Strut Tower Brace for M42

[M42boy]

It seems OMP makes a bar for our car as well.  I'm trying to get more info on this option at the moment, but the guy who sells them isn't being very responsive.

[bullmand]

I have an OMP on my 318ti. It's a very nice piece, but I checked their website the other day and I couldn't seem to find a fitment for the E30. Did I just miss it?

Edit: Never mind. I found it. This one, right?

MA/1557

[mgold]

Here's my Eibach, a perfect fit, and because it has the adjustable ends, its pretty easy to install.  I bought it used from Dave Adams for about $70 or so.

[bullmand]

That looks eerily similar to the OMP. I ordered my OMP when I was stationed in Germany. I ordered it at the same time as my Pro-Kit and used an Eibach part number. When it arrived it had a huge OMP sticker on it. My guess is that OMP made Eibach's strut braces. Incidentally, the Eibach website no longer lists strut braces.

[mgold]

Yeah, I've had mine for a few years and prior to that it was on Dave Adams' M-technic cabrio.  The Eibach logo is etched on so its likely OMP bought the production rights or are simply rebadging Eibach bars (BMP does that all the time).  Who knows.

[john mason]

yeah . . . what's the "Forum Member price"

YOU GUYS CAN HAVE 5% DISCOUNT OFF ALL MY BARS WITH $20.00 SHIPPING CHARGE FOR ONE BAR AND $28.00 FOR CAR SETS.  THESE BARS ARE STATE OF THE ART ONE PIECE NON HINGED DESIGN, FABRICATED PROPERLY USING DOMESTIC  U. S. MATERIALS  
                               
-NEWS FLASH  - SOME  PREVIOUS BAR CUSTOMER IN LOUISIANA  WAS SUBSEQUENTLY T-BONED BY A OUT OF CONTROL SUV  HE STATED THAT THE REAR BAR WAS OF BENEFIT IN A SAFETY ISSUE IN THAT IT PREVENTED THE TRUNK COMPARTMENT FROM COLLAPSING ENTIRELY  = TRUE STORY=, HE WANT"S NEW BARS FOR NEXT CAR=HAPPY RETURN CUSTOMER

[M42boy]

Well, I have no doubt OMP makes the bars for Eibach or vice versa.  But, I do notice one difference.  Look at the size of the opening in the middle of where it mounts to the upper strut tower.  The one in the pic you claim is for the E30 looks like it has a much wider opening than the one on mgold's car.

My guess is the one on OMP's website is a "stock photo" and may not be a picture of the exact bar.  I'm guessing they'd look identical if you ordered one.

I'm thinking about this one now as it's $180 vs. $245 for the BavAutosport one, but I've heard a lot of positive things about the twin bar one BavAuto sells.

[bullmand]

Just for the record, I'm not claiming that it's for the E30, the OMP website is. I got the part number and the picture from there. I was unclear about my bar. That was for my 318ti, not my 318i. I like the looks of John Mason's bars, but I like the ability to remove the bar without removing the whole assembly. You can take the OMP bars off with an allen wrench without removing the plates on the towers. I have to remove the bar on my ti to get access to all of the spark plugs. It's marginally less of a PITA to just remove the bar. Having said all that, I'll probably get John's set when I get some for the 318i.

[M42boy]

Well, my bad E30 luck continues....

As e9nine pointed out, I must have the worst luck with E30's out of anyone.  Most people love the reliability aspect, but mine has been a basket of issues since day one.

Anyways, I ordered a Bavarian Autosport aluminum strut tower brace last week.  It's a really beautiful (and very light) piece, btw!  Anyways, I go to install it and nope...  It no fit!!!  

I must have the shorter distance between strut towers disease that some E30's somehow have been plagued with.  I even thought about this when I heard about the two lengths, but I heard it was just a difference between older and newer cars, and I thought I had read that all the later model cars had the longer distance.  

See below.  



Fits on one side...



But definately not on both sides!  



I know others have this same bar.  Did it go on smoothly?  I'm wondering if I should just send it back and get an adjustable one like the OMP, or I might be able to bend this one to make it fit properly.  It isn't off by a HUGE amount.  

I'm a little skeptical about messing with it though.

[mikesjo]

Just cause the bar doesn't fit doesn't mean you've been plagued with issues m42boy, lol. It could be worse!

[mgold]

M42boy try jacking up the car on one side (or both) and see if the chassis flexes enough to allow you to install it.  Don't raise it too much as you don't want the front suspension to fall out, but just enough to relieve some pressure.  I had some problems when I installed my strut bar initially.  In a way I'm glad I have the Eibach bar, it has some flexibility.  Unfortunately it also means its not as stable as the BavAuto (Hartge) bar.  Good luck!

[john mason]

MEASURE ALL THE STUDS CENTER TO CENTER ACROSS AND POST THOSE DIMENSIONS,AND I WILL REFERENCE TOOLING MY ARCHIVES , WHY DON"T YOU CUT AND RE-WELD WHILST INSTALLED ON CHASSIS?

Just cause the bar doesn't fit doesn't mean you've been plagued with issues m42boy, lol. It could be worse!

[M42boy]

MEASURE ALL THE STUDS CENTER TO CENTER ACROSS AND POST THOSE DIMENSIONS,AND I WILL REFERENCE TOOLING MY ARCHIVES , WHY DON"T YOU CUT AND RE-WELD WHILST INSTALLED ON CHASSIS?

I can't weld shit.  :p

That's for people like you.  I don't mess with metal work, welding or body work AT ALL!  

I'm gonna call Bav Autosport on it.  I may need to get an adjustable one.  But, this bar is REALLY nice, REALLY light, and I REALLY would like to use it.

[FL318is]

Do all of the strut bolts appear to be pointing in the same direction? If so I would do what mgold suggested.  Find another E30 and compare the fit on that one. If still no go then have BavAuto trade it for another one and see if maybe its the bar cut.

[e9nine]

Can't believe I missed this post haha.
Dan we can test fit on my cars if you like. I'd suggest jacking the car up as suggested though. With my Sparcos I never had any issues with fitment for the stock strut mounts and with GC adjustable plates.
Worry not buddy -