Funny you say that 'cause people seem to say fitment is better with the kirk. My (autopower) plates were curved and fit nice and flush around in the fender well.
Also the rear bars on the autopower sit much higher on the fender well. Even though the bolts are facing downwards and my car pretty low it looks like there are plenty of room not to be worried.
The front of the autopower looks like it sits closer to the front seats though.
Current:
Alpine White E46 325i Touring S54 6MT
Titanium Silver E39 540i Touring M-Sport S62 6MT
Past:
Alpine White E46 330i ZHP Sedan S54 6MT
Interlagos Blue E85 Z4 M Roadster 6MT
Le Mans Blue E92 M3 6MT
Japan Red E46 325i Touring S54 6MT
Estoril Blue Individual E46 M3 Coupe 6MT
Cosmos Black E36 M3 Coupe S54 6MT
Alpine White E92 M3 6MT
Alpine White E90 M3 6MT
Laguna Seca Blue E46 M3 Coupe 6MT
Jet Black E36 325is S52 5MT
Lagoon Green E36 325is 5MT
They really should care. Technically an instructor could say it is unsafe and tell you that he won't ride with you. Same thing about equal restraint, the instructor could sit in a stock seat and you in a race seat if he feels comfortable. Most would say if you get harness and and better seat then why does the instructor also not receive it?
To the OP I ordered 9 feet. I think 6 feet would be enough. You will need to do both outside bars, the corners of the hoop and the section above your head. Repeat on the passenger side.
I just did this install a couple of weekends ago. I will post up pictures of the install and where everything went. Roll Bar padding is not installed yet though but it will give everyone an idea.
I also installed the bolts the wrong way the first time! As others have said, it's not an option to keep them that way, you may have already switched them.
As far as padding, the HODE's I have done, BMWCCA/THSCC/Chin/TrackDaze/VIR Member/Audi, don't require padding. For THSCC/Triangle Z Time Trials padding is required. Let me know how the padding works so I can order mine!
Is this really crucial on the bolts on the bottom of the rollbar? I installed my wheel well bolts head on the outside, thread on the insides, but since my car retains carpet, I put the head of the bolts on the feet of the main hoop bolts by the base of the rear footwell...
Side question, does Kirk offer a 4dr version of this rollbar?
If your seat is installed correctly, how are you ever going to contact that roll bar?
Brave- There was a thread on here years ago where some guy said a coupe bar worked fine in his sedan. Someone at Kirk told me the same thing. Call and ask them.
The plates did have a curve to them but they could have used a little bit more.
When fellow bfc members were speaking of Kirk fitment v Autopower I took it to mean fitment of the bar to the b pillar and the roof line. In that case Kirk's fitment is exceptional. There is very little space between the b pillar and the roof when the bar is in place.
Hey M3Alpine99... I agree! Why risk??? Is not safety the number 1 priority?
Instructor - NASA MidAtlantic, Chump - Racer
Team Constitutionalists Racing LIFE-LIBERTY-BEER
The bar is completely behind the seat, usually by almost 6 inches. If your seat is installed correctly and you're strapped in, how are you going to hit the roll bar? The more padding you put on the top of the hoop, the more of a pain it is to see out the rear too.
The way the current rules are written, yes you can do that.Not at any event I have been too.
do the "rules" say how far away before padding is required?
Instructor - NASA MidAtlantic, Chump - Racer
Team Constitutionalists Racing LIFE-LIBERTY-BEER
6 inches? That is not much... You very well could hit that bar. If you want to run the risk go ahead.
My rules/regs for BMWCCA HPDE say if your body "could" touch the bar then it needs padding. You cannot say for sure if that you aren't going to touch it...
Kind of a random question here guys, but has anyone ever heard of the bolt in cage failing in a crash or accident?
E46 M3 GTS3 Race Car
Sponsors:
Bimmerworld
Hanksville Hotrods
just finished install my TCKline 6 pt rollbar/cage yesterday
door bars and harness bar are not in, but everything else is... good call on switching the bolts in the opposite direction on the rear fenders...
still need to buy some roll bar padding and such
"Torque is like cowbell... you can never have too much." - Michael Cervi
For installing the plates on the wheel wells, I assume you need to drill the holes? or are they already there?
E46 M3 GTS3 Race Car
Sponsors:
Bimmerworld
Hanksville Hotrods
i have the TCKline 6pt... just installed it this week. How do you guys think it compares to the other bolt in bars, as it has A pillar protection as well as a single door bar?
I'm not racing, run in the intermediate run groups in DE's (10 so far), and looking to advance and get better as a driver, but also stay safe...
"Torque is like cowbell... you can never have too much." - Michael Cervi
For DEs at bolt in cage is fine, it's above and beyond what most DE students have. Once you get into timed events where you're either racing against the clock or there are other cars on track racing against you I would seriously consider taking the bolt-in out and upgrading to a custom cage. The bolt-ins offer minimal protection and are made to pass only the most basic cage rules.
Carlos.
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