I experimented with a few front strut brace options over the past two years.
See my review of the BMW Performance front strut brace:
http://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=13875
A summary of my findings of the BMW Performance brace:
There were still some play and flexibility on the front wheels due to the shifting bolt rings. The aluminium bar scratched badly and shifted under acceleration. A nagging knock of the strutbrace against the airbox caused bad scratches on the airbox.
See my review of the Rennzport performance front strut brace:
http://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=13875
A summary of my findings of the Rennzport Performance brace:
An improvement in handling. Steering feels solid, tight and presice.
But a slight knocking against the bonnet irritated me. Rennzport has since produced a revised version of the brace that lowers it slightly with 1cm to prevent knocking against the airbox & the bonnet. But it was while waiting for the revised brace that I deceided to experiment and raid some of the M3 V8 suspension goodies.
M3, V8 Front Strut Brace installed on my 335 (e90)
I ordered the parts through the BMW dealership and the removal of the stock strut brace was easy as well as installing the M3 front strutbrace. The M3 brace is lighter than the 335 stock brace and fits easily and perfectly over the strut towers.
Here are all the M3 strut brace parts needed:
Diagramme with part numbers:
The entire strutbrace installed:
M3 logo a nice touch:
A slight modding challenge:
Replacing the cowl after you installed the strutbrace poses a problem. There are 8 bolts/nuts: Two nuts at the strut tower mount side, and then two bolts at the firewall mount; on both sides. The bolts on the tower mount side is the problem because you cannot flatten the cowl completely. For a perfect fit it would be best to drill two holes (both sides) through the plastic cowl to allow the head of the bolts to stick through. Once this is done the installation is complete.
Installation fully completed and those bolts neatly tucked underneath the plastic holes of the cowl:
Driving impressions:
You cannot go wrong with this modification. It is an M3, light aluminium performance strut brace after all. The handling is improved and as expected the steering feels direct, solid, tight and presice. Love the bite on the front wheels. :thumbs: I will stick with this brace, no need to try something else anymore.
Sources:
http://www.billswebspace.com/bmw335.htm
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=184925
An installation guide: http://www.billswebspace.com/335M3StrutBraceInstallation.htm
See my review of the BMW Performance front strut brace:
http://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=13875
A summary of my findings of the BMW Performance brace:
There were still some play and flexibility on the front wheels due to the shifting bolt rings. The aluminium bar scratched badly and shifted under acceleration. A nagging knock of the strutbrace against the airbox caused bad scratches on the airbox.
See my review of the Rennzport performance front strut brace:
http://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=13875
A summary of my findings of the Rennzport Performance brace:
An improvement in handling. Steering feels solid, tight and presice.
But a slight knocking against the bonnet irritated me. Rennzport has since produced a revised version of the brace that lowers it slightly with 1cm to prevent knocking against the airbox & the bonnet. But it was while waiting for the revised brace that I deceided to experiment and raid some of the M3 V8 suspension goodies.
M3, V8 Front Strut Brace installed on my 335 (e90)
I ordered the parts through the BMW dealership and the removal of the stock strut brace was easy as well as installing the M3 front strutbrace. The M3 brace is lighter than the 335 stock brace and fits easily and perfectly over the strut towers.
Here are all the M3 strut brace parts needed:
Diagramme with part numbers:
The entire strutbrace installed:
M3 logo a nice touch:
A slight modding challenge:
Replacing the cowl after you installed the strutbrace poses a problem. There are 8 bolts/nuts: Two nuts at the strut tower mount side, and then two bolts at the firewall mount; on both sides. The bolts on the tower mount side is the problem because you cannot flatten the cowl completely. For a perfect fit it would be best to drill two holes (both sides) through the plastic cowl to allow the head of the bolts to stick through. Once this is done the installation is complete.
Installation fully completed and those bolts neatly tucked underneath the plastic holes of the cowl:
Driving impressions:
You cannot go wrong with this modification. It is an M3, light aluminium performance strut brace after all. The handling is improved and as expected the steering feels direct, solid, tight and presice. Love the bite on the front wheels. :thumbs: I will stick with this brace, no need to try something else anymore.
Sources:
http://www.billswebspace.com/bmw335.htm
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=184925
An installation guide: http://www.billswebspace.com/335M3StrutBraceInstallation.htm
