[Bee Pee]

Originally Posted by Anthony1s

Not sure why you'd need both braces. But doesn't seem like it'd, since they both use the same front mounting holes. Looks like that combo would be too thick to close the hood.

Good find though. These are cheaper, lighter, and stiffer than the RPK braces. And retain easy access to the air filter, unlike the BMW carbon brace.

But unsure which is stiffer or stiff enough between the BMW brace and that one.

I think looking at the front attachment of TMS CF parts, I'd position oem CFRP brace onto cross link panel then position these onto top and bolt thru.

Should remove issues of higher profile CFRP u brace clashing with underside of the hood.

[M Fifty]

Originally Posted by Anthony1s

Not sure why you'd need both braces. But doesn't seem like it'd, since they both use the same front mounting holes. Looks like that combo would be too thick to close the hood.

Good find though. These are cheaper, lighter, and stiffer than the RPK braces. And retain easy access to the air filter, unlike the BMW carbon brace.

But unsure which is stiffer or stiff enough between the BMW brace and that one.

Pretty definitely the BMW item given the cross-section. But, if anyone is just looking to dress the engine bay a bit, the others also look nice.

[3t3p]

Got my brace installed will do pics soon.

Anyone got the part number for the rubber cover that goes over the top mount and reinforcement gasket area?

My brace is mounted on too of the existing ones, I had a look and there 'may' be a new tint scuff to the CF at the Landing plate that wasn't there before, not sure as the brace was bought used off a wrecked M4.

Shirt of putting loads of blutac on top and seeing if it get compressed not sure how to know if it's rubbing.

As for cornering haven't been able to go for a real drive yet, just boring cornering.

I wonder if slightly more of the road texture is transmitted through the steering wheel. And the whole car feels slightly more linked up front to rear.

I'll know more on a spirited drive.

Looks great though

[3t3p]

Pics:



Ok few things to comment on having just gone on a proper drive:

One of the first things I noticed and I didn't go out focusing on this as thought it would all be in the steering.

To me the car feels more unified across the chassis but also the suspension. The car is subtly more settled than it was before, enough for me to notice when as I said I wasn't looking for it.

I think there is incrementally more road texture through the steering wheel.
The car felt like it responded to lines in the road more, I had to do slightly more than usual to pilot the car on some sections. But I'm not being alarmist, its just a slight thing I noticed.

In terms of cornering I would just say that the car feels like its more on rails round a corner, that it doesn't push on as much as before.

It's all nicely subtle but it does do something on a spirited drive.

Onto another issue it does appear new marks are coming up on the brace, so its definately rubbing under the bonnet/hood. Also the the right of the bonnet as you look at it it sometimes doesn't shut if you don't throw the bonnet down right so seems there is a high point there?

Now apart from cosmetics I am worried the CF being a soft material may eventually get eaten away by vibration against the hood so am in two minds to get the garage who fitted it to just remove the stock front corner braces so it can lie flat on the landing plate.

Thoughts?

P.S. @Mfifty Do you have the part number for the M3/4 strupt top covers? The ones that completely enclose the top mount area? Ta

[JonD]

Originally Posted by 3t3p

Pics:



Ok few things to comment on having just gone on a proper drive:

One of the first things I noticed and I didn't go out focusing on this as thought it would all be in the steering.

To me the car feels more unified across the chassis but also the suspension. The car is subtly more settled than it was before, enough for me to notice when as I said I wasn't looking for it.

I think there is incrementally more road texture through the steering wheel.
The car felt like it responded to lines in the road more, I had to do slightly more than usual to pilot the car on some sections. But I'm not being alarmist, its just a slight thing I noticed.

In terms of cornering I would just say that the car feels like its more on rails round a corner, that it doesn't push on as much as before.

It's all nicely subtle but it does do something on a spirited drive.

Onto another issue it does appear new marks are coming up on the brace, so its definately rubbing under the bonnet/hood. Also the the right of the bonnet as you look at it it sometimes doesn't shut if you don't throw the bonnet down right so seems there is a high point there?

Now apart from cosmetics I am worried the CF being a soft material may eventually get eaten away by vibration against the hood so am in two minds to get the garage who fitted it to just remove the stock front corner braces so it can lie flat on the landing plate.

Thoughts?

P.S. @Mfifty Do you have the part number for the M3/4 strupt top covers? The ones that completely enclose the top mount area? Ta

Where is it rubbing? I notice you still have the original corner braces, M2C doesn’t have them, if you remove them I imagine the brace will sit lower.

[Anthony1s]

Originally Posted by JonD

Where is it rubbing? I notice you still have the original corner braces, M2C doesn’t have them, if you remove them I imagine the brace will sit lower.

He could even cut them around these yellow lines. If I do this mod, that would be what I'd do.

[3t3p]

Multiple rub points as far as I can see, one at the foremost aspect of the brace by the bonnet latch and some scratches showing up on the right of the brace as you look at it in photos, about 1/3rd to 1/2 way along.

Yeh the stock braces would need to be removed ala M2C or cut.

I'll see how much stock ones are before cutting them, BP has a similar plan I believe.

[Anthony1s]

Originally Posted by 3t3p

Multiple rub points as far as I can see, one at the foremost aspect of the brace by the bonnet latch and some scratches showing up on the right of the brace as you look at it in photos, about 1/3rd to 1/2 way along.

Yeh the stock braces would need to be removed ala M2C or cut.

I'll see how much stock ones are before cutting them, BP has a similar plan I believe.

They're ~$40 each.

[3t3p]

Can't be that cheap!?

[Anthony1s]

Originally Posted by 3t3p

Can't be that cheap!?

They are.

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...t/51647301929/

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...t/51647301930/

[3t3p]

So they are even in UK! Crazy it's same as a plastic part of trim in the engine bay! Thanks for that.

Might ask my garage to give them the chop or just remove them for now and put them back in later.

[M Fifty]

Originally Posted by 3t3p

Pics:



Ok few things to comment on having just gone on a proper drive:

One of the first things I noticed and I didn't go out focusing on this as thought it would all be in the steering.

To me the car feels more unified across the chassis but also the suspension. The car is subtly more settled than it was before, enough for me to notice when as I said I wasn't looking for it.

I think there is incrementally more road texture through the steering wheel.
The car felt like it responded to lines in the road more, I had to do slightly more than usual to pilot the car on some sections. But I'm not being alarmist, its just a slight thing I noticed.

In terms of cornering I would just say that the car feels like its more on rails round a corner, that it doesn't push on as much as before.

It's all nicely subtle but it does do something on a spirited drive.

Onto another issue it does appear new marks are coming up on the brace, so its definately rubbing under the bonnet/hood. Also the the right of the bonnet as you look at it it sometimes doesn't shut if you don't throw the bonnet down right so seems there is a high point there?

Now apart from cosmetics I am worried the CF being a soft material may eventually get eaten away by vibration against the hood so am in two minds to get the garage who fitted it to just remove the stock front corner braces so it can lie flat on the landing plate.

Thoughts?

P.S. @Mfifty Do you have the part number for the M3/4 strupt top covers? The ones that completely enclose the top mount area? Ta

As you have the reinforcement rings fitted, the M3/M4 items are the ones to go for (the ones for the M2C might not fit). Have a look at Part No. 3 here:

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=41_2197

[3t3p]

Thanks M Fifty but I already have those do I not?

I thought there is an additional rubber cap/cover that goes over the lot?

[M Fifty]

Based on comparing your pictures with mine - you don't? Mine have ribs and press pins that fix them to the alloy brace. Those on the M2C look like they would fit over the whole lot, but I've yet to try them.

[M Fifty]

Pics of the M2C items taken during a visit to Cotswold:

[3t3p]

God knows what part I ordered then. I see yours is all integrated in your photos, thanks.

I'll just leave it then.

[Bee Pee]

Originally Posted by M Fifty

Pics of the M2C items taken during a visit to Cotswold:

These rubber covers fit over m3/4 strut tower reinforcement rings

[3t3p]

Originally Posted by Bee Pee

These rubber covers fit over m3/4 strut tower reinforcement rings

So I'm not going mad?!

I can't work out the part number

[Anthony1s]

Originally Posted by 3t3p

So I'm not going mad?!

I can't work out the part number

I'm really confused, can you explain what's going on? Is it that the M2C and the M3/4 use different rubber covers because they use different reinforcement rings? That you purchased the M2C ones, but they do not fit because you have the M3/4 rings?

[3t3p]

The reinforcement rings are visible on my retrofit. They are from an M4.

Mfifty has either something additional to the engine seal part of a different top mount seal part that covers the reinforcement ring.

[Anthony1s]

Originally Posted by 3t3p

The reinforcement rings are visible on my retrofit. They are from an M4.

Mfifty has either something additional to the engine seal part of a different top mount seal part that covers the reinforcement ring.

In your pictures... are those the M2 covers, the M2C covers, or the M3/4 covers?

[3t3p]

I think I've got M2C ones but I'll have to check.

Took the steel stock front braces out today. Will drive around a bit without them in see if anything can be noticed.

Know how to modify them now to get them back in if I want.

Overall really liking the brace in the car, it for sure improves it.

Heavy braking too the car is a lot more settled than before where I had slight loss of confidence in it.