Strut Bar Snap
- Thread starter Kaide
- Start date
Wow, the old Z4 nose really must twist quite a bit! Looks like a weld job to me...
Before noticing this, I noticed the car drove a bit different. It would pick a line and want to drive it, and in order to get it to turn, there would be a very slight resistance in the wheel, but as soon as i pushed over it, it would pick its new line... this is probably why. That and the right side is still connected.Beedub said:
I'm surprised this did happen. I'm also of the opinion that BMW should sort this out.
I've taken mine to the limits of tire adheasion and beyond on the track at pahrump (18 or so turns) for several sessions before I got the strut and don't even have a crack in the welds.
Most likely it was just a bad weld, should be too difficult to get it rewelded.
I've taken mine to the limits of tire adheasion and beyond on the track at pahrump (18 or so turns) for several sessions before I got the strut and don't even have a crack in the welds.
Most likely it was just a bad weld, should be too difficult to get it rewelded.
From what I can see it's nothing more than a fatigue fracture where the thin bracket is bent and stamped creating a weak point, not actually the brace bar. Prolonged vibration or flexing, not a single big bump will have done that.
Have it welded, strut top treated and sprayed including underside and good as new.
Doubt BMW will have any interest at all.
Have it welded, strut top treated and sprayed including underside and good as new.
Doubt BMW will have any interest at all.
They told me $475. They are going to remove the bracket, install a new one, and repaint.
I told the guy, I DO NOT want it to be welded back, I want a new bracket, and to take a look at the other side.
He said he informed BMW and is trying to see if I can get any discount on it, especially b/c I raised hell when I went in there. I called them 3 times over 5 hours and no one returned my call, unsat. :thumbsdown:
I told the guy, I DO NOT want it to be welded back, I want a new bracket, and to take a look at the other side.
He said he informed BMW and is trying to see if I can get any discount on it, especially b/c I raised hell when I went in there. I called them 3 times over 5 hours and no one returned my call, unsat. :thumbsdown:
MarkC said:
Are you sure about that? As far as I know replacement rear braces uses the same bracket between strut top and centre of bulkhead. Mine does. The added cross braces bolt to the top of the shock tower.
See image:
cj10jeeper said:
I guess I wasn't clear, I didn't mean that any and/or all strut bars do allow attachment of the side braces directly to them. I meant that I would find a brand which does have the attachment for the side braces (I was thinking of more of a complete unit, all three braces in one kit). I don't know how many companies make these products for the Z4, perhaps there is one company out there does does/did make one the way I described.
Looking at Dinan's Stage 2 Supplemental Front Strut Tower Braces http://www.dinancars.com/store/product.php?productid=1022&cat=388&page=1 it's hard to tell by the photo, but I wonder if the Dinan side braces attach directly to the Dinan strut top mounts.
Sure if you could find and aftermarket full set-up that bolted onto the strut housing then you could bypass the need to repair the OEM bracket. Still requires purchasing a full strut brace kit and set up, with the implications that has for insurance and much higher cost to do.
Still leaves the OEM bracket broken and a problem when selling the car. I think it has to be welded and/or replaced.
Still leaves the OEM bracket broken and a problem when selling the car. I think it has to be welded and/or replaced.
So I got my car back, and here's what they did. Although the quoted price to fix was $475, BMW NA split the costs 50/50 even though I'm out of warranty. Total to me was only $275. I agree with what you guys were saying about the aftermarket parts, but wanted it to be welded back on the side of the tower for future purchase of Dinan Strut Brace... I'll be ordering this week. I agree with MarkC, it is hard to tell by the photo, but I guess they're only the cross bars. Which by the way they charged me for. They replaced a perfectly good bar with a new one... whatever, I have my car back.
I agree that you have done the right thing and had the OEM part fixed (as I suggested it should be) regardless of being able to fit an aftermarket part.
Great that BMW at least contributed as it's not something that should fail
Great that BMW at least contributed as it's not something that should fail
