Wanted OEM strut brace

[Attilio]

Hi,

Since I missed out on the post where Fishy Dave was selling his OEM strut brace, I decided to advertise that I’m looking for an OEM strut brace for my Z4MC.

Anyone has a “spare” one to sell? :wink:

I might settle for non-OEM but the original is by far the preferred option.

Thanks in advance!
A

 

[VRSteve]

E46 M3 item fits

 

[Crazy Harry]

Is that just a fit for the Z4M or will they fit an E85 3.0?

 

[markplant]

Have a look at strong strut, or ask machine monkey if has time to make you one, as alternate options

 

[dannytheduck1985]

Sorry but the OEM strut brace is absolutely awful. Little bits of tat metal.

If you want a proper bit of engineering and a strut brace that looks good (no generic s**t), speak to machine monkey. I think he may of downed tools but for the right money I’m sure he will make you one.

 

[Attilio]

Thanks for all the advice guys!

Happy new year!
A

 

[Truth]

Sorry but the OEM strut brace is absolutely awful. Little bits of tat metal.

If you want a proper bit of engineering and a strut brace that looks good (no generic s**t), speak to machine monkey. I think he may of downed tools but for the right money I’m sure he will make you one.

Have to disagree mate, The chrome CSL one I have seems good quality and I don’t think BMW would put it on their flagship car at the time if it wasn't.
If you want extra strength the Mason Engineering and Rogue Engineering ones are great.

 

[Crazy Harry]

Is that just a fit for the Z4M or will they fit an E85 3.0?

Anyone?

 

[VRSteve]

Is that just a fit for the Z4M or will they fit an E85 3.0?

Anyone?

Same shell so no reason why it shouldn't fit.

Only issue you might have is the positioning of the brace might block the oil cap so you'd have to remove the cap to top up the oil.

 

[Crazy Harry]

Is that just a fit for the Z4M or will they fit an E85 3.0?

Anyone?

Same shell so no reason why it shouldn't fit.

Only issue you might have is the positioning of the brace might block the oil cap so you'd have to remove the cap to top up the oil.

Only that Fishy Dave listed his ///M brace as not fitting 3.0si

 

[srhutch]

Anyone?

Same shell so no reason why it shouldn't fit.

Only issue you might have is the positioning of the brace might block the oil cap so you'd have to remove the cap to top up the oil.

Only that Fishy Dave listed his ///M brace as not fitting 3.0si

That’s because of the oil filler. Some seem to fit the brace the wrong way round to get round this issue though.

 

[VRSteve]

Anyone?

Same shell so no reason why it shouldn't fit.

Only issue you might have is the positioning of the brace might block the oil cap so you'd have to remove the cap to top up the oil.

Only that Fishy Dave listed his ///M brace as not fitting 3.0si

As I said, the oil filler clearance might be an issue.

If you already know the answer why ask the question???

 

[Crazy Harry]

Because you suggested using these

E46 M3 item fits

So what your saying is that these are an ideal fit for a Z4M - which was where I came in with my first question.

I now assume that they are a direct fit for an M but not the 3.0si because of the position of the oil filler. In which case I would fit an aftermarket one. Thanks all.

 

[Attilio]

Sorry but the OEM strut brace is absolutely awful. Little bits of tat metal.

If you want a proper bit of engineering and a strut brace that looks good (no generic s**t), speak to machine monkey. I think he may of downed tools but for the right money I’m sure he will make you one.

Have to disagree mate, The chrome CSL one I have seems good quality and I don’t think BMW would put it on their flagship car at the time if it wasn't.
If you want extra strength the Mason Engineering and Rogue Engineering ones are great.

Hi Truth,

thanks for the additional information, I was looking at some of the search results and came across these two options from Wiechers - very reasonably priced:

steel version: http://www.wiechers-sport.de/en/sho...-e86---3-2l-domstrebe-stahl-vorne-oben-detail

alluminium version: http://www.wiechers-sport.de/en/sho...2l-domstrebe-alu-racingline-vorne-oben-detail

I wonder if anyone on the forum has had experience with these products...

 

[Truth]

I have a weichers aluminium one on my work horse and it performs well, looks well made and is lightweight. Though the mason engineering ones match the black cross braces that are already on the zed. Vanne has one. If I hadn’t got my chrome CSL one I’d of got one of these

 

[Attilio]

I have a weichers aluminium one on my work horse and it performs well, looks well made and is lightweight. Though the mason engineering ones match the Matt black cross braces that are already on the zed. Vanne has one. If I hadn’t got my chrome CSL one I’d of got one of these

Hi,

I just found a 2016 thread about the Wiechers strut brace
yes, the Mason Engineering looks like the proverbial dog's :wink: :wink: but it's a bit more than I want to spend at this point in time (car + massive Irish import duty & road tax bill + a few unexpected things to fix... ) also the missus may start getting annoyed

thanks for the feedback and info!
A

 

[Coffee331]

Same shell so no reason why it shouldn't fit.

Only issue you might have is the positioning of the brace might block the oil cap so you'd have to remove the cap to top up the oil.

Only that Fishy Dave listed his ///M brace as not fitting 3.0si

As I said, the oil filler clearance might be an issue.

If you already know the answer why ask the question???

Just for clarity...(might be a stupid question but anyway...), are you saying an e46 six cylinder strut bar will fit a z4 (ignoring the oil cap issue)? The e46 bars are a fraction of the price of a z4 one

 

[srhutch]

THis is the one Truth and I have.

Did't pay this for it though luckily.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-NEW-GENUINE-3-SERIES-E46-M-FRONT-STRUT-TOWER-BRACE-ALUMINIUM-0395077/202147761449?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649

 

[Truth]

THis is the one Truth and I have.

Did't pay this for it though luckily.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-NEW-GENUINE-3-SERIES-E46-M-FRONT-STRUT-TOWER-BRACE-ALUMINIUM-0395077/202147761449?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649

Nor me. Gulp!!!

 

[Bing]

This one is a more palatable price :

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-3-SERIES-E46-M3-COUPE-CONVERTIBLE-GENUINE-FRONT-STRUT-BRACE-BAR-7895141/263329744736?fits=Plat_Gen%3AE46%7CCars+Type%3AM3+3.2&epid=12009808267&hash=item3d4fad0760:g:MQMAAOSwRbtaKThE

I’d prefer it in black as it would match the firewall braces already in place. I assume this is the same as the silver one above ?

Comes with the nice ///M covers too 8)