Just got home from having the rollbar installed. It's unfriggin believable. The workmanship, fit and finish are excellent.

Here it is being put together:

http://img32.photobucket.com/albums/v97/sbrown712/onthejig.jpg

unpainted fit in car:

http://img32.photobucket.com/albums/v97/sbrown712/unpainted1.jpg

Fit against roof:
http://img32.photobucket.com/albums/v97/sbrown712/at_roof.jpg

Behind passenger's door:

http://img32.photobucket.com/albums/v97/sbrown712/fitting_in.jpg

Painted:

http://img32.photobucket.com/albums/v97/sbrown712/painted1.jpg

Painted in car:

http://img32.photobucket.com/albums/v97/sbrown712/painted_installed.jpg

Driver's side:
http://img32.photobucket.com/albums/v97/sbrown712/drivers_side.jpg

If you had any reservations about getting one of these I hope this will settle any fears. Yea, I want to save some money too. I paid the higher price to get mine but will get some credit if other's order.

uumm...couldn't edit that so here's a link to the original thread.

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=205943

Looks great! What is the cost structure and turn around time? What was the install like? I'm probably down for this . . . :)

Does this bar come unpainted? Or can they deliver it powdercoated?

TIA

Questions:

1. Can you keep the rear seat side bolsters in with the bar and have the bar fit between it and the rear seat?

2. The GB prie was for the painted one correct?

3. How much clearance between the roof and top bar?

4. How deep does the cross bar go back? In other words, how much room to recline seat and slide it back?

Thanks. :alright

Scho,
1. Yes, bolsters can stay. Mine is just wedged in there. I didn't want to cut the plastic form yet but may do that later to get a better fit.
2. GB is for painted.
3. From top of bar to roof is about 1/2 inch.
4. From the front of the upright to the front of the 'U' is about 6". Plenty of room for fore and aft slide and recline. Don't expect to be able to lay down and drive though. Passengers' side takes the hit. I sat in the seat with it as far back as it would go and had plenty of legroom, not much room to recline though.

KillrM3,
I didn't see any provision for powdercoating where the bars are made but he may have a connection to get it done. I don't see why he wouldn't ship unpainted. BTW, paint job is very nice.

MadDog,
Install took about 2 hours start to finish with two of us working. Well, OK 1 and a half people working. Turn around should be pretty fast, I think he said he can make 7 or 8 bars a day.


Here's the original pricing quote from Kirk:
For the 4 point competition DOM bar, like the one you saw yesterday, it normally runs $335. We would offer $305 each for the DOM for 3-9 bars and $285 for 10 or more. They would not have to all be E36 cars.
Keep in mind that the removable center is extra, I think it's $55.

Get people together in your area to save on shipping.

Guys,
This is all the info I have so if you have anymore questions call Julie at Kirk. They are really nice people, it's her and her husband that run the company. He builds them and she runs the office.
205-608-1156

I called Julie today and spoke with her...really nice woman. I was waiting for these pics before I ordered and I must say it looks damn good. Have you noticed and difference in the stiffness of the chassis? I am going to call and place my order tomm.

In this pic....does the bar hit the side of the interior????

http://img32.photobucket.com/albums/v97/sbrown712/fitting_in.jpg

I am sorry to say, but I have decided to back out on the roll bar. I have decided to use the money in other ways. OBD2 Cam kit here I come!!!

NY98M3,
In that pic the bar isn't mounted, just put in to check fit, if you look at the last pic posted that is the finished install.

Got an e-mail from Julie today, cut off on this if July 16th. Make that call.

Install took about 2 hours start to finish with two of us working. Well, OK 1 and a half people working.

Is it a DIY install? Details would be helpful. Apparently, the HMS e36 bar requires 4 professional hours and a "tractor-pull" session to get the bar in place.

This is what HMS says on its site regarding its e36 bar:

"As far as installation is concerned, we are writing very detailed and specific instructions with pictures of each step that will surely guide you through the installation without any major glitches. However, the correct tools are imperative. It is necessary to pull the bar back in place with a lot of tension. This helps to get the bar back far enough so that the stock seat belts will work properly. We use trailer tie downs anchored to a forklift to pull the bar back through the trunk. Similar installations have mentioned using a jeep. Regardless of what you use, you'll need to get the car jacked up while this bar is being held back with all this tension. There are some tricks to it, and if you plan on installing it yourself, we'd be happy to walk you through our method of installation. Our initial estimate for labor was quite optimistic, and we will have to charge $400 for the install, as it takes about 4 hours and requires 2 people for many of the tasks."

http://www.hmsmotorsport.com/ximg/1237/e36.bar.install.1.jpg

I'm not sure I understand the tractor pull thing. If that bar is that tight of a fit and you had to pull it in place with a tractor/jeep wouldn't that amount of pressure push the roof up, floor down or push out the pillars?
This bar is a DIY but you will need another person to help. Help hold it in place while you drill holes and to help getting nuts started under car.

The bar looks really good from what I can see. Too bad I live in CA and prob wont be able to see one in person, its kind of hard to tell from that pic how much room there is between the top of the main hoop and the headliner. Did anyone post roughly how much the bar would be to ship to the west coast ?(probably a lot, I know)

I am very interested. Will this bar's configuration fit into a e36 convertible with a hardtop? Please let me know.
Thanks :)

Are the bars that go to the rear wheels wells removeable? Why do they have those sleeves with the bolt trough them?

I am very interested.

They are removable in the sense they unbolt to take the whole cage in/out. They are not to be taken out one the rollbar is installed.

Is the pictured version with the removable cross bar? If I got the non removable one, would it still be bolted together, or would it be welded to the main hoop?

Guys if you look at the pics, you can see how it is installed and why there are couplings. Truth is, if you dont know why the bar is made like that or how the bar goes in, you probably dont need one! ;)

You're right because I am not an engineer, and I frequent the track and really want race buckets with 5 pt. harnesses - I dont need one. :rolleyes:

I really don't think you need to unbolt the ceter cross bar to put it in. If the main hoop fits, it will fit with the cross bar .... maybe I'm worng, that's why I asked :rolleyes: I track my car ALOT, and safety is very important ... asking questions is much better that doing things without proper knowledge and education.

So, having said that, STFU! Please let Steve answer our questions, m'kay?

I really don't think you need to unbolt the ceter cross bar to put it in. If the main hoop fits, it will fit with the cross bar .... maybe I'm worng, that's why I asked :rolleyes: I track my car ALOT, and safety is very important ... asking questions is much better that doing things without proper knowledge and education.

So, having said that, STFU! Please let Steve answer our questions, m'kay?


Let me blow my cool because my post was not directed at YOU!!

FUCK OFF BITCH!!!!

Let me blow my cool because my post was not directed at YOU!!

FUCK OFF BITCH!!!!

There's no need to yell .... and you did say "guys" (plural), and since only alex and I asked about the bolts .... why can't we all just get along? :love:

So, about those couplings on the cross bar ... can they be welded instead?

This will probably be my last post in this thread. I'm to the point of not caring if anyone orders one of these or not. I really thought it would be something that many of us would be able to use and saving some money at the same time would be a bonus.
Ok, so I'm guilty, I wanted one of these in my car for safety reasons and to be able to mount harnesses correctly. I thought that because so many people on the board do DEs and auto-x that they might want one for the same reasons.
However, it seems to have turned into some kind of a pissing contest to see who can ask the dumbest question. These are ROLLBARS not dress up bling add ons. Some of the questions are reasonable. Some I just don't understand where they came from.

Hopefully this will help some of you understand the mounting and removable center section better.

http://img32.photobucket.com/albums/v97/sbrown712/rollbar_diagram.jpg

Joints 1,2,3 and 4 are the joints that attach the removable section to the main hoop. So, in order to remove the center section the bolts on these 4 joints must be removed, the sleeve slid off the joint and the the center can be taken out. OR you can move sleeves on joints 1 and 3, loosen 1/2 of of the bolts on joints 2 and 3 and rotate the center section to gain access to back seat. Keyword ACCESS, as in to put someTHING back there, not someONE. Maybe I should say this here too, I would NOT allow anyone to ride in the back seat if you install one of these bars.

Joints 5 and 6 are there only to use in installation of the bar. Think about this, if the tubes that attach to the rear wheel well were permanatly attached to the main hoop do you really think it would fit throught the door opening? Also, WHY in the world would you want to take these out? Does anyone really think the rollbar would serve any function only mounted to the floor behind the front seats?

I can't think of anything else so I'll get down off my soapbox now. The only other thing I'll add, if you have any reasonable questions I'm sure Julie at Kirk will be more than happy to answer them. Just please don't call her asking the same kinds of stupid questions ask on here that have been asked over and over.

See, that was easy. All I wanted to know was whether you had the version with the removable cross bar (hence the joints). Since my car is becoming a dedicated track car, I don't need back seat access (and don't have a back seat), so I will opt for the non-removable cross bar ... All I wanted to cofirm was that the joints would be welded.

Thanks for getting this GB going, and I'll be ordering mine soon ... for safety, not for bling.

These are ROLLBARS not dress up bling add ons. Some of the questions are reasonable. .

Thank you, that is my point. :)

I'm sure this question was asked but I cant find it in the archives.

What's a rough est of shipping a rollbar cross country (ie GA to CA)?

Whats the normal pricing on the Kirk bar?

I may be able to pull the trigger on one of these in a few months, just dropped a few bills rebuilding a motor. Thanks

I'm sure this question was asked but I cant find it in the archives.

What's a rough est of shipping a rollbar cross country (ie GA to CA)?

Whats the normal pricing on the Kirk bar?

I may be able to pull the trigger on one of these in a few months, just dropped a few bills rebuilding a motor. Thanks


The GB will not lat for a few months. I know shipping is around $65 to Dallas. I would assume it is close to $100 to go cross country. These are questions that really only Julie can answer. She is very nice and pleasant to deal with.

anyone know when julie plans on shipping these out? i would call her up and ask but its too late in the day and they are close already, if no one knows i'll just call her up tommorow.

Thanks

How many people actually have purchased one of these?

well i placed an order with julie about a month ago :dunno

Tom

If anyone is interested, I'm going to order one and have it shipped to a shop in Campbell where it's going to be installed. We can save a bunch of cash by having the cages delivered together. Let me know

Nick

well i placed an order with julie about a month ago :dunno

Tom
I was told 3-5 weeks from order to delivery - when did they say you'd have it when you placed the order?

I was told 3-5 weeks from order to delivery - when did they say you'd have it when you placed the order?

I was actually never quoted a time frame when i would receive the bar but i was told that i was first on the list to have it built due to placing my order so long ago. best bet would be to call up julie and talk to her. she told me that unless 10 buyers were gotten before the 16th of this month (cut off date) that they would start building the bars then.

Tom

Just ordered my cage yesterday. Julie from Kirk said that it would be delivered in August. She also said delivery to the bay area would cost around $100. shipping two to the same address would be the same, and then it would be like $15 more each cage. If anyone else is interested we can save even more by bunching the delivery together