» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | My 318ti build Yesterday 04:48 PM Yesterday 04:48 PM 0 Replies, 192 Views | | | | | | | 03-24-2005, 01:29 AM | #1 | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Garden City, NY/Daytona Beach, FL Posts: 228 | X-Braces, Strut Tower Bars Hey, I just wanted some feedback here from people who have these mods on their TIs... I've been thinking about strut tower bars for a while, x-braces too. I was wondering if they're worth it... what kind of different feel do you get from it, best brands (does brand matter?), does it make sense to have a front and not a rear, or vice versa (I have a soundsystem in the back and may have to do some creative engineering to fit a rear strut tower bar and the sub...). Any feedback is appreciated, thanks. __________________ --------------------------------------- '97 Hellrot 318ti - Active, 5 speed 17'' BMW Motorsport Wheels ACS-"Style" (E-Bay, haha) Racing Pedals M Frontspoiler (OEM) Alpine CDA 9827 MP3/CD Head Unit Alpine E12 Subwoofer (now stolen) Audiobahn A4002T Amp (also now stolen) Dented driver side fender (provided courtesy of blind 80 year old woman) Keyed passenger door (provided by someone who likes to key red cars) Soon to come (now that I've graduated and have a real job) S52 Engine Swap!!! Fixing aformentioned damage caused by the elderly and the brain deprived Supersprint Exhaust and Headers Angel Eye/Projector Headlights | | | 03-24-2005, 02:13 AM | #2 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: state college, pa Posts: 3,431 | xbrace is the most substantial suspension upgrade you can do. turn-ins are much tighter and highway feel is more stable. for the rear, check out the butt-strut (i've posted it somewhere around this forum), might be able to get a group buy together since it's a whole lotta change. | | | 03-24-2005, 02:27 AM | #3 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,356 | I'd do the X-brace. It is debatable if a rear brace does anything. I'm not even so sure if a front strut brace does anything but they do look pretty. If you do, get a solid one. The ones with hinges seem to be counter productive. __________________ ...steven BMW CCA #146825 1996 BMW 328ti 2003 MINI Cooper S 2016 M235i www.bmwcca.org | | | 03-24-2005, 02:30 AM | #4 | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Garden City, NY/Daytona Beach, FL Posts: 228 | Thanks for the replies, very informative. __________________ --------------------------------------- '97 Hellrot 318ti - Active, 5 speed 17'' BMW Motorsport Wheels ACS-"Style" (E-Bay, haha) Racing Pedals M Frontspoiler (OEM) Alpine CDA 9827 MP3/CD Head Unit Alpine E12 Subwoofer (now stolen) Audiobahn A4002T Amp (also now stolen) Dented driver side fender (provided courtesy of blind 80 year old woman) Keyed passenger door (provided by someone who likes to key red cars) Soon to come (now that I've graduated and have a real job) S52 Engine Swap!!! Fixing aformentioned damage caused by the elderly and the brain deprived Supersprint Exhaust and Headers Angel Eye/Projector Headlights | | | 03-24-2005, 02:31 AM | #5 | I miss my Ti....... :( Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 828 | MY 2 cents... Quote: Originally Posted by 97Hellrot318ti Hey, I just wanted some feedback here from people who have these mods on their TIs... I've been thinking about strut tower bars for a while, x-braces too. I was wondering if they're worth it... what kind of different feel do you get from it, best brands (does brand matter?), does it make sense to have a front and not a rear, or vice versa (I have a soundsystem in the back and may have to do some creative engineering to fit a rear strut tower bar and the sub...). Any feedback is appreciated, thanks. | I have an Xbrace that will soon be installed. I also have front and rear strut braces, not I know that people can debate their effectiveness, but I can feel the differnece so I think it did something. -Chad | | | 03-24-2005, 02:39 AM | #6 | aka Stabby Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mead, CO Posts: 5,336 | i'll be going with an x-brace (waiting to be installed) and bigger sway bars (going for the h&r bars from bmpdesign.com - having rear trailing arm tabs strengthened first). have to look for this "butt strut" of which aceyx speaks ok, found the info: http://members.cox.net/azz3man/Butt-Strut.htm $340 + $15 shipping. group buy could be cool. front strut (steel or alloy) is $385 + shipping ($25 or $15 respectively). __________________ 1996 318ti, California package, 267k miles current mods: bilstein sports, bavauto springs, e30 m3 LCABs, solid metal ball joints, bavauto RSMs w/reinforcements, e30 3.73 LSD & halfshafts, supersprint cat-back exhaust, turner rear sway bar reinforcements, IE poly subframe & RTABs + camber/toe kits, powdercoated e36 32x front calipers, sport mirrors, H&R 28mmF/19mmR sway bars, x-brace, auto solutions SSK w/poly bushing upgrade, BMW CD43 head unit, DICE HD Radio w/iPod integration and "stealth" HD antenna, staggered style 68s, orange electronic TPMS, leather arm rest, JT Designs metal undertray acquired and awaiting install: heated seat kit, cali top switch relo, lumbar support kit, park distance control kit, heated washer nozzle kit, m-coupe rear subframe, trailing arms, differential, and halfshafts, m-coupe front/rear brakes with master cylinder, under hood light kit, mud flaps, rear sun blind, auto-dimming rear view mirror, tilt steering wheel retrofit, apexcone 5000K HIDs with 55W ballasts 2002 X5 4.4 Sport Package, 53.5k miles Current Mods: e46 m3 steering wheel | | | 03-24-2005, 03:02 AM | #7 | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Manassas, VA Posts: 4,129 | I just installed the Racing Dynamics front strut bar. This issue about being hinged, seems to me to be unfounded. The bar isn't swinging under stress, so why would it matter if it has a hinge. It makes installing easier, by being able to mount the plates, then the bar. Quote: Originally Posted by 1996 328ti I'd do the X-brace. It is debatable if a rear brace does anything. I'm not even so sure if a front strut brace does anything but they do look pretty. If you do, get a solid one. The ones with hinges seem to be counter productive. | __________________ 1998 (July) 318ti, 5-spd OEM Armrest Blaupunkt Heidelberg CD50 CD Player/Compact Drive MP3 Player Diamond Audio 5.25" rear speakers Navman ICN 530 GPS BMWALARM.COM (with comfort settings) after market alarm system Magnecor 8.5mm wires M-Z3 Shifter/Momo Knob Burlwood Dashboard Stromung Exhaust X-brace Racing Dynamics Front Strut Bar Carbonio C.A.I. 17" Rial Rims Vader Seats/Heated/Lumbar Support M-tech Steering Wheel/Front Sway Bar/Front & Rear Bumper Depos/w 6500K Angel Eyes/6000K HIDs Clear Corners M3 Mirrors UUC Light Weight Flywheel/M5 Clutch/M3 Clutch Slave E28 3.46 LSD/Mcoupe Cover/E30 Flanges & Halfshafts UUC S.S. Brake/Clutch Lines Hartge Roof Spoiler BavAuto Springs Bilstein Sport Struts/Shocks E46 M3 Rear Shock Mounts SPC Front Camber Kit Reiger Hatch Spoiler BavAuto Rear Camber Kit Dinan Stage II Software Turner Rear Sway Bar Reinforcements BMW E46 Auto dimming mirror with Clown Nose alarm Engine Compartment Light Heated Wiper Fluid Retrofit OEM Fire Extinguisher Da'lan Trailer Hitch Rear Sun Shade OEM Fog Light Retrofit H & R MZ3 Rear Sway Bar/ UUC Adjustable End Links Cruise Control Retrofit On Board Computer Retrofit M3 twistie style side skirts Carbon Fiber Hood | | | 03-24-2005, 03:05 AM | #8 | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Manassas, VA Posts: 4,129 | I now have the x-brace and front strut bar installed. Putting in M-tech front and rear sways with urethane bushings this Saturday. This butt strut is nice, no adverse issues about trunk space, mounts under the car. If we can get a good deal in a group buy, I'm in. That thing is damn expensive, and looks very low tech. Quote: Originally Posted by cali-ti i'll be going with an x-brace (waiting to be installed) and bigger sway bars (going for the h&r bars from bmpdesign.com - having rear trailing arm tabs strengthened first). have to look for this "butt strut" of which aceyx speaks | __________________ 1998 (July) 318ti, 5-spd OEM Armrest Blaupunkt Heidelberg CD50 CD Player/Compact Drive MP3 Player Diamond Audio 5.25" rear speakers Navman ICN 530 GPS BMWALARM.COM (with comfort settings) after market alarm system Magnecor 8.5mm wires M-Z3 Shifter/Momo Knob Burlwood Dashboard Stromung Exhaust X-brace Racing Dynamics Front Strut Bar Carbonio C.A.I. 17" Rial Rims Vader Seats/Heated/Lumbar Support M-tech Steering Wheel/Front Sway Bar/Front & Rear Bumper Depos/w 6500K Angel Eyes/6000K HIDs Clear Corners M3 Mirrors UUC Light Weight Flywheel/M5 Clutch/M3 Clutch Slave E28 3.46 LSD/Mcoupe Cover/E30 Flanges & Halfshafts UUC S.S. Brake/Clutch Lines Hartge Roof Spoiler BavAuto Springs Bilstein Sport Struts/Shocks E46 M3 Rear Shock Mounts SPC Front Camber Kit Reiger Hatch Spoiler BavAuto Rear Camber Kit Dinan Stage II Software Turner Rear Sway Bar Reinforcements BMW E46 Auto dimming mirror with Clown Nose alarm Engine Compartment Light Heated Wiper Fluid Retrofit OEM Fire Extinguisher Da'lan Trailer Hitch Rear Sun Shade OEM Fog Light Retrofit H & R MZ3 Rear Sway Bar/ UUC Adjustable End Links Cruise Control Retrofit On Board Computer Retrofit M3 twistie style side skirts Carbon Fiber Hood | | | 03-24-2005, 03:07 AM | #9 | Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bouncing off the rev limiter in CT! Posts: 3,156 | I have both an X brace and the strut tower brace (both BMW parts) and it make a WORLD of difference. The most noticeable improvement was assending a driveway, for example, off camber (one wheel at a time to keep the splitter from merging with the pavement) and the windshield 'creak' that once was, is no more. This tells me the chassis is far stiffer (and the steering response is WAY better, but anyone without a bar can relate to the creak). The E36 cars are 'soft' compared to the E30, and twist quite a bit. I would not be suprised to find structural cracking developing on the earliest E36 cars by now... The strut bar is great because if you imagine your car without the hood in place, there is no structure there, just an open hole (like a hard-top vs. a convertable). The strut bar ties this 'hole' together to form a box with the front sub frame. we all know a complete box is far stronger than a 'U' shape. For the rear, I don't think a shock tower brace with be worth the cost at all. The shorter distance to the end of the trunk makes the ti inherently stiffer than it's big-butted bretheren, and the roof structure is pretty much directly above the shocks. Further, the shocks are not anywhere near as structuraly integrated into the rear suspension as the struts are in the front (no real structure at all, in fact). Basically, the rear suspension works against the rear sub frame, and I would not expect any real side-loading on the shock absorber tops at all. A sub-frame stiffener might do some good, but if you get the complete sub frame from an M car, it is all beefed up for the side loads already. I do suggest a set of rear shock mount stiffeners. These are a few bucks at the dealer and WELL worth it. The rear shock mounts have and will fail if you really drive the car, particularly with stiff shocks like the Bilstein sports. Cars that use a strut in the rear suspension would benifit far more than the ti I'm sure. | | | 03-24-2005, 06:39 AM | #10 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: state college, pa Posts: 3,431 | j!m, just out of curiosity, what kind of rotors do you run? | | | 03-24-2005, 07:52 AM | #11 | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Garden City, NY/Daytona Beach, FL Posts: 228 | __________________ --------------------------------------- '97 Hellrot 318ti - Active, 5 speed 17'' BMW Motorsport Wheels ACS-"Style" (E-Bay, haha) Racing Pedals M Frontspoiler (OEM) Alpine CDA 9827 MP3/CD Head Unit Alpine E12 Subwoofer (now stolen) Audiobahn A4002T Amp (also now stolen) Dented driver side fender (provided courtesy of blind 80 year old woman) Keyed passenger door (provided by someone who likes to key red cars) Soon to come (now that I've graduated and have a real job) S52 Engine Swap!!! Fixing aformentioned damage caused by the elderly and the brain deprived Supersprint Exhaust and Headers Angel Eye/Projector Headlights | | | 03-24-2005, 01:33 PM | #12 | aka Stabby Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mead, CO Posts: 5,336 | yep, it's the real deal. couple people have gotten them from him. price is pretty good too. __________________ 1996 318ti, California package, 267k miles current mods: bilstein sports, bavauto springs, e30 m3 LCABs, solid metal ball joints, bavauto RSMs w/reinforcements, e30 3.73 LSD & halfshafts, supersprint cat-back exhaust, turner rear sway bar reinforcements, IE poly subframe & RTABs + camber/toe kits, powdercoated e36 32x front calipers, sport mirrors, H&R 28mmF/19mmR sway bars, x-brace, auto solutions SSK w/poly bushing upgrade, BMW CD43 head unit, DICE HD Radio w/iPod integration and "stealth" HD antenna, staggered style 68s, orange electronic TPMS, leather arm rest, JT Designs metal undertray acquired and awaiting install: heated seat kit, cali top switch relo, lumbar support kit, park distance control kit, heated washer nozzle kit, m-coupe rear subframe, trailing arms, differential, and halfshafts, m-coupe front/rear brakes with master cylinder, under hood light kit, mud flaps, rear sun blind, auto-dimming rear view mirror, tilt steering wheel retrofit, apexcone 5000K HIDs with 55W ballasts 2002 X5 4.4 Sport Package, 53.5k miles Current Mods: e46 m3 steering wheel | | | 03-24-2005, 02:19 PM | #13 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,356 | Quote: Originally Posted by cali-ti yep, it's the real deal. couple people have gotten them from him. price is pretty good too. | It looks like a x-brace lists for $123.20 MSRP according to realoem. If that is the case I could get one from my dealer who offers 20% off MSRP bringing it just under $100 (not including hardware). Factor in the shipping to determine if it is a good price. __________________ ...steven BMW CCA #146825 1996 BMW 328ti 2003 MINI Cooper S 2016 M235i www.bmwcca.org | | | 03-24-2005, 05:31 PM | #14 | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Manassas, VA Posts: 4,129 | That's the guy I bought it from, came with all mounting hardware too. Quote: Originally Posted by 97Hellrot318ti | __________________ 1998 (July) 318ti, 5-spd OEM Armrest Blaupunkt Heidelberg CD50 CD Player/Compact Drive MP3 Player Diamond Audio 5.25" rear speakers Navman ICN 530 GPS BMWALARM.COM (with comfort settings) after market alarm system Magnecor 8.5mm wires M-Z3 Shifter/Momo Knob Burlwood Dashboard Stromung Exhaust X-brace Racing Dynamics Front Strut Bar Carbonio C.A.I. 17" Rial Rims Vader Seats/Heated/Lumbar Support M-tech Steering Wheel/Front Sway Bar/Front & Rear Bumper Depos/w 6500K Angel Eyes/6000K HIDs Clear Corners M3 Mirrors UUC Light Weight Flywheel/M5 Clutch/M3 Clutch Slave E28 3.46 LSD/Mcoupe Cover/E30 Flanges & Halfshafts UUC S.S. Brake/Clutch Lines Hartge Roof Spoiler BavAuto Springs Bilstein Sport Struts/Shocks E46 M3 Rear Shock Mounts SPC Front Camber Kit Reiger Hatch Spoiler BavAuto Rear Camber Kit Dinan Stage II Software Turner Rear Sway Bar Reinforcements BMW E46 Auto dimming mirror with Clown Nose alarm Engine Compartment Light Heated Wiper Fluid Retrofit OEM Fire Extinguisher Da'lan Trailer Hitch Rear Sun Shade OEM Fog Light Retrofit H & R MZ3 Rear Sway Bar/ UUC Adjustable End Links Cruise Control Retrofit On Board Computer Retrofit M3 twistie style side skirts Carbon Fiber Hood | | | 03-28-2005, 06:34 AM | #15 | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 153 | Which Strut Tower bar(s) will fit with the DASC installed? __________________ 1998 318ti M-Sport - Jet Black w/Millpoint RedBlack interior Pics & Info here... | | | | | 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 | | | |