Strut Bar

Ishan99 · 02-23-2019, 11:53 PM

Hello! I am planning on purchasing an UltraRacing engine bay strut bar for my stock 320i. Will I feel any difference in the handling?

Any help is appreciated!

Thank You!

EDWYER · 02-26-2019, 08:13 AM

You should, yes.

Watsey · 02-26-2019, 01:26 PM

I fitted a strut brace to my F31 330D as the 'last' suspension mod, and I can't say I've noticed any difference.

What do you want to achieve ? If you're looking for improved steering precision and control I strongly recommend having the OEM compliance bushes in the lower control arms replaced with SuperPro camber adjustable poly bushes. It's a relatively cheap mod and the improvements, including being able to achieve more negative camber, are definitely worth it.

Ishan99 · 03-02-2019, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Watsey

I fitted a strut brace to my F31 330D as the 'last' suspension mod, and I can't say I've noticed any difference.

What do you want to achieve ? If you're looking for improved steering precision and control I strongly recommend having the OEM compliance bushes in the lower control arms replaced with SuperPro camber adjustable poly bushes. It's a relatively cheap mod and the improvements, including being able to achieve more negative camber, are definitely worth it.

I honestly just want to improve the handling. If I make a turn hard enough, I fly out of my seat and I want this to help with that. I've read in other places that it helps with that.

Billfitz · 03-02-2019, 10:21 AM

It would help if the car was not factory equipped with a strut bar, but yours is. Adding a second one might give a marginal improvement, but it's not going to overcome Newton's Laws of Motion.

Watsey · 03-02-2019, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ishan99

I honestly just want to improve the handling. If I make a turn hard enough, I fly out of my seat and I want this to help with that. I've read in other places that it helps with that.

How (rhetorical question) is a strut bar going to reduce centrifugal forces in a sharp turn ? A strut bar/brace may provide some improvement in steering precision as a result of increased stability in the front suspension geometry, but it's not going to hold you in your seat any better.

Do you have sports seats in your car, or are they SE spec (as we know them as in the UK) ? If the seats aren't shaped/bolstered sufficiently (SE seats tend to be very flat) then, yes, you may slide sideways in a sharp corner especially if you have leather rather than cloth.

Ishan99 · 03-02-2019, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Watsey

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ishan99

I honestly just want to improve the handling. If I make a turn hard enough, I fly out of my seat and I want this to help with that. I've read in other places that it helps with that.

How (rhetorical question) is a strut bar going to reduce centrifugal forces in a sharp turn ? A strut bar/brace may provide some improvement in steering precision as a result of increased stability in the front suspension geometry, but it's not going to hold you in your seat any better.

Do you have sports seats in your car, or are they SE spec (as we know them as in the UK) ? If the seats aren't shaped/bolstered sufficiently (SE seats tend to be very flat) then, yes, you may slide sideways in a sharp corner especially if you have leather rather than cloth.

I don't have the sport seats. I have the regular ones and I find them very uncomfortable honestly

Ishan99 · 03-02-2019, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billfitz

It would help if the car was not factory equipped with a strut bar, but yours is. Adding a second one might give a marginal improvement, but it's not going to overcome Newton's Laws of Motion.

Honestly, my seats are so awful, even a little help would be appreciated lol

Billfitz · 03-02-2019, 10:44 AM

You'd probably be better served to get some sport seats out of a wreck.

Ishan99 · 03-02-2019, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billfitz

You'd probably be better served to get some sport seats out of a wreck.

Damnnnn 😂

eleven11 · 03-02-2019, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ishan99

Quote:

Originally Posted by Watsey

I fitted a strut brace to my F31 330D as the 'last' suspension mod, and I can't say I've noticed any difference.

What do you want to achieve ? If you're looking for improved steering precision and control I strongly recommend having the OEM compliance bushes in the lower control arms replaced with SuperPro camber adjustable poly bushes. It's a relatively cheap mod and the improvements, including being able to achieve more negative camber, are definitely worth it.

I honestly just want to improve the handling. If I make a turn hard enough, I fly out of my seat and I want this to help with that. I've read in other places that it helps with that.

I'm not a suspension expert, but believe getting a good set of coilovers and dropping your ride height will likely improve this problem better than a strut brace.

Fronttwelv · 03-03-2019, 08:25 AM

Strut bars look cool, for street driving you won't feel any different

02-23-2019, 11:53 PM	#1
Ishan99 Captain 116 Rep 622 Posts Drives: 2017 BMW 320i Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Strut Bar Hello! I am planning on purchasing an UltraRacing engine bay strut bar for my stock 320i. Will I feel any difference in the handling? Any help is appreciated! Thank You! __________________ Ishan Achar Former: 2004 BMW E46 325i Current: 2017 BMW F30 320i Follow @Black_Lux_Cars on IG
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

02-26-2019, 08:13 AM	#2
EDWYER Yoda of mods 1679 Rep 3,008 Posts Drives: X5 RWD Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: NC iTrader: (40) Garage List 2015 X5 RWD [0.00] 2016 BMW M2 [10.00]	You should, yes. __________________ Current: 2020 Explorer ST (Agate Black Metallic) AWD, F15 SGM RWD F87 AW (retired) F30 SBM 316rwhp/440rwtq (retired) Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/EdwyerCLT YT: https://www.youtube.com/@DWYERGARAGE/videos
	Appreciate 1 Ishan99116.00 Quote

02-26-2019, 01:26 PM	#3
Watsey Major General 6456 Rep 8,520 Posts Drives: F31 330D sDrive M Sport Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: On sabbatical. iTrader: (1)	I fitted a strut brace to my F31 330D as the 'last' suspension mod, and I can't say I've noticed any difference. What do you want to achieve ? If you're looking for improved steering precision and control I strongly recommend having the OEM compliance bushes in the lower control arms replaced with SuperPro camber adjustable poly bushes. It's a relatively cheap mod and the improvements, including being able to achieve more negative camber, are definitely worth it. __________________ Current : F31 330sD, remapped, Ohlins Road & Track, Millway camber plates, Quaife LSD, Stoptech brakes + Pagid RSL1 pads all round, Weichers front strut brace, Eibach front & rear anti-roll bars, Michelin MP4S.
	Appreciate 2 Ishan99116.00 floridaorange10338.00 Quote

03-02-2019, 10:21 AM	#5
Billfitz Lieutenant General 8297 Rep 16,185 Posts Drives: '15 328iX GT Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New Hampshire iTrader: (0)	It would help if the car was not factory equipped with a strut bar, but yours is. Adding a second one might give a marginal improvement, but it's not going to overcome Newton's Laws of Motion.
	Appreciate 1 Ishan99116.00 Quote

03-02-2019, 10:44 AM	#9
Billfitz Lieutenant General 8297 Rep 16,185 Posts Drives: '15 328iX GT Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New Hampshire iTrader: (0)	You'd probably be better served to get some sport seats out of a wreck.
	Appreciate 1 Ishan99116.00 Quote

03-03-2019, 08:25 AM	#12
Fronttwelv First Lieutenant 158 Rep 362 Posts Drives: 14 328i xdrive msport Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Columbus, OH iTrader: (0)	Strut bars look cool, for street driving you won't feel any different __________________ Present: 2014 f30 328xi MSport, 1992 VW GTi VR6 swapped Past: 2010 335i 6 speed; 2008 VW GTi stage 2, 2004 Subie WRX FBO, 2003 20th Anny VW GTi FBO
	Appreciate 0 Quote