M Coupe F Strong Strut, Body Brace & Rear Strong Strut.

[ICU88R]

G'day, I'm new to your forum & was wondering whether you fellows & girls have had any dealings with the US Strong Strut co. :?

I've currently got a 99 M Coupe with some minor mods:
Front Adjustable Anti-Sway bar,
Cold Air Induction,
De-Cat exhaust, Titanium Mufflers,
various AC Interior bits, 1xRecaro SPG,
& a set of Dunlop DJ88R Semi Slicks for time trials.

I'm contemplating on a set of braces (F & R Strut & Body Brace) from Strong Strut, any other brands I should think about as well?

The car is basically a weekend car & I use it on Track Days & Time Trials. Thanks for giving this 1st timer a hand.

[dalecan]

Welcome.

I have a butt strut from this company and can highly recommend it. It holds the rear end together better sharpening up the steering around bends. It makes the rear feel more connected to the car. I use an E-tech front strut brace as it's very light and made of a double layer tubular system giving you strength and lightness (similar to bone). Oh, and it looks good

I have standard suspension on mine, however I did change the front and rear anti-roll bars (sway bars) and that greatly reduced body roll and sharpened up the steering.

[exdos]

I've had StrongStrut's strut brace and butt strut on my MC for 2 years now. I can highly recommend these products. I've had no ground clearance problems with the butt strut and I'm running at 30mm lower at the rear on KW V3 suspension. The struts were the first 2 mods I did to the car and they really do make the car feel tighter and more connected.

I saw someone's homemade combined butt strut/bodybrace on an M Roadster a couple of days ago. I shall probably copy this idea myself.

You might like to read what I and others have written here:http://www.z3mcoupe.com/forum2/viewtopic.php?t=3849

[ICU88R]

Suspended beliefs

I've had StrongStrut's strut brace and butt strut on my MC for 2 years now. I can highly recommend these products. I've had no ground clearance problems with the butt strut and I'm running at 30mm lower at the rear on KW V3 suspension. The struts were the first 2 mods I did to the car and they really do make the car feel tighter and more connected.

I saw someone's homemade combined butt strut/bodybrace on an M Roadster a couple of days ago. I shall probably copy this idea myself.

You might like to read what I and others have written here:http://www.z3mcoupe.com/forum2/viewtopic.php?t=3849

CRIKEY ! I followed the link & found myself reading EVERYTHING IN there. 2 hours later, totally tired, but agree with your observations with regards to the Art of Suspension.

Before the speedboat that is ICU88R, I had an E46 323i with Bilstein PSS9 coilovers. That was the best thing I'd ever bought for car or me. The damping on the softest setting was lounge smooth, but on setting 9, I almost needed a kidney belt.

My 1 question is the photos from the KW V3 showed the rear spring somewhat scuffed/marked & when loaded, sat on 3 of the coils. Are you still using those springs or have you gone for something else, that's even more complementary to the KW dampers.

Would you still recommend the KW V3 today or is there another product out there worth considering. The independent garage that works on my car recommends the Bilstein PSS9; but I don't think the PSS9s cater for the MC.

Now, how to sneak the potentially deadly VISA bill past the Mrs...

[exdos]

Re: Suspended beliefs

CRIKEY ! I followed the link & found myself reading EVERYTHING IN there. 2 hours later, totally tired, but agree with your observations with regards to the Art of Suspension.

Before the speedboat that is ICU88R, I had an E46 323i with Bilstein PSS9 coilovers. That was the best thing I'd ever bought for car or me. The damping on the softest setting was lounge smooth, but on setting 9, I almost needed a kidney belt.

My 1 question is the photos from the KW V3 showed the rear spring somewhat scuffed/marked & when loaded, sat on 3 of the coils. Are you still using those springs or have you gone for something else, that's even more complementary to the KW dampers.

Would you still recommend the KW V3 today or is there another product out there worth considering. The independent garage that works on my car recommends the Bilstein PSS9; but I don't think the PSS9s cater for the MC.

Now, how to sneak the potentially deadly VISA bill past the Mrs...

I'm glad you found the info useful

As it happens, last Sunday I drove one stretch of road in my MC with KW V3 which must be the most lumpy and bumpy of public roads I know. Despite the road, my MC coped very well with the conditions ( drove at speed) and I didn't find it at all uncomfortable. Exactly a year ago to the day, I drove exactly the same road in my MC with KW V2 and it was unbearable (I ended up with a stiff neck and sore back) and it was that very journey which convinced me that the KW V2 was totally unsuitable for the MC and I made my complaints to KW the very next day. Enough was enough!

I've had KW V3 on my car for over 6 months now and I definitely still recommend KW V3 with the same comments that KW are the worst company I've ever dealt with for anything (not just cars). I think it's a real shame I feel this way because I'd much prefer to have 100% confidence in them. Yes the springs are as compressed as the photos show, but the V3 suspension does actually work very well inspite of this. It certainly doesn't look right, nor the way that I'd do things if I were selecting springs, but since it works, I'll leave it as is.

I've learned an immense amount from having the earlier problem with KW V2 and I now feel that I really understand what is going on with car dynamics and suspension and have every confidence that I can set up a car to behave in any way to my choosing. Because KW V3 gives 3-way adjustment (1. Ride height; 2. rebound; 3. bump/compression) I have been able to set up my car precisely as I want it, either for when I'm driving alone and without a passenger for everyday road use, or, alternatively, if I go away with my wife in the car I set it a little softer to keep her quiet :roll: :roll: Likewise, if I were to go on track, then I'd set up the car differently to my usual settings dependent upon the type of track I was driving. AFAIK, there is no other suspension available for the MC with the same level of adjsutment for the money, the only other adjjstable suspension I know of costs about 4 times as much. From my experience with making suspension changes from OEM, I would never want another car which didn't have fully adjustable suspension.

I know all about trying to get my spending to "fly" below the wife's "radar" :wink: :wink: :evil:

Hope this helps.