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M2 Technical Topics > Suspension | Brakes | Chassis > BMW M3/M4 F8X Carbon Fiber Strut Mod on the BMW M2

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      06-26-2019, 01:43 AM   #67
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PilotxERAU View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bee Pee View Post
Bluebro retrofitted this twice

1st time was on his f22 m235i - crosslink upgraded to F8x version.

2nd time was F87 OG M2 - existing standard f87 crosslink used
I got mine dialed in thanks to Bee Pee posts and others on the forum
Pilot

I see you have the CFRP u brace bolted at the front with existing m2 corner braces in situ. As the topsides of these braces aren't a flat surface for CFRP brace underside to tighten down onto - did you fit packers/washers at the both front bolted connections ?
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      06-26-2019, 01:35 PM   #68
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BeePee, if you're about to get started on fitting the CF brace, feel free to get in touch.
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      06-28-2019, 06:54 AM   #69
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bee Pee View Post
Pilot

I see you have the CFRP u brace bolted at the front with existing m2 corner braces in situ. As the topsides of these braces aren't a flat surface for CFRP brace underside to tighten down onto - did you fit packers/washers at the both front bolted connections ?
Hi Bee Pee, no I just cinched them down right on top. It is solid as a rock.
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      06-28-2019, 06:55 AM   #70
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PilotxERAU View Post
Hi Bee Pee, no I just cinched them down right on top. It is solid as a rock.
Also, you have to be careful about front CF brace height because it WILL impact the hood when closing if not cinched down. I think spacers/packers would cause a real concern there.
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      06-29-2019, 10:29 AM   #71
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The m4 alloy brace parts retrofit is done and the initial impression is that is car feels noticeably more "rigid".

Need to get pucker strut top rubber covers to finish the job off.

Will drive as-is for a while prior to adding CFRP brace part so as I can gauge the difference between alloy brace only and alloy + CFRP braces
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      06-29-2019, 01:25 PM   #72
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Good effort.

Ah - you did the rings as well...

In which case - if I get the correct ones for my ringless install - I'll have a set for use with rings going spare...
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      06-29-2019, 01:29 PM   #73
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A couple of questions:
1. How much clearance do you have with the ABS bracket and pipes?
2. Did you keep the RHD M2 OG/LCI hose routing over the top of the brace, or buy the M2C bits?
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      06-29-2019, 01:29 PM   #74
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Oh: If anyone wants a set of 3-hole reinforcement rings, I have a used set going spare...
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      06-29-2019, 04:18 PM   #75
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M Fifty View Post
A couple of questions:
1. How much clearance do you have with the ABS bracket and pipes?
2. Did you keep the RHD M2 OG/LCI hose routing over the top of the brace, or buy the M2C bits?
2 main clearance issues were

- close proximity of alloy brace to positive terminal under RHS cowl cover so lots of ocd-esque insulation tape on both brace and cables and heat shrink on the cables.

- brake servo hose rerouted by disconnecting and spinning retaining clip by 180deg before re-connecting brake servo hose to give hose route more clearance from brace.
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      06-30-2019, 02:50 AM   #76
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The battery strap was a little worrying - a 45 degree bend can be put in the tab to help clearance.

The M2C shares the brake servo hoses with the M3/4, which was something else I had wondered about getting, but I've not seen how they fit.

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=34_2206
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Last edited by M Fifty; 06-30-2019 at 12:51 PM..
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      07-01-2019, 08:08 AM   #77
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M Fifty View Post
The battery strap was a little worrying - a 45 degree bend can be put in the tab to help clearance.
Agreed - hence why you see a lot of cloth tape on drivers on my brace in my photo - similar to what you did on passenger side for ABS hoses in your 2nd photo above - but also wentt belt n braces with insulating & cloth tape and heatshrink wrap on the wiring in immediate proximity to the alloy brace.
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      07-01-2019, 11:52 AM   #78
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Fortunately, the picture of the battery strap is before final fitting - which involved unbolting the tab, putting a bend in it so that the cable stays well-away from the brace, and adding some additional felt tape.
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      07-03-2019, 10:48 AM   #79
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Update:-

whilst front wheels were off, peeled back front part of archliner and swapped out xenon bulbs to Nightbreaker Laser Next generation. Took the car out for a late night cross country thrash.

The mods on my car already means EPS feel, response and grip levels are already much better than standard. My observations made above stand and in particular the reduced "dead-band" from just off straight ahead. Car reacts now with less initial steering input but is not busy/darty in a straight line. Took the car down some swift, empty A&B roads and the stiffer body means that MPerf coilovers feel like they are more able at managing the contact patch between tyre & asphalt.

M50 on here said expect the car's helm to have more feel thru long sweeping bends - he was right. Plus, it's much more adept at coping with mid corner imperfections.

So, having retrofitted the F8x alloy brace, I'm all set for pedalling the car around NC500 with a couple of Porsche driving buddies this weekend. Then, on the way back down from Scotland, the guys at Center Gravity will be able to work their magic, my car is in there for full blown chassis tune ie damper dyno/corner weighting and fast road alignment, knowing the front end is more rigid than the std OG M2.

Oh yes, xenon bulbs upgrade works well too !!!!

BP
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      07-03-2019, 03:13 PM   #80
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I've come to a bit of a crossroads and trying to figure out what the best course of action is. I am looking to get Öhlins and camber plates (Vorshlag?) and was planning to add the CS/M3/M4 carbon brace in the future.

It sounds like I should not get F87 camber plates as they wouldn't be compatible with the bracing in the future. But if I was to get the M3/M4 camber plates would I also need, at a minimum, the parts needed to swap to the aluminum bracing? I assume there are components that the M3/M4 camber plates alone would invalidate.
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      07-03-2019, 03:46 PM   #81
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You could follow BeePee and fit the camber adjustment pivot/swivel bearings?
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      07-05-2019, 04:33 AM   #82
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M1500Z View Post
I've come to a bit of a crossroads and trying to figure out what the best course of action is. I am looking to get Öhlins and camber plates (Vorshlag?) and was planning to add the CS/M3/M4 carbon brace in the future.

It sounds like I should not get F87 camber plates as they wouldn't be compatible with the bracing in the future. But if I was to get the M3/M4 camber plates would I also need, at a minimum, the parts needed to swap to the aluminum bracing? I assume there are components that the M3/M4 camber plates alone would invalidate.
If adding ohlins and then intending to retrofit m4 alloy brace part in the future - you will need to buy camber plates that can accommodate both OG m2 brace - single bolt fixing - and m4 brace - 3 bolt fixings.

This might limit yr choice of camber plate. IIRC Ground Control M2 CP's are compatible for both OGM2 and M2Comp.
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      07-07-2019, 12:41 AM   #83
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bee Pee View Post
Update:-

whilst front wheels were off, peeled back front part of archliner and swapped out xenon bulbs to Nightbreaker Laser Next generation. Took the car out for a late night cross country thrash.

The mods on my car already means EPS feel, response and grip levels are already much better than standard. My observations made above stand and in particular the reduced "dead-band" from just off straight ahead. Car reacts now with less initial steering input but is not busy/darty in a straight line. Took the car down some swift, empty A&B roads and the stiffer body means that MPerf coilovers feel like they are more able at managing the contact patch between tyre & asphalt.

M50 on here said expect the car's helm to have more feel thru long sweeping bends - he was right. Plus, it's much more adept at coping with mid corner imperfections.

So, having retrofitted the F8x alloy brace, I'm all set for pedalling the car around NC500 with a couple of Porsche driving buddies this weekend. Then, on the way back down from Scotland, the guys at Center Gravity will be able to work their magic, my car is in there for full blown chassis tune ie damper dyno/corner weighting and fast road alignment, knowing the front end is more rigid than the std OG M2.

Oh yes, xenon bulbs upgrade works well too !!!!

BP
BeePee did you do the extra reinforcement braces that the M3/M4 have connecting to the aluminum brace? Has anyone retrofitted these on an M2? I am interested to try.

Extension Strut Tower, Left : 31122284857
Extension Strut Tower, Right : 31122284858
Link, Left : 31122284859
Link, Right : 31122284860
Torx bolt M8 2EA : 07147248303
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      07-07-2019, 12:56 AM   #84
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PilotxERAU View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bee Pee View Post
Update:-

whilst front wheels were off, peeled back front part of archliner and swapped out xenon bulbs to Nightbreaker Laser Next generation. Took the car out for a late night cross country thrash.

The mods on my car already means EPS feel, response and grip levels are already much better than standard. My observations made above stand and in particular the reduced "dead-band" from just off straight ahead. Car reacts now with less initial steering input but is not busy/darty in a straight line. Took the car down some swift, empty A&B roads and the stiffer body means that MPerf coilovers feel like they are more able at managing the contact patch between tyre & asphalt.

M50 on here said expect the car's helm to have more feel thru long sweeping bends - he was right. Plus, it's much more adept at coping with mid corner imperfections.

So, having retrofitted the F8x alloy brace, I'm all set for pedalling the car around NC500 with a couple of Porsche driving buddies this weekend. Then, on the way back down from Scotland, the guys at Center Gravity will be able to work their magic, my car is in there for full blown chassis tune ie damper dyno/corner weighting and fast road alignment, knowing the front end is more rigid than the std OG M2.

Oh yes, xenon bulbs upgrade works well too !!!!

BP
BeePee did you do the extra reinforcement braces that the M3/M4 have connecting to the aluminum brace? Has anyone retrofitted these on an M2? I am interested to try.

Extension Strut Tower, Left : 31122284857
Extension Strut Tower, Right : 31122284858
Link, Left : 31122284859
Link, Right : 31122284860
Torx bolt M8 2EA : 07147248303
No - they're non functional on F87 bodyshell as - unlike m3/m4 - there's no fixing points to mount them to
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      07-07-2019, 01:28 AM   #85
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bee Pee View Post
No - they're non functional on F87 bodyshell as - unlike m3/m4 - there's no fixing points to mount them to
Right, but one could drill out a hole for a flat head rivet nut and connect them for added rigidity.
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      07-07-2019, 02:54 AM   #86
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I think you would need to remove the front wings to drill the hole? In the event that the hole is already there with a rubber plug in it (like those for the rivnuts next to the strut towers), I might have been tempted.
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      07-07-2019, 08:34 AM   #87
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Can you still remove the Eventuri filter to clean/replace it without removing the carbon strut bar?

And what about removing the coolant cap? Can you do that without removing the carbon bar too?

Last edited by Anthony1s; 07-07-2019 at 10:30 AM..
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      07-07-2019, 02:52 PM   #88
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Anthony1s View Post
Can you still remove the Eventuri filter to clean/replace it without removing the carbon strut bar?

And what about removing the coolant cap? Can you do that without removing the carbon bar too?
Definitely the coolant, it is not blocked by the strut. Eventuri I do not know I am guessing you need to remove the strut for that.
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