BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
M2 Technical Topics > Suspension | Brakes | Chassis > Rear Strut Brace

Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      04-22-2020, 12:40 AM   #1
pooyab
Major
pooyab's Avatar
329
Rep
1,158
Posts

Drives: 2011 BMW M3 2020 BMW M5C
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Bay Area, CA

iTrader: (2)

Garage List
2011 BMW M3  [0.00]
Rear Strut Brace

Anybody look into tower braces for the rear on the F87 M2?
My friend has just installed his AST 5100 which have a CO design, now he's been concerned about potential structural weak points of the car and looking for options of reinforcement.
Only one I can really find is this: https://ultraracing-usa.com/bmw-m2-f...ts-adjustable/
__________________
Interlagos Blue/Speed Cloth | BayOptiks DTM Headlights | Alpine Stage 2 | KW Clubsport | Resonated X-Pipe | Eisenmann Race | StopTech BBK | TE37SL | YFCM CF Driveshaft | Hotchkis F/R Sways | F/R Endlinks | Turner Control Arms and Front Tension Bushings | Powerflex Diff Bushings | Turner Solid Subframe Bushings | MS Underdrive Pulley and Intake | Alpine DCT Tune | Karbonius Intake | Carbon Roof (TBD)
Appreciate 0
      04-22-2020, 06:34 AM   #2
M Fifty
Banned
844
Rep
1,962
Posts

Drives: M2 & 330CI
Join Date: May 2018
Location: The Interweb

iTrader: (0)

The main problem with these cars is the loose nut behind the wheel.

Hope the advertising strategy goes well in the meantime.
Appreciate 3
Bee Pee1736.00
pooyab329.00
      04-22-2020, 09:35 AM   #3
Bee Pee
Brigadier General
United Kingdom
1736
Rep
4,494
Posts

Drives: AW M2 DCT
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: SW London

iTrader: (3)

Quote:
Originally Posted by M Fifty View Post
The main problem with these cars is the loose nut behind the wheel.

Hope the advertising strategy goes well in the meantime.
Agreed UR brace looks like window dressing/ lip service.

Mason Engineering do superb X braces for e series m3.

Photo attached hopefully illustrates my point....
Attached Images
 
__________________
Fettled M135i EB AT - gone but not forgotten:
AW M2 DCT
Appreciate 1
x233284.00
      04-22-2020, 12:35 PM   #4
pooyab
Major
pooyab's Avatar
329
Rep
1,158
Posts

Drives: 2011 BMW M3 2020 BMW M5C
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Bay Area, CA

iTrader: (2)

Garage List
2011 BMW M3  [0.00]
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bee Pee View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by M Fifty View Post
The main problem with these cars is the loose nut behind the wheel.

Hope the advertising strategy goes well in the meantime.
Agreed UR brace looks like window dressing/ lip service.

Mason Engineering do superb X braces for e series m3.

Photo attached hopefully illustrates my point....
That one definitely looks better. Maybe I'll contact them to see if they have anything in development for this platform.
__________________
Interlagos Blue/Speed Cloth | BayOptiks DTM Headlights | Alpine Stage 2 | KW Clubsport | Resonated X-Pipe | Eisenmann Race | StopTech BBK | TE37SL | YFCM CF Driveshaft | Hotchkis F/R Sways | F/R Endlinks | Turner Control Arms and Front Tension Bushings | Powerflex Diff Bushings | Turner Solid Subframe Bushings | MS Underdrive Pulley and Intake | Alpine DCT Tune | Karbonius Intake | Carbon Roof (TBD)
Appreciate 0
      04-22-2020, 12:54 PM   #5
m2cWW
Private First Class
67
Rep
196
Posts

Drives: BMW M2C
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Westwood CA

iTrader: (0)

Just called mason...will be bringing the car in sometime next week to figure out what we can do
Appreciate 3
pooyab329.00
Bee Pee1736.00
      04-22-2020, 01:08 PM   #6
Bee Pee
Brigadier General
United Kingdom
1736
Rep
4,494
Posts

Drives: AW M2 DCT
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: SW London

iTrader: (3)

BAF Motorsport here in the UK make one for BMW F2x series that will fit F87....



http://www.bafmotorsport.co.uk/bmw-1...ar-strut-brace
__________________
Fettled M135i EB AT - gone but not forgotten:
AW M2 DCT
Appreciate 2
F87source7177.50
PLF693762.50
      04-22-2020, 07:49 PM   #7
F87source
Major General
F87source's Avatar
No_Country
7178
Rep
7,341
Posts

Drives: Bmw M2
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: .

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bee Pee View Post
BAF Motorsport here in the UK make one for BMW F2x series that will fit F87....



http://www.bafmotorsport.co.uk/bmw-1...ar-strut-brace
Yup, best brace I have seen by far. I was going to buy the ultra racing top brace and combine it with the KC design bottom brace, but this thing will tackle two birds with one stone and since it has the cross members it will be even stiffer too.
__________________
Click on the link below to see a compiled list of every review I have ever written:
https://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...2#post30368242
Appreciate 0
      04-23-2020, 02:14 PM   #8
Peter_VIE
Private First Class
Austria
183
Rep
100
Posts

Drives: M2
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Vienna, AT

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by F87source View Post
Yup, best brace I have seen by far. I was going to buy the ultra racing top brace and combine it with the KC design bottom brace, but this thing will tackle two birds with one stone and since it has the cross members it will be even stiffer too.
I would go for the BAF, they look quite reaonable,
I used those from Japan, they work noticable well:
Attached Images
 
Appreciate 1
F87source7177.50
      04-23-2020, 03:01 PM   #9
F87source
Major General
F87source's Avatar
No_Country
7178
Rep
7,341
Posts

Drives: Bmw M2
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: .

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter_VIE View Post
I would go for the BAF, they look quite reaonable,
I used those from Japan, they work noticable well:
Thanks! I'll be looking into it more soon. Warranty is up this year so finally gonna grab some charge pipes, turbo outlet, intercooler, vtt cbc (already have it and ready to go) plus alot of other small supporting mods.
__________________
Click on the link below to see a compiled list of every review I have ever written:
https://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...2#post30368242
Appreciate 1
toyman0.00
      04-24-2020, 12:01 PM   #10
nothingman
Private NumNuts
nothingman's Avatar
United_States
521
Rep
321
Posts

Drives: 2021 GT4
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Mason Dixon Line

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
These ARC Power rear braces Peter_VIE mentioned look pretty interesting. Looks like the type 4 upper and lower carbon fiber braces go for 38k yen each, or about $350 USD each on their website, but I can't figure out how you would purchase them: https://translate.google.com/transla...torefine.co.jp

Any thoughts on how well these might perform? It looks like the upper brace might be beneficial but the lower brace might not be very effective unless it were tied together like an x brace.
Attached Images
 
__________________

Last edited by nothingman; 04-24-2020 at 12:17 PM..
Appreciate 0
      04-24-2020, 12:54 PM   #11
PLF69
Colonel
PLF69's Avatar
3763
Rep
2,700
Posts

Drives: 2023 M3
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Quebec

iTrader: (0)

I just ordered the BAF in black, Will report back when I install it.
__________________
Fun/HPDE: 2023 M3 6MT Individual Malachite
Past:2023 M4 CSL, 2022 M4C Vert, 2020 M340i, 2018 M2, 2015 M235i, 2008 135i 550whp
Daily: 2023 X5 45e
Daily/Family: 2021 Atlas Cross Sport 3.6
Appreciate 2
pooyab329.00
F87source7177.50
      04-24-2020, 01:24 PM   #12
pooyab
Major
pooyab's Avatar
329
Rep
1,158
Posts

Drives: 2011 BMW M3 2020 BMW M5C
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Bay Area, CA

iTrader: (2)

Garage List
2011 BMW M3  [0.00]
BAF and Mason look like the best ones so far but Mason doesn't seem to have anything for the newer models, according to their website.
__________________
Interlagos Blue/Speed Cloth | BayOptiks DTM Headlights | Alpine Stage 2 | KW Clubsport | Resonated X-Pipe | Eisenmann Race | StopTech BBK | TE37SL | YFCM CF Driveshaft | Hotchkis F/R Sways | F/R Endlinks | Turner Control Arms and Front Tension Bushings | Powerflex Diff Bushings | Turner Solid Subframe Bushings | MS Underdrive Pulley and Intake | Alpine DCT Tune | Karbonius Intake | Carbon Roof (TBD)
Appreciate 0
      04-24-2020, 02:47 PM   #13
M Fifty
Banned
844
Rep
1,962
Posts

Drives: M2 & 330CI
Join Date: May 2018
Location: The Interweb

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by nothingman View Post
These ARC Power rear braces Peter_VIE mentioned look pretty interesting. Looks like the type 4 upper and lower carbon fiber braces go for 38k yen each, or about $350 USD each on their website, but I can't figure out how you would purchase them: https://translate.google.com/transla...torefine.co.jp

Any thoughts on how well these might perform? It looks like the upper brace might be beneficial but the lower brace might not be very effective unless it were tied together like an x brace.
In order to do anything apart for look pretty, they need some cross-bracing. There's already plenty of metal keeping those fixing points separate from one another, so, if they did a simple x-brace between those mounts, that 'might' be worth having. Obviously BMW's track record of structural failure is not great, but lets see some evidence of it happening before fitting something that doesn't help.
Appreciate 1
      04-24-2020, 04:01 PM   #14
F87source
Major General
F87source's Avatar
No_Country
7178
Rep
7,341
Posts

Drives: Bmw M2
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: .

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by M Fifty View Post
In order to do anything apart for look pretty, they need some cross-bracing. There's already plenty of metal keeping those fixing points separate from one another, so, if they did a simple x-brace between those mounts, that 'might' be worth having. Obviously BMW's track record of structural failure is not great, but lets see some evidence of it happening before fitting something that doesn't help.
Only the e46 had structural issues due to spot welds and panel gaps. No other BMW has had issues like that so I wouldn't say they have a poor structural integrity track record.
__________________
Click on the link below to see a compiled list of every review I have ever written:
https://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...2#post30368242
Appreciate 1
omasou2079.50
      04-25-2020, 03:34 AM   #15
M Fifty
Banned
844
Rep
1,962
Posts

Drives: M2 & 330CI
Join Date: May 2018
Location: The Interweb

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by F87source View Post
Only the e46 had structural issues due to spot welds and panel gaps. No other BMW has had issues like that so I wouldn't say they have a poor structural integrity track record.
You need to talk to the OP's friend who appears to be concerned...
Appreciate 0
      04-25-2020, 03:44 AM   #16
F87source
Major General
F87source's Avatar
No_Country
7178
Rep
7,341
Posts

Drives: Bmw M2
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: .

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by M Fifty View Post
You need to talk to the OP's friend who appears to be concerned...


Ah so there is a concern of coilovers (if I am under standing correctly) possibly causing damage to the structure of the car? Well braces probably wouldn't help too much. For the E46 the only solution was to spot weld through the two layers of the frame and use spray foam, and thicken critical mounting points with the reinforcement plates.

There should be no concern with the 2 series chassis imo (especially with just coilovers...), Bmw races this chassis professionally (along with countless smaller race teams) and there have been alot of enthusiasts that have beaten on this chassis without issue. IF there was a structural weakness then the only real solution would be reinforcement plates like on the e46, or perhaps a full cage.
__________________
Click on the link below to see a compiled list of every review I have ever written:
https://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...2#post30368242
Appreciate 1
      04-25-2020, 03:47 AM   #17
F87source
Major General
F87source's Avatar
No_Country
7178
Rep
7,341
Posts

Drives: Bmw M2
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: .

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by PLF69 View Post
I just ordered the BAF in black, Will report back when I install it.
looking forward to seeing the results.
__________________
Click on the link below to see a compiled list of every review I have ever written:
https://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...2#post30368242
Appreciate 0
      04-25-2020, 11:48 AM   #18
Anthony1s
Banned
756
Rep
2,149
Posts

Drives: 2018 Mineral Grey M2
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Pennsylvania

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bee Pee View Post
BAF Motorsport here in the UK make one for BMW F2x series that will fit F87....
Looking at the end mounting points, it doesn't look like it'd fit the f87 at all. It really does?

Also the design seems faulty. Directing all of the force to a single point in the center of the top tube. Maybe the steel is strong enough to handle the force. Or maybe I'm totally wrong about it being a problem in the first place. I'm not an engineer, so correct me with why I'm wrong. But I imagine something like this would be more effective. And could be made of lightweight carbon.

Appreciate 0
      04-25-2020, 02:43 PM   #19
F87source
Major General
F87source's Avatar
No_Country
7178
Rep
7,341
Posts

Drives: Bmw M2
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: .

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Anthony1s View Post
Looking at the end mounting points, it doesn't look like it'd fit the f87 at all. It really does?

Also the design seems faulty. Directing all of the force to a single point in the center of the top tube. Maybe the steel is strong enough to handle the force. Or maybe I'm totally wrong about it being a problem in the first place. I'm not an engineer, so correct me with why I'm wrong. But I imagine something like this would be more effective. And could be made of lightweight carbon.

I'm not an engineer either, but this is what I think. I believe that the chassis doesn't flex that much anyways to put a significant amount of strain on this brace that it would cause issue. Next I think the mounting point of these braces would be the next weak point way before the brace itself would fail.
__________________
Click on the link below to see a compiled list of every review I have ever written:
https://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...2#post30368242
Appreciate 0
      04-25-2020, 03:26 PM   #20
PLF69
Colonel
PLF69's Avatar
3763
Rep
2,700
Posts

Drives: 2023 M3
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Quebec

iTrader: (0)

I think the utility of it is more to distribute the load created by the suspension. By stiffening the chassis you force the load to stay in the in the suspension instead of flexing the chassis. The suspension is there to work, as much as possible.
__________________
Fun/HPDE: 2023 M3 6MT Individual Malachite
Past:2023 M4 CSL, 2022 M4C Vert, 2020 M340i, 2018 M2, 2015 M235i, 2008 135i 550whp
Daily: 2023 X5 45e
Daily/Family: 2021 Atlas Cross Sport 3.6
Appreciate 0
      04-25-2020, 03:55 PM   #21
M Fifty
Banned
844
Rep
1,962
Posts

Drives: M2 & 330CI
Join Date: May 2018
Location: The Interweb

iTrader: (0)

Well, the extra bracing at the front on the M2C does appear to make a difference, so good point.

But, BMW don't fit anything like the items earlier in this thread to either their M235i Racing, or their M4 GT4. These lack the rear seat back too, so it appears if this is an area that BMW's engineers are concerned about under the loads imposed by racing, the roll cage is dealing with it.

Obviously, the condition of many public roads may impose stresses and strains not anticipated by BMW's engineers (have a look at GMs reaction to the destruction of their prototypes on Australian roads). But, it still sounds like yet another instance of superfluous bracing for commercial reasons by aftermarket suppliers...
Appreciate 1
      04-25-2020, 05:42 PM   #22
PLF69
Colonel
PLF69's Avatar
3763
Rep
2,700
Posts

Drives: 2023 M3
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Quebec

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by M Fifty View Post
Well, the extra bracing at the front on the M2C does appear to make a difference, so good point.

But, BMW don't fit anything like the items earlier in this thread to either their M235i Racing, or their M4 GT4. These lack the rear seat back too, so it appears if this is an area that BMW's engineers are concerned about under the loads imposed by racing, the roll cage is dealing with it.

Obviously, the condition of many public roads may impose stresses and strains not anticipated by BMW's engineers (have a look at GMs reaction to the destruction of their prototypes on Australian roads). But, it still sounds like yet another instance of superfluous bracing for commercial reasons by aftermarket suppliers...
I totally agree with your comment on the cars equipped with a cage or half-cage, it really changes a car's stiffness, unfortunately it does not do much for the front (under hood) and BMW developped a really nice peace on the F80.

I am honestly ready to do anything to make my M2 more comfortable/compliant and that's why I bought a OEM used front strut brace. The roads are so bad around here and it's hard to make fine tune the compromise with streetability and track ability..
__________________
Fun/HPDE: 2023 M3 6MT Individual Malachite
Past:2023 M4 CSL, 2022 M4C Vert, 2020 M340i, 2018 M2, 2015 M235i, 2008 135i 550whp
Daily: 2023 X5 45e
Daily/Family: 2021 Atlas Cross Sport 3.6
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:11 AM.




m2
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST