Author Topic: BMW e30 Lower X Brace available in May (Read 5821 times)

DCColegrove · « **on:** April 13, 2008, 09:33:19 PM »

BMW e30 Lower X Brace a joint R&D project of Entwicklung Drei�ig Zen and Mason Engineering.

We have just finished testing and have release these prototype images of the e30 lower X Brace (shown here on one of our test cars). In testing we addressed and resolved some clearance issues (both ground and machine) and the balance of weight to strength concerns addressed.

The final unit is of a larger diameter tube (lighter weight yet just as strong in tension and compression) and have additional strategically placed gusseting and supports. The final product with specs will appear on our site soon and possibly will go into production as soon as early May.

I don't have the images of the finished product to release yet I will post them here as soon as I do.

The price per unit will be approximately $300. Made here in the USA.

Down the road soon we will offer it in a full package set with the front and rear stress bars.

(if you think $300 is too much I would invite you to patent search, design, build, test and produce your own... You could farm production out to China and they'll make them out slagged tin cans for you really cheap...You'd be the king of eBay... And every body would love you.)

kowalski · « **Reply #1 on:** April 13, 2008, 10:20:27 PM »

it better end up being pink.

D. Clay · « **Reply #2 on:** April 14, 2008, 12:07:25 AM »

It's tied to the car in a very solid manner. It appears to be the front at the subframe and the rear at the lollipop mounts. It's too bad you can't do the same thing at the top. I've always thought that the strut bars were connecting two points that were both trying to move in the same direction in response to lateral G's. You can only do it properly on a track car where you can go through the firewall and triangulate to the cage. This lower one looks good and is well designed. Triangles FTW!

kowalski · « **Reply #3 on:** April 14, 2008, 01:20:00 AM »

i just wish it didn't connect at the steering rack because thats where my skid plate connects.

swiss318is · « **Reply #4 on:** April 14, 2008, 09:22:10 AM »

i dont think we need sth like that on a e30 318is... do you really feel a difference??

i saw the "tictac" m3 e30 car from underneath, with the last evolution step engine and every sick suspensionpart available... and he didnt have such a brace and if bmw motorsport didnt develop such a thing for the the worlds most succesfull touringcar...??why do we need that?

...and for 300$ it has to be powdercoated and ready to fit for EVERY 318is e30... after more then 18years every car is different... 1cm here more.. 2cm there...

i mean the idea is not bad.. and the pics are great.. especially the quality of work!good job!

bmwman91 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 14, 2008, 10:06:49 AM »

Quote from: kowalski;46979

i just wish it didn't connect at the steering rack because thats where my skid plate connects.

Yeah I hear that. I'll take a safe oil pan any day over a stiffer chassis (though a few years ago I probably would have said the opposite).

Oddly enough, I was actually thinking about X-braces driving to work this morning. What sort of tests have you run with these? Are you measuring chassis flex under road conditions, custom loading apparatus, FEA sim's, etc?

bmwman91 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 14, 2008, 10:09:07 AM »

Oh any why is it bolted to the steering rack? I suppose that asking customers to use crush-nuts in the holes in the sub frame would have been asking a lot, but I am a little weary of the small lower rack tabs.

Other than that, it looks sharp!

nickmpower · « **Reply #7 on:** April 14, 2008, 11:23:22 AM »

yeah i wouldnt want those rack tabs to get fatigued and break. Ive been waiting for an e30 xbrace for a long time, but it seems like ill just have to make my own to get one for a reasonable price

DCColegrove · « **Reply #8 on:** April 14, 2008, 05:41:04 PM »

Quote from: bmwman91;47002

Oh any why is it bolted to the steering rack? I suppose that asking customers to use crush-nuts in the holes in the sub frame would have been asking a lot, but I am a little weary of the small lower rack tabs.

Other than that, it looks sharp!

In the beginning of the R&D process we (I) had a torturous decision to make.

In order to effectively attach the unit to the sub-frame any other way would require a highly skilled fabricator/welder to modify it.
This really wasn't an option for most end users. The "pop-in" blind nuts routinely fail so that wasn't the best choice either.

Because of my other concerns about attaching where we did I tested the first mock-up of this configuration on my rat car by jumping a dozen curbs and getting it crossed up airborne a few times then power slid it into a curb a couple more times just for drill before we built the first prototype.

I feel good about it. (well... as far as the braces function was concerned, I killed a set of good steelies and tires in the process)

I'm sure that if there is a demand for it in the future we could develop a bolt in addition to protect the pan.

The images are of the prototype, the one that's going into production looks well, downright sexy.

swiss318is · « **Reply #9 on:** April 15, 2008, 03:20:47 AM »

and? do you really noticed a difference while riding with and without?? did you measured something? the chassis-flex for example?

i mean, today there is a demand for EVERYTHING.. :-)

Cobra Jet · « **Reply #10 on:** April 15, 2008, 08:47:36 AM »

Quote from: DCColegrove;47034

Because of my other concerns about attaching where we did I tested the first mock-up of this configuration on my rat car by jumping a dozen curbs and getting it crossed up airborne a few times then power slid it into a curb a couple more times just for drill before we built the first prototype.

Any videos of the tests?

Has the part actually been track tested? What are the G-load numbers that it can withstand?

What is the i/o diameter of the tubing being used? What is the thickness of the steel?

How much does the part weigh?

Are each of the production units going to be "man made" or "machine made" - because there is a difference in weld qualities & overall consistency via both production methods.

The $300.00 I assume is just for the part - what will it cost to SHIP this part via the US and overseas?

If having to do a clutch job, slave cylinder job or tranny job, it appears as if that part needs to be dropped in order to do so - true?

I'm also not understanding the mounting point at the steering rack - that would seem to be a very weak point, especially considering the extreme abuse that some vehicles would endure during hard road racing, auto crossing, etc... Why not mount it directly to the frame behind the steering rack as seen in the pictures, I'm sure some mounting method could have been devised? The frame would be the strong point, not the rack.

I'm not trying to mock the design, but rather just trying to input constructive ideas/questions...

bmwman91 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 15, 2008, 09:28:20 AM »

He mentioned that the sub-frame was not an option since most customers do not have the necessary welding equipment, or skills, to do it there.

$300 seems reasonable considering how much R&D goes into something like this, and that it is probably going to be hand-welded.

I'm not sure how much more "research" you guys feel like doing, but if you want to see if this will fit inside the OEM skid plate many of us run, the part number is 51-71-1-971-001 and one can be found here:
http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/ksearch/PEL_search.cgi?command=show_part_page&please_wait=N&make=BMW&model=BE30§ion=BDYchs&page=6&bookmark=34&part_number=51-71-1-971-001-BOE

DCColegrove · « **Reply #12 on:** April 19, 2008, 08:55:11 PM »

Now in production:

http://bmwzenperformance.com/e30-products.html

punk_sy · « **Reply #13 on:** May 22, 2008, 03:05:58 PM »

hhmmm i like this also had a look at your website and i love:cool: your strut braces! they look uber strong. just wondering if you have prices in pounds and can you ship to england uk

cheers simon