Snapped strut brace?

Yeah, it's most likely nothing. Get the strut arm replaced and the geo checked then enjoy :thumbsup:
 
Not seen that before. I have had to weld a couple of mounting brackets up for members, but the brace itself has been fine.

Does look like a very clean break which is worrying..

Mike
 
Hmmm looked at my struts
Mine have bracket on the mount that has a fixed bolt
Then the nut goes onto once strut in place
Looking at pic I can't see any indentation for crumple but I'll look tomorrow when get car out:)
 
Looks too clean to be a break to me, an impact with enough force to snap it would surely bend it first and require quite a bit of movement of the shock tower. But seems to line up perfectly. If the one from the other side fits then I wouldn't be worried about an impact, just the mental state of whoever did it!

If it was cut you have to wonder why and how long it's been driven like that. As a structural item don't drive until fixed.
 
Scooba_Steve said:
Looks too clean to be a break to me, an impact with enough force to snap it would surely bend it first and require quite a bit of movement of the shock tower. But seems to line up perfectly. If the one from the other side fits then I wouldn't be worried about an impact, just the mental state of whoever did it!

If it was cut you have to wonder why and how long it's been driven like that. As a structural item don't drive until fixed.
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Just another thought
Wouldn't if a smack so to speak has happened with enough force to allegedly split this bar
Wouldn't the brackets both on strut tower and the bulk head be damaged ?
Hence forcing the strut to move upward and snap?

Just me thinking allowed
I think it's been cut personally
Op, could you post a couple of up close and personal pics of the break please as we could see better if a stress fracture/ failure or cut ?
 
What do you reckon?

The only reason I noticed is because it started making noise against the bonnet, which it wasn't doing when I picked it up.

So if it was cut then it's only just come apart, so to speak.

Real head scratcher...
 

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Hey buddy
It has a few little bits of where it looks like been stressed
But blimey that is one clean break
I'd expect some form of zigzag along break
But also I'd expect some form of marking along edges from where a blade would have made a rasp or back and forth type score along it

Still looks far to neat for a break to me
As if were at a crumple zone you would expect distortion from were burst upward or downward or even splayed edging
Plus as said breakage at anchor points on car ???
Odddddd
 
Given that it's a ten year old car and the brace has broken at the thinnest point, could it just be old metal + vibration at work?
 
Then why has no one else's?
Mine are fine
Is expect a more stressed looking fracture
That's as clean as it gets
Replace keep an eye on it buddy
 
Really weird, no cut marks but so clean. I'd be tempted to ask BMW Engineering to take a look, maybe it's not an original/genuine?
 
Definitely looks like fatigue - if it was sawn there would be teeth marks on the break. Just seems strange that this is the first one I've heard of.
 
LukyBowler said:
Thanks @MachineMonkey how much would you like for it? That's very kind.

I hope it wasn't crashed but I guess you never know... I bought it privately and it seemed straight and the guy worked for the AA and seemed honest. He wouldn't budge on his price which always makes me feel good in a strange way as it makes me feel they have confidence in the car!
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If I have one I am sure I do you can have it cover postage and make a forum donation :thumbsup:
 
markeg said:
Definitely looks like fatigue - if it was sawn there would be teeth marks on the break. Just seems strange that this is the first one I've heard of.
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Certain to be fatigue. I'm sure you know they are notched on the underside so if in a heavy impact they fold and don't transmit a crash impact to the bulkhead. Fatigue would just make a nice neat break

As above never heard of one breaking other than on the strut tower, but then again these cars are ageing now, so new things happen
 
If I have one I am sure I do you can have it cover postage and make a forum donation :thumbsup:
[/quote]

Brilliant, thanks so much. Please let me know tomorrow if you have one and I'll arrange payment for postage and the forum donation :)
 
LukyBowler said:
What do you reckon?

The only reason I noticed is because it started making noise against the bonnet, which it wasn't doing when I picked it up.

So if it was cut then it's only just come apart, so to speak.

Real head scratcher...
Click to expand...

There's a fracture site in the middle of the flat area of the tube. Because it's designed for tensile loads, over time the crack has propagated round the tube until the tensile load finally pulled it apart.

It does demonstrate that they, the struts, do serve a purpose.
 
So... given that this snapped in my first 3 weeks of ownership and results from cornering load etc... does that make me a driving God? :driving: :P
 
LukyBowler said:
So... given that this snapped in my first 3 weeks of ownership and results from cornering load etc... does that make me a driving God? :driving: :P
Click to expand...

could be that or could be loads of abuse from previous owner :D i'll give the the benefit of the doubt though... Griving god

I'd check your engine mount brackets because the bolts on them tend to snap due to cornering load as well... and replace them with the revised part before a bolt snaps in the block.
 
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