XBrace VS Rear Brace

[HuGo]

Just wondering...what would be better for me to put and actually feel the difference, an xbrace under the car, or the trunk rear brace/tower? What exactly does it do, all i know is its better control, tightens the car down, and better for steering/turning. Anything else im missing? And why would be the good reason to buy one of these anyway? And how would i feel the difference??

But anyway, anyone interested in any of these 2 that would want to start a GB? TIA

[pdxmotorhead]

Front will immediately be noticable,
Upper rear useless.
Lower "Butt Strut" is supposed to help the rear end track better.

Always stiffen the front before the back with any change. Make small changes 1 at a time if possible. Its easier to undo whatever screwed the car up if you know what you did...

Dave

[1996 328ti]

Originally Posted by pdxmotorhead

Front will immediately be noticable,
Upper rear useless.
Lower "Butt Strut" is supposed to help the rear end track better.

Cross brace actually works. The rear is debatable.
I don't think it would do a thing except make your wallet lighter.

[weezer]

I have all three of them: Front strut brace, front X Brace and rear upper strut brace (removable). I haven't quite tested the rear brace's benefits as of yet; I just recently got it, the fronts do give the car better steering response and I have autocrossed the car.
If you have bigger wheel and tire set up as well as upgraded suspension, I think the stress braces are pretty important; I think the rear may prevent that rumored E36/46 rear suspension mount failures(?)

[1996 328ti]

Strut braces are nothing more than eye candy unless it's going to be tied to something rigid. Take the front tower brace. This is my theory. One tower flex, both tower flex.


____________ (straight)
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____________ (turn)
/........../
/........../

____________ (turn)
\..........\
\..........\

[mohaughn]

And the x-brace if bmw oem equipment so you will only get it as cheap as a dealer will sell it wholesale.. Find somebody with a BMWCCA membership and ask them to buy it for you from a dealer.. You can get it for a little under 100$ without doing a GB..

[pdxmotorhead]

Originally Posted by 1996 328ti

Strut braces are nothing more than eye candy unless it's going to be tied to something rigid. Take the front tower brace. This is my theory. One tower flex, bother tower flex.


____________ (straight)
|..........|
|..........|

____________ (turn)
/........../
/........../

____________ (turn)
\..........\
\..........\

I agree.
The difference is in the camber on the loaded (Outside) wheel,
The total camber change in the loaded tire is less with a tower brace.
Its less noticeable with street tires. With full non dot race tires its very very noticeable. It also reduces the amount of flex experienced by the chassis over time, so less flex=less weld fatigue, chassis last longer. A "real" tower brace is tied into the chassis in a third point which really reduces the problem. You probably get 25% of the benefit with a tower to tower brace without a third attachment point..

Dave

[ClubSport]

The x-brace is HUGELY noticeable. Forget about the others unless you have a few hundred bucks without anything better to spend it on.

Plus just yesterday I was on a canyon run and came around a corner to find a small amount of landslide debris on the road. I thought I could straddle the one rock in my lane - WRONG. About a 5" diameter granite piece hit three bars on the x-brace and the cat before leaving without doing any damage. My oil pan would've been history without it.

[mooseheadm5]

E36/46 rear suspension failure involves the rear subframe ripping out of the floor of the car. It is a different setup than the ti, so the ti is not subject to this. It is very real, but a rear upper strut brace will not help. There are special strengthening bits available for those cars. Rear upper strut brace may actually help the rigidity of the rear of the car some, but because the springs do not bear against the tops of those towers, it will not help like the front one.

[Bam2002]

Really you can get the X Brace that cheap from the dealer? I wound not of guessed that the dealer is chaper than Ebay;. THANKS for the Info I will call them today..

B

[1996 328ti]

Originally Posted by Bam2002

Really you can get the X Brace that cheap from the dealer? I wound not of guessed that the dealer is chaper than Ebay;. THANKS for the Info I will call them today..

B

It's a BMW part. People have this misconception that everything is cheaper on eBay or from some internet store. You can often find dealers selling parts at 20% - 25% off MSRP. Unless someone has a wholesale account with a dealership or is outright stealing it, you are not going to find a lower price.
I buy all my parts from the dealer. I know they are genuine BMW parts.

[Rich]

yup they are OEM on the e36 convertible. I've got one for my Compact, just waiting on some large riv nuts to install it.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...06&hg=51&fg=80

[mohaughn]

I'm pretty sure you can beat any online price at a dealer that will give you a discount for BMWCCA membership for OEM parts. 20% is the normal discount but I've seen parts sell for 50% less at Fields BMW in Orlando.

The last time I went to buy parts I didn't ask for the discount and the parts were over 150$ at full retail, somewhere in this price range. With the discount it was under 70$. I asked why the high mark up and the parts guy said they use walk up parts sales to pay for the new parking garage they just built..

$129 is the retail price of the x-brace. I payed a lot less for mine and I know that TcKline ordered it from the local BMW dealer in Dublin Ohio. I got a really good discount because I bought my coilovers at the same time.

[Philly]

Look on Ebay - its not much for an cross brace.
I know the only dealer in my province told me there wasn't even any point in looking it up in their database because it was probably $3-$400 more than on the internet.

[Bam2002]

SO does any one have the BMW part number? I called the dealer and they want to sell me a brace that needs a racing oil pan and sump pump system..

Thats the only one they can find..

B