Sorry if this isn't the right place for this question (I'm new). Wondering if anyone has installed a Stress bar above the engine and if so, have you noticed a difference in ride?

Thanks,

-M

You'll get better answer from the main E36 forum to be honest.

But, here's my two cents. Don't waste your money. You should save up for a real suspension set, such as Bilstein/H&R set. This combo improves the handling of the car by as much as 50% over the stock. Strut-brace is really for looks, it should complement the new suspension, not replace it.
Sorry if this isn't the right place for this question (I'm new). Wondering if anyone has installed a Stress bar above the engine and if so, have you noticed a difference in ride?

Thanks,

-M

Thank you, will do.

I have a Mason non hinged bar, and the car has a little less cowl shake, but nothing drastic.

I bought an BMP stress bar, and noticed the difference in cowl flex the first time I backed it out of the driveway. I'm thinking that Verts benefit a lot more from stress bars than sedans or coupes. An added benefit of the bar that goes well with tighter suspension is the added reinforcement to the shock tower.

You'll get better answer from the main E36 forum to be honest.

But, here's my two cents. Don't waste your money. You should save up for a real suspension set, such as Bilstein/H&R set. This combo improves the handling of the car by as much as 50% over the stock. Strut-brace is really for looks, it should complement the new suspension, not replace it.

A strutbar as they are calles and a coiloverset are for 2 different purpuses!

Luckely all e36 verts already have the X-brace fitted (underneath the engine).

A strutbar as they are calles and a coiloverset are for 2 different purpuses!

Luckely all e36 verts already have the X-brace fitted (underneath the engine).

Get the stress bar...its a cheap way to help secure the body flex of verts or any car for that matter....anytime you make the strut towers rigid your going to have a benifit...don't expect to "feel" it...but rest assured it has benefit....if not...why would pretty much every race car have one?

PS...this pic is pre supercharger and OBD1 S52 conversion

Get the stress bar...its a cheap way to help secure the body flex of verts or any car for that matter....anytime you make the strut towers rigid your going to have a benifit...don't expect to "feel" it...but rest assured it has benefit....if not...why would pretty much every race car have one?

PS...this pic is pre supercharger and OBD1 S52 conversion

Did it sound like I was against a stressbar? (Strutbrace) You make me feel I sounded that way :)

Anyways...you changed from OBDII to I??!? :eek:

Is this something that I can install? Level of difficulty?

Is this something that I can install? Level of difficulty?

If you bolt off and on 6 hexnuts you'll be fine.

I'd say level -0.1

I.o.w. if you can't do this, you should't be near a car!

If you bolt off and on 6 hexnuts you'll be fine.

I'd say level -0.1

I.o.w. if you can't do this, you should't be near a car!

Sorry MParallel...I clicked the wrong quote...my bad...yes I'm OBD1....my car is a (95) so when went with an S52 I went OBD1...with S50 manifold ect...for obvious reasons....The 3.2 is a direct boltup with a couple minor mods....cheers.....Karl

Sorry MParallel...I clicked the wrong quote...my bad...yes I'm OBD1....my car is a (95) so when went with an S52 I went OBD1...with S50 manifold ect...for obvious reasons....The 3.2 is a direct boltup with a couple minor mods....cheers.....Karl

You could've deleted the quote after you pressed the quote button :)

Help me here...your 1995 car was originally an OBD1 or 2 car?

And aren't all 3.2 evo's OBD2?

Then again, I don't know if canada also got the US-spec M3 engine which might be different. Since you talk about using the M50 manifold.

Shame, all M3's should have the 6 TB's manifold.

From what I know.Changing a car from OBD1->2 or vice versa is a hell to do.

If you bolt off and on 6 hexnuts you'll be fine.

I'd say level -0.1

I.o.w. if you can't do this, you should't be near a car!

I was going to detail my 3 and 5 and post pics but it's a "blue" Christmas this morning! Well, it's not actually Christmas yet! I thought God didn't let it rain in San Diego on the Holidays!!!!

Best,

-M

You'll need a tap to thread the holes. I've done this before, not that difficult, just take your time. Mount the bar on top of where you want it to be, use duct tape to hold it temporarily in place. Then, use a marker (permanent one works well) and mark the dead center of each of the place where it will be bolted. Take off the tapes and the bar; drill a pilot hole, then the actual size hold minus like 2-mm. Tap the actual size of the bolt, mount the bar, and then the bolt it down. If you don't have a lock washer, I would use find them and use them. If not, use thread seize so that they stay there.
Is this something that I can install? Level of difficulty?

Like I said before, your most gain in handling will be your shock/Strut-Spring combo. Don't expect much improvement in handling, the chassis is well reinforced from the factory being that its missing a roof, so the engineers already taken into consideration to reduce chassis flex, compares that of a coupe/sedan. Do your suspension first, then the bar. If you do the front, you might as well do the rear also, to see real gain.
Sorry if this isn't the right place for this question (I'm new). Wondering if anyone has installed a Stress bar above the engine and if so, have you noticed a difference in ride?

Thanks,

-M

^^

Verts all have the X-brace mounted on the front axle/chassis.

I also recently installed the Mason strut bar, but I purchased the two piece adjustable one. It looks similar to the one that came on the lightweight. It did reduce the hood shake and body flex a littlie bit more. I think it's a must have for any convertible.
Convertibles will never be as stiff as hard tops, but have the option to have the top up or down at any time. As for performance, I run NASA Time Trials and do just fine. I can't wait to see what difference the brace makes on the track.

Hi i have a Euro 07/95 production 328i vert that unfortunately didnt come with an x-brace:( i have one on order tho that should be here within the month) i was wondering if all stressbars are created equal? or are those more expensive ones really better than the el cheapo ones?

I look at it this was: are all convertibles created equal? Then we ought to buy a LeBaron Convertible right?

How about this, is $90+ CrMo mountain bike from Wal*Mart is as good as a $3000+ Merlin Titanium?

Get the picture yet???
Hi i have a Euro 07/95 production 328i vert that unfortunately didnt come with an x-brace:( i have one on order tho that should be here within the month) i was wondering if all stressbars are created equal? or are those more expensive ones really better than the el cheapo ones?

Check the group-buy forum. I purchased a Sparco strut bar for around $150.
My experience is that the strut bars become more important when running stiffer suspension setups. High spring rates cause more chassis flex and convertibles flex more than coupes. Having said that, for a daily driver with a stock suspension there are better mods to do first. For example, assuming you havn't done any suspension upgrades yet, a set of swaybars will reduce body roll in a very noticable way. Adding the strut bar isn't a big "seat-of-the-pants" improvement.

Hi i have a Euro 07/95 production 328i vert that unfortunately didnt come with an x-brace:( i have one on order tho that should be here within the month) i was wondering if all stressbars are created equal? or are those more expensive ones really better than the el cheapo ones?

Some of the board members are saying that the solid bars, such as the Sparco, are stiffer and more effective than the two piece bars with hinges. The Sparco isn't much to look at compared with some of the more expensive fancy blingy looking bars though...

Another difference is the two piece bars are easier to install in some applications. For example, vehicles that have undergone a front end collision repair might might have shock towers that are not perfectlly spaced so a two piece bar might give some adjustment factor whereas a one piece bar might not fit without modification.

But anyhow - sure you get what you pay for in most cases I think.

Hi i have a Euro 07/95 production 328i vert that unfortunately didnt come with an x-brace:( ....

Weird as they were a stock item for all verts (for obvious reasons).

For what it is worth I have SPAX adjustable struts with Dinan sways and springs front and Bilstein sports with Dinan sways and springs rear.
I have the X-brace under the car and I have never seen one that didn't come with a brace so I wonder why a few here don't have then.
Oh well I also bought a Sparco strut bar and have used it on two e36 convertibles so far and I also have a hardtop.

Oh tires Toyo Proxies.

The car is much stiffer then other verts I have owned and handles close to my M3 sedan with the top on. The top off the car still has some cowl shake but not much.

Do I think I need the strut bar?
Yes it makes a difference but the hardtop makes a bigger difference in keeping torsional twist in check.

Tell me how a better sport set up helps keep your car from twisting like a pretzel?
You have to improve the stiffness of this car before you can improve the handling much at all.
All of the verts I have owned, 1 e30 and two e36's are not that stiff until I drive a rental car like a Mustang convertible then can see how much stiffer it really is.

I just jump from my M3 to my vert so I can do side by side comparsion of handling and as I said if you want a car as close to the same stiffness as the coupe or sedan get a hardtop. It clamps the car in the front in two places and the rear in two places and really reduces the twist.

I just hope the 335 vert I have on ED order is a huge improvement in stiffness on all axis.

dieseldriver99:point taken:) like everything else for this cars i gues hehe

johnnybad1: thanks will put swaybars on my list. and will check out the groupbuy page. unfortunately i found this thread a little too late i already ordered an x-brace from bavauto and an el cheapo strutbar on amazon:( i am all the way in the other side of the world in the philippines so i had all the stuff i ordered sent here by ship so thats a month of waiting:( i gues ill stick with this for now till i can get the swaybars. I also made the mistake when i got the car of getting all around stock springs with bilstiene shocks instead of just going straite on aftermarket. Ill ride these springs and shocks out first before getting better ones.

MParallel: i know it was quite a disapointment to me that it didnt have the x-brace as that i read everywhere that there suppose to have one. the worse thing about it was i couldnt find the xbrace here in philippines.
it might also be due to the production date of the car. althought its a 95 production it has the newer look already but the roof is not fully automatic. the trunk doesnt have a break light on it the auto shifter is still the bar and not the pistol grip. cant remember what other stuff it had that were different but when i first got it i noticed quite a few things that were different from my friends 96 production one.

fun2drive: if i could find one that i could afford id definetly get a hardtop but for me that would cost double since id have to ship here. as for the car ya i can compare too and i miss my coup. i had a 320 coup that had m-tech suspension and man compared to the vert that handled like it was on rails:)

I love this forums everyones so helpfull thanks guys you rock:buttrock