Driving without suspension braces?

jonahk · 07-08-2021, 11:13 PM

I sent my strut braces from the engine bay off for powder coating while my G80 is in for PPF but they won't be done before the wrap is finished. Does anyone know of any issues driving the car without the braces installed?

jonahk · 07-09-2021, 11:55 AM

Managed to get a hold of the shop foreman at my dealership so I'm answering my own question here.

- Yes it is okay to drive without the strut braces installed, just no aggressive cornering or fast starts/hard braking
- The aluminum bolts can be reused and do not need to be replaced if removed
- Torque spec on the bolts is 28Nm

rideontwo · 07-12-2021, 09:12 PM

^^^ Should be a sticky just for the Torque specs alone. Great info!

moproblems · 07-12-2021, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonahk

Managed to get a hold of the shop foreman at my dealership so I'm answering my own question here.

- Yes it is okay to drive without the strut braces installed, just no aggressive cornering or fast starts/hard braking
- The aluminum bolts can be reused and do not need to be replaced if removed
- Torque spec on the bolts is 28Nm

From my memory looking through my copy of ISTA+ whenever the front supports are removed the car really should not be driven as it's the main support to the front cooling stack. Let me get on there and take a screenshot.

jonahk · 07-13-2021, 08:06 AM

Thank you. I wonder if my SA thought i just meant the straight brace and not the larger one. I'll certainly wait to drive it.

Any other info on installation I should be aware of?

moproblems · 07-13-2021, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonahk

Thank you. I wonder if my SA thought i just meant the straight brace and not the larger one. I'll certainly wait to drive it.

Any other info on installation I should be aware of?

Nope, he's correct on torque specs and that the bolts can be reused. The straight brace AND the under cowl brace have the same warning applied.

jonahk · 07-13-2021, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moproblems

Nope, he's correct on torque specs and that the bolts can be reused. The straight brace AND the under cowl brace have the same warning applied.

FWIW the center bolt directly above the cooling stack took a breaker bar to remove. Reinstallation at 26Nm seems low.

moproblems · 07-13-2021, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonahk

FWIW the center bolt directly above the cooling stack took a breaker bar to remove. Reinstallation at 26Nm seems low.

I'll recheck when I get back on my computer.

HTTP 410 · 01-24-2022, 03:56 PM

Sorry to bring this old thread back from the dead, but was anyone able to confirm the torque values for the strut brace?

forza1976 · 01-24-2022, 04:09 PM

The bolts aren't aluminum btw.

07-08-2021, 11:13 PM	#1
jonahk Captain 705 Rep 630 Posts Drives: 2021 G80 M3 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: MN iTrader: (1) Garage List 2021 BMW M3 [0.00] 2018 Porsche Macan [0.00] 2018 BMW M2 [0.00]	Driving without suspension braces? I sent my strut braces from the engine bay off for powder coating while my G80 is in for PPF but they won't be done before the wrap is finished. Does anyone know of any issues driving the car without the braces installed? Attached Images
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07-09-2021, 11:55 AM	#2
jonahk Captain 705 Rep 630 Posts Drives: 2021 G80 M3 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: MN iTrader: (1) Garage List 2021 BMW M3 [0.00] 2018 Porsche Macan [0.00] 2018 BMW M2 [0.00]	Managed to get a hold of the shop foreman at my dealership so I'm answering my own question here. - Yes it is okay to drive without the strut braces installed, just no aggressive cornering or fast starts/hard braking - The aluminum bolts can be reused and do not need to be replaced if removed - Torque spec on the bolts is 28Nm
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07-12-2021, 09:12 PM	#3
rideontwo Lieutenant 190 Rep 428 Posts Drives: VaNOs Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: NE iTrader: (1)	^^^ Should be a sticky just for the Torque specs alone. Great info!
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07-13-2021, 08:06 AM	#5
jonahk Captain 705 Rep 630 Posts Drives: 2021 G80 M3 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: MN iTrader: (1) Garage List 2021 BMW M3 [0.00] 2018 Porsche Macan [0.00] 2018 BMW M2 [0.00]	Thank you. I wonder if my SA thought i just meant the straight brace and not the larger one. I'll certainly wait to drive it. Any other info on installation I should be aware of?
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01-24-2022, 03:56 PM	#9
HTTP 410 Captain 2142 Rep 754 Posts Drives: 2022 M3 Competition Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: USA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2022 BMW G80 M3C [0.00]	Sorry to bring this old thread back from the dead, but was anyone able to confirm the torque values for the strut brace? __________________ 2022 M3 Comp BGM/Fiona Red, Executive, Drivers Assistant Pro, Parking Assist, 826M black wheels (SOLD) 2018 M2 BSM LCI, DCT, Executive, Drivers Assist, CarPlay
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01-24-2022, 04:09 PM	#10
forza1976 Major General 3399 Rep 6,593 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: 49417 and 60610 iTrader: (13) Garage List 2022 BMW M3X [10.00]	The bolts aren't aluminum btw.
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