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View Full Version : BMW 330 ZHP Why I've never purchased a BMW Performance Strut Bar



danewilson77
08-21-2014, 05:37 AM
From the other thread, I may have come off as bashing this particular strut bar. Let me be the first (probably more like the 100th) to tell you that nothing rivals the BMW performance strut bar when it comes to aesthetics under the hood.

Back when this forum first started, Keith (Kayger12) and I came up with a devious plan. He would leave his car stock and only install OEM performance type candy on it. I on the other hand would install after market performance type candy. We felt that this would give our members a more rounded knowledge base when starting the Family up.

Only to solidify my statement above and since the inception, I have had installed:

-ECSTuning CF Front Strut Bar
-Cusco Front Strut Bar
-UUC Barbarian Front Strut Bar (Current)
-Next is Mason Engineering Front Strut Bar

-The cars has never had 135's
-BMW Bottle caps
-Enkei EKM3's
-BBS CK (Current)
-Next will be DPE or ARE

-Stock intake
-AFE Pro 5R (Wet and Dry)
-Gruppe ///M (Current)

-Stock suspension
-FK Coilovers
-KW V1 Coilovers (Current)
-Next is either TCKline, or BC Racing

- Racing Dynamics Rear Strut Bar (Current)
-Next is Mason Engineering Rear Strut Bar

-Stock brake setup
-Stoptech setup from Ray (non-BBK)
-BMW Performance rotors with Akebono ceramics (Current)

-Black cube interior trim
-Graffiti interior trim
-Silver cube interior trim (Current)

-Gominigo NHLPB
-Euro Plate
-US Mill Works NHLPB
I believe the above proves the plan. Please feel free to ask me any questions about the aforementioned items, should you think you might want to install.

And remember, the BMW Performance Strut Bar IS the Holy Grail of strut bar's if your willing to pay $$$.

cakM3
08-21-2014, 05:41 AM
Everything you have done to your ZHP has been top-notch Dane and your car shows it! :thumbsup

Me? Well you know.... I have this weakness for all things carbon fiber...;)

bullfrogs_M3
08-21-2014, 05:52 AM
Interesting and cool list of mods Dane. I personally never understood the appeal of the BMW performance bar but then again I have always run the Strong Strut bar since day one.

Question though, is rear strut tower deflection really an issue for us that would require or necessitate a rear strut bar? I mean, if we run upgraded sway bars and upgraded coils/suspension, I don't see this being an issue.

danewilson77
08-21-2014, 05:58 AM
I don't see it as a huge issue, but I will tell you, I notice a difference in rear end rigidity with that strut bar installed.

Haven't seen the Strong in a while Jeremiah. You have a pic with it installed on your car?

bullfrogs_M3
08-21-2014, 06:02 AM
I don't see it as a huge issue, but I will tell you, I notice a difference in rear end rigidity with that strut bar installed.

Haven't seen the Strong in a while Jeremiah. You have a pic with it installed on your car?

Interesting about the rear. I just wish there was a bar that went up and over as to not loose space in the trunk.

I can take a pic of the engine bay for you a few weeks after we...ummm get some engine work done on it..... :shifty

danewilson77
08-21-2014, 06:04 AM
LOL.....I hate you.

Vas
08-21-2014, 06:05 AM
Dane,

Does your zhp have fold down rear seats?

danewilson77
08-21-2014, 06:06 AM
Dane,

Does your zhp have fold down rear seats?

Yes.

Vas
08-21-2014, 06:09 AM
Yes.

That would make sense to why you felt a change. Cars with fixed rear seats are more rigid so a rear strut bar would not benefit them as much. Good for attaching things to it in the trunk

johnrando
08-21-2014, 09:08 AM
Good info Dane.

sillieidiot
08-21-2014, 09:19 AM
i don't consider the bmw performance strut bar as the holy grail of strut bars. maybe just for cf bars. but i think the dixis titanium strut bar looks way better.

johnrando
08-21-2014, 09:24 AM
To each his/her own. That bar is way too busy for me. I like the simple elegance of the OEM bar.

az3579
08-21-2014, 09:39 AM
So, Dane... in essence, you are testing out all of these aftermarket options for us. You are our guinea pig? :biggrin

Kudos brotha.

SoCalZman
08-21-2014, 12:40 PM
To each his/her own. That bar is way too busy for me. I like the simple elegance of the OEM bar.

If you mean the M3 style bar thats the one I put on as well. the CF bar looks nice but I spent enough on the performance intake. Have to restrain myself somewhere. Haha

WOLFN8TR
08-21-2014, 02:19 PM
I bought mine because John! Dam that thing was sooo sweet seeing it in person, had to have one after that. The wife thinks it was $300 from Charlie the CF Fairy thou. Right Charlie :cheers

danewilson77
08-21-2014, 02:20 PM
So, Dane... in essence, you are testing out all of these aftermarket options for us. You are our guinea pig? :biggrin

Kudos brotha.

Yes.


If you mean the M3 style bar thats the one I put on as well. the CF bar looks nice but I spent enough on the performance intake. Have to restrain myself somewhere. Haha

This will also be proven eventually.

cakM3
08-21-2014, 02:28 PM
i don't consider the bmw performance strut bar as the holy grail of strut bars. maybe just for cf bars. but i think the dixis titanium strut bar looks way better.

for reference are you talking about this strut bar Hieu?
http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp37/macdctr/Library2/eurp_0803_03_z2002_bmw_m3active_autowerke_level_2_ supercharger_kelleners_carbon_air_inletengine_view _zps8a51916e.jpg


To each his/her own. That bar is way too busy for me. I like the simple elegance of the OEM bar.

I'm inclined to agree with Rando here...

http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp37/macdctr/M3/_DSC5474_zps4c321d82.jpg


If you mean the M3 style bar thats the one I put on as well. the CF bar looks nice but I spent enough on the performance intake. Have to restrain myself somewhere. Haha

Rando was responding to Hieu's comment above...


I bought mine because John! Dam that thing was sooo sweet seeing it in person, had to have one after that. The wife thinks it was $300 from Charlie the CF Fairy thou. Right Charlie :cheers

Anything you say Gary! ;) :thumbsup That's why I have three of them...;)

WOLFN8TR
08-21-2014, 02:29 PM
Anything you say Gary! ;) :thumbsup

It's a funny story.

Avetiso
08-21-2014, 02:33 PM
I love your car, Dane.

WOLFN8TR
08-21-2014, 02:34 PM
http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp37/macdctr/M3/_DSC5474_zps4c321d82.jpg

{ NO WORDS NEEDED }

cakM3
08-21-2014, 02:40 PM
http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp37/macdctr/M3/_DSC5482_zpsfd63ad19.jpg


This

WOLFN8TR
08-21-2014, 03:24 PM
:coolpic

johnrando
08-21-2014, 03:46 PM
LOL all. Again I say to each his own... I didn't mean to turn it into a debate about which is better.

Johnmadd
08-21-2014, 04:21 PM
I love your car, Dane.

+1 Dane made me buy my zhp

cakM3
08-21-2014, 04:28 PM
John, I'm sure there are other strut bars like the the Dixis Titanium strut bar Hieu mentioned that are much more suited for track use. As much as I love my BMW Performance carbon fiber strut bar, I don't think it would be as good as the other strut bars that are out there for track use... However, with that said.... yes, it does come down to preference but you can't deny the carbon fiber sexiness that the Performance strut bar brings to the engine compartment :thumbsup

derbo
08-21-2014, 09:55 PM
Mason Engineering ftw. I want both rear and front bars alone with the trunk brace..

mbeckel
08-22-2014, 05:37 AM
http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp37/macdctr/M3/_DSC5482_zpsfd63ad19.jpg


This
Someone is a sucker for carbon fiber....

cakM3
08-22-2014, 06:06 AM
Someone is a sucker for carbon fiber....

Yep! :p

sillieidiot
08-22-2014, 11:23 AM
for reference are you talking about this strut bar Hieu?
http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp37/macdctr/Library2/eurp_0803_03_z2002_bmw_m3active_autowerke_level_2_ supercharger_kelleners_carbon_air_inletengine_view _zps8a51916e.jpg



I'm inclined to agree with Rando here...

http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp37/macdctr/M3/_DSC5474_zps4c321d82.jpg



Rando was responding to Hieu's comment above...



Anything you say Gary! ;) :thumbsup That's why I have three of them...;)

yeah. i'm saying that the dixis bar would be considered the holy grail of all strut bars for the e46 (being extremely rare would add to that). i do think the cf performance one looks good, until it yellows, which it will since i've already seen a few that yellowed. but my favorite of all the strut bars is the mason one, in which I have on my own car.

also with the way that the performance bar is designed, you can't use certain aftermarket suspension systems with it. a few of the coilovers that adjust on the top, the bar is in the way, limiting camber adjustment. Those that have the knobs on them, don't even clear the bar.

danewilson77
08-22-2014, 11:38 AM
Did not know of the yellowing issue or the camber plate clearance issue. Great points.

The friendliest forum on the planet!

cakM3
08-22-2014, 12:41 PM
Did not know of the yellowing issue or the camber plate clearance issue. Great points.

The friendliest forum on the planet!

Dane, if you look you can see what Hieu is talking about.... the two screws closest to the bar can't be adjusted unless you take the bar off.

http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp37/macdctr/ZHP/DSC_0015_zps0d3f34ba.jpg

This doesn't bother me too much.... I can easily take the bar off and then reinstall it again...:) The knob however is fully functional on both my BMWs using BC Racing coilovers :)

sillieidiot
08-22-2014, 02:42 PM
yeah i think it depends on what camber plates/suspension you use. ASTs w/vorshlag camber plates doesn't clear at all because of that metal part that connects to the CF. You can't even put the bar on.

derbo
08-22-2014, 05:12 PM
I couldn't adjust my front dampening without removing the bar so I opt to replace it with a stock M3 bar for now. It drove me crazy so I ultimately sold the bar.

Hermes
08-22-2014, 09:29 PM
I couldn't adjust my front dampening without removing the bar so I opt to replace it with a stock M3 bar for now. It drove me crazy so I ultimately sold the bar.

I'll take mine off when I get around to coilovers and replace it with a Mason race brace, but I will prob keep it for shows

derbo
08-22-2014, 10:49 PM
I'll take mine off when I get around to coilovers and replace it with a Mason race brace, but I will prob keep it for shows

You fancy JP. Lol

Hornung418
08-23-2014, 06:02 AM
Turner motorsport bar for $400.

http://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-303-turner-front-carbon-fiber-strut-brace-e46-323325328330m3.aspx

Im looking for the OEM BMW M3 CF bar that they used on the GTR. Fucking thing costs around $10k. Used!

Sent from my GS3.

cakM3
08-23-2014, 07:30 PM
Turner motorsport bar for $400.

http://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-303-turner-front-carbon-fiber-strut-brace-e46-323325328330m3.aspx

Im looking for the OEM BMW M3 CF bar that they used on the GTR. Fucking thing costs around $10k. Used!

Sent from my GS3.

Never seen one of those Justin. I have to say the Turner cf strut bar looks good! :thumbsup Even the price is reasonable!

Hornung418
08-23-2014, 07:41 PM
There's a guy in MD with a full CSL build. Next time I see it I will see if I can snag the part no. and a pic.

Sent from my GS3.

cakM3
08-23-2014, 08:11 PM
There's a guy in MD with a full CSL build. Next time I see it I will see if I can snag the part no. and a pic.

Sent from my GS3.

Sounds good Justin, looking forward to seeing a pic :thumbsup

danewilson77
08-26-2014, 08:39 AM
Oh yeah, I forgot:

-Gominigo NHLPB
-Euro Plate
-US Mill Works NHLPB

pilotnick1203
08-26-2014, 02:11 PM
Plus one for BMW perf. http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/08/26/4bc9c82b75f754b82297d4bae11c2dac.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk