Wanted - 6 cylinder Front Brace Strut

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bertiejaffa
Joined: Fri 26 Jul, 2013 09:28
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  M roadster S50
Location: Manchester

Wanted - 6 cylinder Front Brace Strut

Post by bertiejaffa »

Hi,

As per title, I am looking for a front brace strut for my 2.0l facelift Z3. Must be a decent one rather than one of the cheaper ones

Cheers
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freds dad
Joined: Thu 18 Mar, 2010 15:28
Posts: 532

  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: Macclesfield

Re: Wanted - 6 cylinder Front Brace Strut

Post by freds dad »

PM sent.
bertiejaffa
Joined: Fri 26 Jul, 2013 09:28
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  M roadster S50
Location: Manchester

Re: Wanted - 6 cylinder Front Brace Strut

Post by bertiejaffa »

BUMP
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Alan W
Joined: Thu 20 Jun, 2013 10:56
Posts: 670

  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: Bexley, Kent UK

Re: Wanted - 6 cylinder Front Brace Strut

Post by Alan W »

There are a couple on ebay at the moment
1999 facelit Z3 Roadster 2.8 Auto in Cosmos Black aka 'Gloria'
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bertiejaffa
Joined: Fri 26 Jul, 2013 09:28
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  M roadster S50
Location: Manchester

Re: Wanted - 6 cylinder Front Brace Strut

Post by bertiejaffa »

Yeah... having bid on them over the past few weeks though I am suspecting insider bidding to put the prices up... The price always goes up and then is magically re-listed the next week with a "2nd chance offer" in my mailbox
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Joycey
Joined: Mon 11 Jul, 2011 22:15
Posts: 290

  M roadster S52
Location: Basingstoke

Re: Wanted - 6 cylinder Front Brace Strut

Post by Joycey »

Yeah i agree because they seem to rocket to over £100 very quickly. I'm looking for a 6 Cly strut myself. Keep getting outbid on ebay. :head:
bertiejaffa
Joined: Fri 26 Jul, 2013 09:28
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  M roadster S50
Location: Manchester

Re: Wanted - 6 cylinder Front Brace Strut

Post by bertiejaffa »

exactly and yet the standard E36 one never changes even though you would only have to cut the earth stud out for it to be the same....
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janijoeli
Joined: Wed 26 Jun, 2013 15:51
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  M roadster S50
Location: Isojoki, Finland
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Re: Wanted - 6 cylinder Front Brace Strut

Post by janijoeli »

Joycey / Bertie, if you suspect shill bidding, please report it to eBay. Shill bidders are a major PITA and a total waste of bidders' valuable time (as you have probably noticed). The only way to reduce it is to report them.

On the other hand, check the feedback first. If the seller has genuinely sold the item you were bidding on, they should have positive feedback from the top bidder. Some sellers might sell only one or two items to bid at the time and they let the price go up, and then in another listing sell same items with a relatively high buy now price for the ones who don't care about bidding or are fed up with losing the bids and just want to buy the damn thing...
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freds dad
Joined: Thu 18 Mar, 2010 15:28
Posts: 532

  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: Macclesfield

Re: Wanted - 6 cylinder Front Brace Strut

Post by freds dad »

Didn't Orinoco have a strut brace for sale in his long list of items?
t-tony
Joined: Sun 21 Feb, 2010 23:17
Posts: 353

  Z3 roadster 2.0
Location: torksey lock

Re: Wanted - 6 cylinder Front Brace Strut

Post by t-tony »

If you go down the E36 route be carefull. Place one of the strut tower brackets on the nearside first before making the cutout for the earth terminal on the offside one and then VERY carefully lower the bonnet. You may well find that the brackets are too tall for the space under a Z3 bonnet!! Mine was like this, I did make it fit but it took me about 1hr. If you choose not to adapt it you should be able to return it provided you don't mark it in any way.
"Knowledge and experience are not always the same"
bertiejaffa
Joined: Fri 26 Jul, 2013 09:28
Posts: 1733

  M roadster S50
Location: Manchester

Re: Wanted - 6 cylinder Front Brace Strut

Post by bertiejaffa »

Hi

Yes he did - was one of the "Strong Strut" types... out of my price range unfortunately, especially I have yet to be 100% convinced they are required
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chill4x4saph
Joined: Sun 26 Jan, 2014 09:56
Posts: 146

  M roadster S54

Re: Wanted - 6 cylinder Front Brace Strut

Post by chill4x4saph »

bertiejaffa wrote:Hi

I have yet to be 100% convinced they are required
I have had them fitted to a few vehicles (never a z3, yet but am now looking for one I must admit), I can assure you they are a very good chassis improvement, they've always made a difference that can be felt (on certain cars rear ones make more difference than fronts!), and the even help in keeping chassis corrosion down as the help cut the flex that all cars inevitably have as they deal with everyday loads encountered.

honestly ive never regretted fitting one!
Joycey
Joined: Mon 11 Jul, 2011 22:15
Posts: 290

  M roadster S52
Location: Basingstoke

Re: Wanted - 6 cylinder Front Brace Strut

Post by Joycey »

I'm sure most on here that drive Z3's agree that its a must when improving the handling and slight tramlining. My 2.8 didnt have a strut but my M does and its really noticable.

Just a sugestion my M came with a strong strut and when looking through the paperwork it was bought in a bulk order from the states. i cant remember the figure exact of how many but the price was £65 each.

I know i need one for my 2.8. mabye we could place an order :wink:
bertiejaffa
Joined: Fri 26 Jul, 2013 09:28
Posts: 1733

  M roadster S50
Location: Manchester

Re: Wanted - 6 cylinder Front Brace Strut

Post by bertiejaffa »

Joycey wrote:I'm sure most on here that drive Z3's agree that its a must when improving the handling and slight tramlining. My 2.8 didnt have a strut but my M does and its really noticable.

Just a sugestion my M came with a strong strut and when looking through the paperwork it was bought in a bulk order from the states. i cant remember the figure exact of how many but the price was £65 each.

I know i need one for my 2.8. mabye we could place an order :wink:

If we want to go down that road, I am happy to explore it, although having looked at their website (the uk distributor one) they are £392 each :shock: I am not sure there are enough Z3's left on the road to bulk buy a discount worth £65
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OXO
Joined: Wed 31 Mar, 2010 08:32
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  Z3 roadster 2.2i
Location: France

Re: Wanted - 6 cylinder Front Brace Strut

Post by OXO »

Definitely worth it. Makes the front much more consistent, and less pointy in bumpy corners.

I have a cheap one, and it's fine. You don't need a massive slab of ally. The forces are all tension and compression, and don't apply any bending moment to the brace.
chill4x4saph
Joined: Sun 26 Jan, 2014 09:56
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  M roadster S54

Re: Wanted - 6 cylinder Front Brace Strut

Post by chill4x4saph »

OXO wrote:
I have a cheap one, and it's fine. You don't need a massive slab of ally. The forces are all tension and compression, and don't apply any bending moment to the brace.


perfectly put!!!!
bertiejaffa
Joined: Fri 26 Jul, 2013 09:28
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  M roadster S50
Location: Manchester

Re: Wanted - 6 cylinder Front Brace Strut

Post by bertiejaffa »

Cheers for that.... ok for my *tight/reserved/unconvinced/why do I need one?/my car has never tried to right me off/send me up a tree/into a ditch* clarity and my fellow strut brace to-be-ers...

This is the one that goes up ridiculously at the last minute (approx £110-£120) and there is one exactly the same for £80 which just needs a fettle with the dremmel

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Z3-M-road ... 3cdc589f3e

Or there is this one which is half the price but doesnt seem as solid... if you are saying however that this one is big enough then I may take the plunge... (again dremmel ready!)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E36-3-Ser ... 461a936c0a

Cheers Lee
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chill4x4saph
Joined: Sun 26 Jan, 2014 09:56
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  M roadster S54

Re: Wanted - 6 cylinder Front Brace Strut

Post by chill4x4saph »

if you purely are wanting one to do its job and don't mind the way that one looks im sure it would do the job just fine (the second one), its just a case of the shock load being transferred across the whole front end of the vehicle, which im sure both of those would do just fine!! (I must confess im watching the polished ally one myself!)
bertiejaffa
Joined: Fri 26 Jul, 2013 09:28
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  M roadster S50
Location: Manchester

Re: Wanted - 6 cylinder Front Brace Strut

Post by bertiejaffa »

Ok, cheers... not too bothered how it looks I will admit...

As for the polished alloy one, I asked how much for a buy it now price and he said £110. The other one he has which is identical to that but needs the earth stud cutting out he offered me for £81 (plus postage).

If there are enough of us I could see if he is willing to do a deal on them?

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chill4x4saph
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  M roadster S54

Re: Wanted - 6 cylinder Front Brace Strut

Post by chill4x4saph »

im game!.... and I don't mind cutting parts out of it!!, ive a milling machine here so can do it very neatly!
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OXO
Joined: Wed 31 Mar, 2010 08:32
Posts: 567

  Z3 roadster 2.2i
Location: France

Re: Wanted - 6 cylinder Front Brace Strut

Post by OXO »

Mine is similar to this one

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Z3-Strut- ... 7675.l2557

Works well.
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Brian H
Joined: Tue 16 Dec, 2008 19:55
Posts: 2505

  Z3 roadster 3.0i

Re: Wanted - 6 cylinder Front Brace Strut

Post by Brian H »

Save yourself some cash, I had one of these and then sold it to a forum member, just need to file a small recess for the earth tag. £39.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E36-3-Ser ... 461a936c0a

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chill4x4saph
Joined: Sun 26 Jan, 2014 09:56
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  M roadster S54

Re: Wanted - 6 cylinder Front Brace Strut

Post by chill4x4saph »

looks ok too really.
bertiejaffa
Joined: Fri 26 Jul, 2013 09:28
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  M roadster S50
Location: Manchester

Re: Wanted - 6 cylinder Front Brace Strut

Post by bertiejaffa »

I am happy for the cheaper one.... any preference on colours (personally being from Manchester anything red is wrong - however all my car is red! :head: )
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Brian H
Joined: Tue 16 Dec, 2008 19:55
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  Z3 roadster 3.0i

Re: Wanted - 6 cylinder Front Brace Strut

Post by Brian H »

bertiejaffa wrote:I am happy for the cheaper one.... any preference on colours (personally being from Manchester anything red is wrong - however all my car is red! :head: )
You can have any colour you want as long as it is red :D, the brace comes in kit form, a tin of car paint and you could easily paint the ends any colour if you wish.
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OXO
Joined: Wed 31 Mar, 2010 08:32
Posts: 567

  Z3 roadster 2.2i
Location: France

Re: Wanted - 6 cylinder Front Brace Strut

Post by OXO »

Brian H wrote:
bertiejaffa wrote:I am happy for the cheaper one.... any preference on colours (personally being from Manchester anything red is wrong - however all my car is red! :head: )
You can have any colour you want as long as it is red :D, the brace comes in kit form, a tin of car paint and you could easily paint the ends any colour if you wish.
You need to paint yours Brian. That red looks right garish against the yellow. Green or purple would be better. Or even green with purple spots :)
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Brian H
Joined: Tue 16 Dec, 2008 19:55
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  Z3 roadster 3.0i

Re: Wanted - 6 cylinder Front Brace Strut

Post by Brian H »

OXO wrote:You need to paint yours Brian. That red looks right garish against the yellow. Green or purple would be better. Or even green with purple spots :)
Have one of these now :wink:

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deni2s
Joined: Mon 25 Mar, 2013 22:02
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  Z3 roadster 2.8

Re: Wanted - 6 cylinder Front Brace Strut

Post by deni2s »

Brian H wrote:Save yourself some cash, I had one of these and then sold it to a forum member, just need to file a small recess for the earth tag. £39.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E36-3-Ser ... 461a936c0a

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I have the same one for more than a year. No complaints so far and improves handling noticeably.
bertiejaffa
Joined: Fri 26 Jul, 2013 09:28
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  M roadster S50
Location: Manchester

Re: Wanted - 6 cylinder Front Brace Strut

Post by bertiejaffa »

Ok.... shiny Chrome one bought....
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chill4x4saph
Joined: Sun 26 Jan, 2014 09:56
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  M roadster S54

Re: Wanted - 6 cylinder Front Brace Strut

Post by chill4x4saph »

bertiejaffa wrote:Ok.... shiny Chrome one bought....

:D :D :D :D :D
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marcusplowman
Joined: Sat 22 May, 2010 20:34
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  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: Belfast

Re: Wanted - 6 cylinder Front Brace Strut

Post by marcusplowman »

Brian H wrote:
OXO wrote:You need to paint yours Brian. That red looks right garish against the yellow. Green or purple would be better. Or even green with purple spots :)
Have one of these now :wink:

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Where did you get that one from Brian???
Rafolian
Joined: Wed 27 Feb, 2013 08:41
Posts: 547

  Z3 roadster 2.8

Re: Wanted - 6 cylinder Front Brace Strut

Post by Rafolian »

That's similar to the one that was fitted to my car when I bought it.
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