Performance BMW strut bar?

[09mageec]

I was wondering where i could find a Performance BMW strut bar for a good price?

[Crickett]

From what I've been seeing, you're pretty much SOL. BMW isn't producing the Performance bar any more & prices & rarity are spiking because of it. Good luck, though; let us know if you find a good deal!

[09mageec]

From what I've been seeing, you're pretty much SOL. BMW isn't producing the Performance bar any more & prices & rarity are spiking because of it. Good luck, though; let us know if you find a good deal!

Will do! Now im on a mission haha

[Marcus-SanDiego]

From what I've been seeing, you're pretty much SOL. BMW isn't producing the Performance bar any more & prices & rarity are spiking because of it. Good luck, though; let us know if you find a good deal!

That's why I told Keith to grab one a few months back. I had a feeling.

[M0nk3y]

Are you looking for show or actual performance?

Just asking

[09mageec]

Are you looking for show or actual performance?

Just asking

Actual performance, But if I really cant find one anywhere im gonna have to go show because I like the look aspect just as much as the idea of the performance aspect.

[bullfrogs_M3]

I don't know if he makes em anymore but this is what I run. Probably the strongest strut bar on the market

http://www.strong-strut.com
http://www.strong-strut.com/E46.html
http://www.strong-strut.com/pricing.htm

I currently have the black and titanium one. I don't have a pic of my engine bay but here is a pic of one:
http://www.my330i.com/photos/mod25c.jpg

[PKR]

Or you can pick BMW's original bar, designed for the M3 (but works on all E46s). I picked up a used on over at fanatics for about a C note.

[Crickett]

Or you can pick BMW's original bar, designed for the M3 (but works on all E46s). I picked up a used on over at fanatics for about a C note.
The black M3 one? That's exactly the one I've been keeping an eye out for. I think it'd match with the spirit of the Performance Package perfectly.

[kayger12]

That's why I told Keith to grab one a few months back. I had a feeling.

And glad I did. Only place I've seen them now is on ebay for almost $1K.

[az3579]

And glad I did. Only place I've seen them now is on ebay for almost $1K.

F***. That is the only bar that I like the look of. Why the hell does everything have to stop production almost right before I'm ready to afford? :mad

[M0nk3y]

Actual performance, But if I really cant find one anywhere im gonna have to go show because I like the look aspect just as much as the idea of the performance aspect.

Hate to burst your bubble, but Strut Bars do little to none with performance.

Look into Sway Bars, they are about $150 for front and $150 for rear. They tighten up your car alot and eliminate a ton of body roll. From there I would consider a strut bar

[pleasecorrupt]

And glad I did. Only place I've seen them now is on ebay for almost $1K.

http://www.trademotion.com/partlocator/index.cfm?action=MorePartInfo&PartID=793744&siteid=215282&catalogid=6970

[kayger12]

http://www.trademotion.com/partlocator/index.cfm?action=MorePartInfo&PartID=793744&siteid=215282&catalogid=6970

Wow-- crazy overpriced. I paid less than $300.

Supply and demand, I suppose.

[pleasecorrupt]

yep, no supply and much demand. haha...

[johnrando]

As you recall they were around $1000, went on a fire sale for around $300 just a few months ago, then now that they are sold out, the prices have skyrocketed back up. John

[bullfrogs_M3]

Hate to burst your bubble, but Strut Bars do little to none with performance.

Look into Sway Bars, they are about $150 for front and $150 for rear. They tighten up your car alot and eliminate a ton of body roll. From there I would consider a strut bar

I thought strut bars helped eliminate strut tower deflection? Then again this harkens back to the days when I owned a Pontiac Grand Prix GTP. So maybe deflection doesn't apply to BMW's.

[johnrando]

I thought strut bars helped eliminate strut tower deflection? Then again this harkens back to the days when I owned a Pontiac Grand Prix GTP. So maybe deflection doesn't apply to BMW's.

They do, if we're using the same definition of strut tower deflection.

[PKR]

The black M3 one? That's exactly the one I've been keeping an eye out for. I think it'd match with the spirit of the Performance Package perfectly.

Aye, that's the one I snagged. For the price of the Performance CF model I got this one ... And more!

[kayger12]

As you recall they were around $1000, went on a fire sale for around $300 just a few months ago, then now that they are sold out, the prices have skyrocketed back up. John

Absolutely. And I'd imagine the BMW Performance Intake will go the same route.

[M0nk3y]

I thought strut bars helped eliminate strut tower deflection? Then again this harkens back to the days when I owned a Pontiac Grand Prix GTP. So maybe deflection doesn't apply to BMW's.

They do, but not as extreme as one would think. Sway bars tightens up the whole front end, not just strut towers.

Strut towers are important to keep aligned, but not as much as what the sway bar does. It's still good to invest IMO in a strut bar; but if you're looking for performance then a sway bar will a stiffer set-up.

Here is a picture for 2 exact same E36 Ms, Same corner as well

This one is running on Dunlop Star Specs, and H&R Sway Bars

http://www.incom-racing.com/images/gallery/OvrSolo20100606/images/solo1610.jpg

This one is running purple cracks (aka Hoosiers) and Koni Struts

http://www.incom-racing.com/images/gallery/OvrSolo20100606/images/solo0567.jpg

Even the hoosiers have more grip, the body roll is still present.

[09mageec]

Oh wow that is a big difference

[kpro]

Monkey has solid advice on the swaybar > strutbar. I have upgraded sway bars on every car I own. Its always my first mod on any car I buy. I do have strut bars both front and rear on my prelude because its the car I throw around at the track/auto-x, but I probably won't ever spend the money for them on the BMW since they are more of an asthetic mod thats covered up.

[L0veZHP]

StrutBarbarian Front and Rear Strut bars (best for performance that I know of) weights only 2 pounds and strong as competitors.

[MrMaico]

StrutBarbarian Front and Rear Strut bars (best for performance that I know of) weights only 2 pounds and strong as competitors.

Sold out.^

I talked to someone who had the BMW Performance one and he said he didn't really notice it when he installed it but he's trying to sell his car so he sold the bar and that's when he noticed a big difference.
Here's his words......

"I sold my strut brace and intake to a local Ohio enthusiast this weekend. We meet halfway which made the drive about 100 miles for me. Let me tell you, I was either brain dead or simply not paying attention when I installed that brace because comparing my drive down to meet with it on and then my drive back without it....that thing made a huge difference in the way my car even handled bumps, bridge/highway transitions, etc in a straight line...don't know why I initially missed that extreme difference."

I wish I had ordered one of the BMW Perf. ones, by the time I made up my mind it was too late. ECS has one that looks pretty nice but the are on back order.

Barry

[ZSP-Mafia]

From what I've noticed, it seems like the strut bar makes a more noticeable difference when you have a softer suspension setup. It was very noticeable with my old bilstein tourings, but barely with the billie sports.

[bullfrogs_M3]

Try my strong strut link on the first page.

[pleasecorrupt]

is 51710429378 the part number for oem performance strut thats cf?

[L0veZHP]

Sold out.^

I talked to someone who had the BMW Performance one and he said he didn't really notice it when he installed it but he's trying to sell his car so he sold the bar and that's when he noticed a big difference.
Here's his words......

"I sold my strut brace and intake to a local Ohio enthusiast this weekend. We meet halfway which made the drive about 100 miles for me. Let me tell you, I was either brain dead or simply not paying attention when I installed that brace because comparing my drive down to meet with it on and then my drive back without it....that thing made a huge difference in the way my car even handled bumps, bridge/highway transitions, etc in a straight line...don't know why I initially missed that extreme difference."

I wish I had ordered one of the BMW Perf. ones, by the time I made up my mind it was too late. ECS has one that looks pretty nice but the are on back order.

Barry


http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E46-330i-M54_3.0L/Search/Strut_Bar/ES1895931/

[MrMaico]

http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E46-330i-M54_3.0L/Search/Strut_Bar/ES1895931/

Looks like they're not sold out. Only $500.

[Go Horns!]

Look like they're not sold out. Only $500.

I don't think that is the carbon-fiber one. I was lucky to pick up mine when I did. Now if I could only get a hold of a dremmel so I can install it.

[MrMaico]

I don't think that is the carbon-fiber one. I was lucky to pick up mine when I did. Now if I could only get a hold of a dremmel so I can install it.

Ya, that was the UUC one. Their website says they are sold out but ECS shows some available.

http://store.nexternal.com/shared/StoreFront/default.asp?CS=uuc&StoreType=BtoC&Count1=316173732&Count2=233314156&Keyword=StrutBarbarian&Target=products.asp&x=13&y=10

If you have a Harbor Freight store nearby you could always just pick up one of these....

http://www.harborfreight.com/80-piece-rotary-tool-kit-97626.html

Otherwise it would cost you $6.99 for shipping.

Or....................you could sell it to me.:biggrin

[MsRN]

I <3 Rogue Engineerings strut tower braces, 'tho I would love to own the BMW version; 's pretty!

Any thoughts on sway bars? I've been curious about Eibach, H & R, Hotchkiss, and UUC...

[Go Horns!]

Or....................you could sell it to me.:biggrin

Installed it this past weekend. Did not have the parts to rewire the alarm, so it cost me $20 to have the local car-audio do the wire cut and splice. But if there is one thing I am unsure about doing it is cutting wires.