[B21]

Why on earth would you replace a superbly efficient design capable of supporting much more BHP than yours with an expensive after market one that in almost all probability would function worse?

 

[Michael DeVoge]

Okay. You talked me out of it. But the one thing I'm going to do is replace those cheap ugly Strut Tower Braces.
I replaced them on the 21 Supra that I had. I'd like to use the same ones on the Z4. I bought them on Ebay. They
were a couple hundred bucks as I recall. They were red and gray and had the word "BLITZ" on them. I just don't know
if they make the same ones to fit a G29. What are you G29 owners doing with your strut tower braces ?

 

[B21]

Okay. You talked me out of it. But the one thing I'm going to do is replace those cheap ugly Strut Tower Braces.
I replaced them on the 21 Supra that I had. I'd like to use the same ones on the Z4. I bought them on Ebay. They
were a couple hundred bucks as I recall. They were red and gray and had the word "BLITZ" on them. I just don't know
if they make the same ones to fit a G29. What are you G29 owners doing with your strut tower braces ?

I suspect most UK G29 owners are in mortal fear of breaking their warranties!-

 

[GrinnyGrl]

Okay. You talked me out of it. But the one thing I'm going to do is replace those cheap ugly Strut Tower Braces.
I replaced them on the 21 Supra that I had. I'd like to use the same ones on the Z4. I bought them on Ebay. They
were a couple hundred bucks as I recall. They were red and gray and had the word "BLITZ" on them. I just don't know
if they make the same ones to fit a G29. What are you G29 owners doing with your strut tower braces ?

Not sure they are really strut braces. Looks like a simple support for the radiator. They is ugly though.

 

[Phillies8008]

I'm replacing the hideous strut braces with these from Burger Motorsports (US).

My theory is that someone in Purchasing at BMW accidentally ordered 25,000 cheap aluminum lawn chairs and had to figure out something to do with them.

 

[B21]

Not sure they are really strut braces. Looks like a simple support for the radiator. They is ugly though.

Yup some one called them strut braces but its radiator bracket..no structural strength in it..the real strut brace is a complex one piece fab sitting under the scuttle near the bulkhead..

 

[Pondy]

the real strut brace is a complex one piece fab sitting under the scuttle near the bulkhead..

Not exactly complex though are they Peter?
Just a big lump of (usually) aluminium to 'tie' the front damper mounts together. Only remotely useful if the car is heavily 'tracked' or raced, to stop the top mount steel protusions from bending under extreme lateral loads.

 

[B21]

Not exactly complex though are they Peter?
Just a big lump of (usually) aluminium to 'tie' the front damper mounts together. Only remotely useful if the car is heavily 'tracked' or raced, to stop the top mount steel protusions from bending under extreme lateral loads.

I'm sure if the G29 or E89 didn't need them then BMW wouldn't have fitted them..neither are track cars..

I'd bet that the design was subject to a very large amount of CAD/CAE time.

Certainly the E89 uses a lot of bracing to get around structural limitations of the basic pressed steel body.

On the E89 it specifically prohibits driving the car without the braces fitted.

As discussed those on the G29 at the front appear to be there to hold the radiator in place and provide a modicum of support for very minor front end taps...