OEM Strut Brace fitted

GP20 said:
Not really a good idea to fit the strut brace backwards. It's designed to break in a certain direction and allow the crumble zone to do its thing in the event of a front crash. You take that way and you probably end up feeling the impacts yourself instead of letting the car absord the energy.
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I take your point, but what i find odd is that the fitment of the OEM brace for the 3 series is the opposite way round to the Z4, i.e the way Jack has it fitted on his :?
 
could the position (i.e. bend forward or back) be due to where the components on the engine are placed? Where are the strut towers relative to the engine in the 3 series versus Z4? In a head-on collision, I don't think it will matter which way it's placed as it will most probably move as a unit toward the rear. Saw the new X5 crash test car at the Zentrum in SC. The crumple zones are so exact, looked like someone had bent things over a forming jig. Had it been fitted with a brace, it would have moved with the strut towers rearward and down.
 
I think they are a bit of a snake oil thing on this car.

The sub-frame under the engine is really tied down to the chassis legs moving forward, then you have the front slam panel, then you have the struts linked to the bulkhead... having that bit of metal over the middle just looks like it won't do anything. If the two were not there going back, fair enough, but they are there... plot the forces that land at the strut top now, they go through and push right back against the other strut anyway already, via a very stiff bulkhead.

Am I missing something?!

Dave
 
Well the extra rigidity the strut brace adds to the front end has improved stability and roadholding. Also the feedback from the steering is much more predictable, and the more planted feel of the front end gives more confidence in carrying extra speed through the corners especially over unfavourable surfaces, probably down to the reduced flexing from the struts. Like i said in an earlier post im still running Bridgestones RFTs, and have also noticed reduced tramlining.

So imo the strut brace for the Z4 serves its purpose, otherwise what would be the point in making one?
 
There wasn't much difference at all on the coupe, but-call it placebo effect if you want--she did fill more "up on her toes", just a shade quicker on turning.

Really, though, on the coupe, it is a majority "bling" factor. I think it should have more of an effect on the roadster.
 
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