» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | | | | | | | 08-10-2014, 11:55 PM | #1 | Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: MEDINA, Wa. Posts: 46 | FRONT LOWER BRACE BAR | | | 08-11-2014, 12:37 AM | #2 | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Wichita Falls, Texas Posts: 1,364 | Never seen this one before. I assume it's a substitute for the oem x-brace. I can tell you that the oem brace makes a noticeable difference. John | | | 08-11-2014, 03:24 AM | #3 | Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: MEDINA, Wa. Posts: 46 | ` My assumption also - looks good - Four attachment points - Correct me but doesn't the OEM brace have six attachment points - | | | 08-11-2014, 03:31 AM | #4 | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: norcal - 94590 Posts: 3,186 | 4 mounting points, but 6 mounting bolts. For the price, the OEM brace is the better choice, since they can be had new for $15 more and used for about $100 __________________ James 95 active w/leather interior and sport interior conversion, Vaders, full M-Tech exterior conversion. Now m50 swapped* Eibach sway bars, D2 Coilovers, Depo's w/AE's, blacked-out sides and grills, LeatherZ console and door armrests, 1 series starter button mod, and custom finished Style 5's <--- in this color! Named "Roddy": *M50 6 cyl. swap with fan delete, S50 cams and chip, AFE stage 2 intake, M3 clutch and 11.5 lb Fidanza flywheel, 3.15LSD, battery relocated to rear and complete custom exhaust. Sweet! 97 318ti sport, Alaska Blue, Contours, coilovers, Dove Vaders and custom black/grey interior named "Max" 95 318ti Active in Cosmos, S50 swap in progress... named "Pit" SUPPORT 318ti.org! CLICK THE LINK ABOVE! Hosting a forum like this is not free. 318ti.org is one of the best BMW forums on the web because it is member supported, not vendor supported. The cost to become a Supporter is a nominal $10.00... A YEAR! DO IT! NOW! | | | 08-11-2014, 04:13 AM | #5 | Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: MEDINA, Wa. Posts: 46 | | | | 08-12-2014, 04:17 AM | #6 | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Wichita Falls, Texas Posts: 1,364 | I second the motion for the oem piece. My gut tells me that it's better engineered. Good luck either way. John | | | 08-14-2014, 06:04 AM | #7 | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: SLO, CA Posts: 168 | FRONT LOWER BRACE BAR I honestly couldn't feel any difference with the OEM lower brace. However, I'd already installed Koni Sport adjustable struts, H&R Sports, PowerFlex bushings and Dunlop Direzzas. But I prolly won't remove it, since it provides a measure of oilpan protection. Makes me wonder if an upper strut brace is worth it, either. I autocross and track this car. Your mileage may vary... __________________ Sleeper Calypsorot 1996 318ti tintop. CA-legal swapped S52 from '98 M3, and ZF transmission with lightened flywheel/clutch. Magnaflow 2-into-1 muffler. Six-cylinder Eibach springs in front and 318ti H&R Sport springs in rear. Koni Sport adjustable dampers all around. Racing Dynamics 28mm & 19mm swaybars. M3 front hubs/brakes, E34 rear calipers, braided SS brake lines, Hawk HP-S pads. DS-II wheels. Polyflex purple bushings throughout, and factory lower x-brace. Fan delete mod. Engine mount reinforcements welded-in. 3.25 LSD rear diff from E28 & E30 axles. | | | 08-14-2014, 07:27 AM | #8 | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: norcal - 94590 Posts: 3,186 | Quote: Originally Posted by Strawman I honestly couldn't feel any difference with the OEM lower brace. However, I'd already installed Koni Sport adjustable struts, H&R Sports, PowerFlex bushings and Dunlop Direzzas. But I prolly won't remove it, since it provides a measure of oilpan protection. Makes me wonder if an upper strut brace is worth it, either. I autocross and track this car. Your mileage may vary... | Geoff; Add a strut brace to your current setup and you will feel a difference. It's all about geometry, and I feel that both elements tied together make the best impact. By themselves, each part is good, but tying all the points together has the greatest impact... __________________ James 95 active w/leather interior and sport interior conversion, Vaders, full M-Tech exterior conversion. Now m50 swapped* Eibach sway bars, D2 Coilovers, Depo's w/AE's, blacked-out sides and grills, LeatherZ console and door armrests, 1 series starter button mod, and custom finished Style 5's <--- in this color! Named "Roddy": *M50 6 cyl. swap with fan delete, S50 cams and chip, AFE stage 2 intake, M3 clutch and 11.5 lb Fidanza flywheel, 3.15LSD, battery relocated to rear and complete custom exhaust. Sweet! 97 318ti sport, Alaska Blue, Contours, coilovers, Dove Vaders and custom black/grey interior named "Max" 95 318ti Active in Cosmos, S50 swap in progress... named "Pit" SUPPORT 318ti.org! CLICK THE LINK ABOVE! Hosting a forum like this is not free. 318ti.org is one of the best BMW forums on the web because it is member supported, not vendor supported. The cost to become a Supporter is a nominal $10.00... A YEAR! DO IT! NOW! | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |