ACS strutbar - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

Sebring NL · 8th April 2006, 16:56

I am fond of trying the ACS strut bar on the E34, preferably at the NS, so I can try to feel the difference with or without, as I am not a large fan of the shape but feel I need to go for an ACS product for it wil be in line with the rest of the mods. It does look radical though.

Does anyone have one lying around or experience with it? Maybe pics ?

I'm after the triangle shaped alien-thing, provided it exists for the E34

( I know this belongs in sale&wanted but who ever looks there>?)

AndyE · 8th April 2006, 17:01

Is there enough room for a strut brace between the plenum and the bonnet? I would have thought it's a bit tight for any decent thickness of metal...

Sebring NL · 8th April 2006, 17:18

I believe ever to have seen one, but your post puts me in doubt of that having been an E28...Surely someone will know,I think Stevie;s friend with that Veilchen Blau (?) M and Finn Donati have looked into it for their racers.

AndyE · 8th April 2006, 18:44

I seem to remember when I looked into the possibility of one for my LE that there wasn't enough space without it practically touching the plenum box. I guess we'll have someone along shortly who knows for sure.

Brian M5 · 8th April 2006, 20:58

I have had a strut brace fitted after a struggle.
I guess it would be around 15mm aluminium bar as it passed over the top of the plenum. The bonnet would close but the shut lines were very slightly affected. Any adjustment to stop this caused friction between plenum and the brace.
The hassle was not worth it for me, and it was not installed for long.
I would say that it may be possible with the right design and the removal of bonnet insulation etc. but there is not much tolerance available to play with.

It was more for the aesthetic appeal for me anyhow (and the strut brace was a cr*p design into the bargain).

Tight though it is, I am sure someone out there has one successfully fitted.

We expect pictures.

Brian

Geach · 8th April 2006, 21:08

I also had one fitted for a while,albeit one of those el cheapo FK jobbies.
It didnt look too bad,but as far as bracing the strut towers went I cant imagine it actually did alot! The mount brackets were a bit flimsy and the holes that the bar to mount bolts went through were oversized,allowing movement. With the car sat still,there was about3-5mm between the plenum and the bar and the bonnet shut with no problems and it left no marks on the sound deadening,however after driving small amounts of ally swarf could be found on top of the plenum from the engine movement whilst driving.
As Brian mention more agro than it was worth!

Jahangeer · 8th April 2006, 23:38

Wout

Not sure ACS still do a sb. Schmiedmann do one, which I am using at the moment, its quite chunky, a case of function over form. See pic attached.......

AndyE · 9th April 2006, 00:43

Makes sense J- yours goes nicely around the plenum rather than over it.

Stevie · 9th April 2006, 01:12

The only one I have seen fitted is the Wiechers one. Looks suspiciously similar to the one J. posted though...... Cyrus should have a decent pic of one as I emailed it to him.

Not a chance in h*ll to fit a double triangular one as is produced for the e46 M3, it would touch throttlelinkage, plenum and bonnet.