Sigh, strut bar issue

Solidjake · 03-25-2012, 07:24 PM

Hey guys, I was about to buy an M3 strut bar from a member here so we met up and I discovered an issue with my car. Looks like the strut towers are mushroomed inwards.

The M3 bar was already squeezed in as much as possible and it's about 1/2" too short. Is it even worth trying to force it to fit or I'm out of luck and stuck with the towers getting worse and worse?

BLACK E46 SMOKE · 03-25-2012, 07:33 PM

Never force anything to fit on a bimmer! If it doesn't fit you must acquit

2001 BMW 330XI aka Black Beauty

KrasivataSabine · 03-25-2012, 07:55 PM

My first thought would be to post your predicament on the auto-x and track forum of bimmerforums; those guys know their way around chassis reinforcement etc.

Gheybe · 03-25-2012, 08:00 PM

Jake post a photo of your towers.
Make sure the photo is properly exposed and the composition is balanced.

NOVAbimmer · 03-25-2012, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gheybe

Jake post a photo of your towers.
Make sure the photo is properly exposed and the composition is balanced.

Gheybe forgot to mention that you'll need to post some nice cleavage photos as well to compare your strut towers to. Preferably C/D.

Gheybe · 03-25-2012, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NOVAbimmer

Gheybe forgot to mention that you'll need to post some nice cleavage photos as well to compare your strut towers to. Preferably C/D.

I can't even begin to apologize for forgetting to mention that.

I'm... so sorry.

NOVAbimmer · 03-25-2012, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gheybe

I can't even begin to apologize for forgetting to mention that.

I'm... so sorry.

It's ok. Just don't let it happen again. I'm sure jake will look over any infractions/banning in this case, since you are helping him out here.

Gheybe · 03-25-2012, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NOVAbimmer

It's ok. Just don't let it happen again. I'm sure jake will look over any infractions/banning in this case, since you are helping him out here.

Who knows, this fuccker is trigger happy.

This fuccker is dangerous.

Solidjake · 03-25-2012, 08:30 PM

...........

Gheybe · 03-25-2012, 08:35 PM

waiting for pic of your tower.

Blocked Out · 03-25-2012, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gheybe

waiting for pic of your tower.

Blocked Out · 03-25-2012, 08:41 PM

I doubt that the tower itself can move by that much. What usually happens is the shape of the tower top becomes bulged out or unequal , aka mushroomed. The tower itself doesnt move anywhere becaseu if it did, it would force the structural seems to split open in your fender well .

The easiest way to tell if your tops are mushroomed is to look at the 3 bolt in the top hat, if all of them are pointing straight up then you're good and if they point to different directions then you're not so good. And if you can visually see the strut top being NOT flat then its too late

BeMyWhip · 03-25-2012, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solidjake

Hey guys, I was about to buy an M3 strut bar from a member here so we met up and I discovered an issue with my car. Looks like the strut towers are mushroomed inwards.

The M3 bar was already squeezed in as much as possible and it's about 1/2" too short. Is it even worth trying to force it to fit or I'm out of luck and stuck with the towers getting worse and worse?

Im a little confused here, tou say your towers are mushroomed inward...
Wouldnt that make the bar too long, rather than too short?
Also, would a non m bar fit better?
Not a pro at bars, but is the m3 bar a direct replacement for a non m?
Also, I would suggest putting in those tower reinforcement plates at this point to prevent further damage.

TerraPhantm · 03-25-2012, 08:43 PM

Isn't the fix something like this: Remove struts, get a block of wood, hammer tower back into shape, replace strut bearings, install reinforcement plates, and then reassemble?

Gheybe · 03-25-2012, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blocked Out

I doubt that the tower itself can move by that much. What usually happens is the shape of the tower top becomes bulged out or unequal , aka mushroomed. The tower itself doesnt move anywhere becaseu if it did, it would force the structural seems to split open in your fender well .

The easiest way to tell if your tops are mushroomed is to look at the 3 bolt in the top hat, if all of them are pointing straight up then you're good and if they point to different directions then you're not so good. And if you can visually see the strut top being NOT flat then its too late

So what do you do if that happens? Let's say my tower is mushroomed. I just get coilovers? I'm a bit lost. LEARN ME.

Alex323Ci · 03-25-2012, 08:45 PM

seems rather strange, that would be seriously out of spec.

any chance you were installing it wrong or the center brace V in the wrong direction?? i'm not sure it's possible to do, but first thing that comes to mind as a "possible" reason to be so short.

BeMyWhip · 03-25-2012, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gheybe

So what do you do if that happens? Let's say my tower is mushroomed. I just get coilovers? I'm a bit lost. LEARN ME.

The fix.... Read the post before yours, terrafantom

Gheybe · 03-25-2012, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeMyWhip

The fix.... Read the post before yours, terrafantom

only saw it after the page reloaded with my post in it.

Alex323Ci · 03-25-2012, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gheybe

waiting for pic of your tower.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blocked Out

wait it actually is worse, he's waiting for a picture of his "mushroom tower"

Gheybe · 03-25-2012, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex323Ci

wait it actually is worse, he's waiting for a picture of his "mushroom tower"

We are on the same page here.

Alex feel free to show Jake how it's done.

03-25-2012, 07:24 PM	#1
Solidjake Mod Join Date: May 2008 Location: NYC Posts: 20,243 My Ride: 2002 330i View My Garage	Sigh, strut bar issue Hey guys, I was about to buy an M3 strut bar from a member here so we met up and I discovered an issue with my car. Looks like the strut towers are mushroomed inwards. The M3 bar was already squeezed in as much as possible and it's about 1/2" too short. Is it even worth trying to force it to fit or I'm out of luck and stuck with the towers getting worse and worse? __________________ Youtube - Electric Fan Swap/Aux Fan Removal - Projector Retrofit - E46 Bulb Guide My cross country drive to Bimmerfest West 2013 - NYC to LA. Pics from post 505 on

03-25-2012, 07:33 PM	#2
BLACK E46 SMOKE Registered User Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: BRONX NYC Posts: 109 My Ride: 2001 BMW 330XI View My Garage	Never force anything to fit on a bimmer! If it doesn't fit you must acquit 2001 BMW 330XI aka Black Beauty Attached Thumbnails __________________ DON'T GET CAUGHT IN THE SMOKE!!!

03-25-2012, 07:55 PM	#3
KrasivataSabine Registered User Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Del Puerto Canyon Drive, CA Posts: 603 My Ride: 323Ci View My Garage	My first thought would be to post your predicament on the auto-x and track forum of bimmerforums; those guys know their way around chassis reinforcement etc. __________________

03-25-2012, 08:00 PM	#4
Gheybe Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: San Diego/Santa Barbara Posts: 10,074 My Ride: C6 Z06 View My Garage	Jake post a photo of your towers. Make sure the photo is properly exposed and the composition is balanced. __________________ Gabe gabrielmilori.com

03-25-2012, 08:30 PM	#9
Solidjake Mod Join Date: May 2008 Location: NYC Posts: 20,243 My Ride: 2002 330i View My Garage	........... __________________ Youtube - Electric Fan Swap/Aux Fan Removal - Projector Retrofit - E46 Bulb Guide My cross country drive to Bimmerfest West 2013 - NYC to LA. Pics from post 505 on

03-25-2012, 08:35 PM	#10
Gheybe Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: San Diego/Santa Barbara Posts: 10,074 My Ride: C6 Z06 View My Garage	waiting for pic of your tower. __________________ Gabe gabrielmilori.com

03-25-2012, 08:41 PM	#12
Blocked Out Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Planet Earth Posts: 5,457 My Ride: Imola 330i M-Sport View My Garage	I doubt that the tower itself can move by that much. What usually happens is the shape of the tower top becomes bulged out or unequal , aka mushroomed. The tower itself doesnt move anywhere becaseu if it did, it would force the structural seems to split open in your fender well . The easiest way to tell if your tops are mushroomed is to look at the 3 bolt in the top hat, if all of them are pointing straight up then you're good and if they point to different directions then you're not so good. And if you can visually see the strut top being NOT flat then its too late __________________ Original BMW Teile /// ====>>> E46 Coupe Airbags

03-25-2012, 08:43 PM	#14
TerraPhantm Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mountain Top Posts: 5,005 My Ride: 2005 M3 Coupe View My Garage	Isn't the fix something like this: Remove struts, get a block of wood, hammer tower back into shape, replace strut bearings, install reinforcement plates, and then reassemble?

03-25-2012, 08:45 PM	#16
Alex323Ci Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Huntington Beach -Surf City USA Posts: 15,276 My Ride: M3 & 323Ci (sold) View My Garage	seems rather strange, that would be seriously out of spec. any chance you were installing it wrong or the center brace V in the wrong direction?? i'm not sure it's possible to do, but first thing that comes to mind as a "possible" reason to be so short. __________________ OEM CSL WHEELS - OEM CSL BRAKES - OEM AUTOFOLD MIRRORS - CSL TRUNK - CSL DIFFUSER - AA SPORT TUNE - AA PULLEYS - BILSTEIN PSS9s - AUTOSOLUTIONS SSK CF CSL RACE LIP - NAVI HU - BMW PERFORMANCE CF STRUT BAR - BMW GROUP-N MTRMTS - UUC SS BRAKELINES, TRANS MOUNTS, RTABs - 4.10 BMW M-SPORT DIFF

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