Your Thoughts on Ultra Racing Braces for Z3

[hellrot96]

I'm curious about this alternative to Strong-Strut's Butt Strut. I noticed the Strong-Strut website is no longer listing z3 parts for sale. http://www.strong-strut.com. The company's been sold. I haven't reached out to their new email address to ask what their plans are, but nonetheless I figured the best advice could be found here on this site in the meantime. There's a couple braces here I'm curious about. I already have a Weicher's Strut tower brace that I'm relatively satisfied with (at least it looks great!), but it leads me wanting to be more purposeful with future z investments.

A little about how I use my 96 -

I work for a vineyard management company in Oregon so the car sees a lot of bad roads. The daily commute sends the car on 10 minutes in the city, 10 minutes on the highway, 20 minutes on wine country roads, and the last 5 minutes on rough gravel, oftentimes washboard, and sometimes rocky dirt. Twice daily. We also like to stuff the trunk of the z completely and utterly full and go on 1000 mile camping trips to Idaho, encountering roads that would send a Portland Subaru driver home (even with their studded tires in June). But I love using the Z for this purpose. It's a "do more with less" mindset. And the car drives beautifully. Completely stock suspension. Only 35,000 miles. I just want a few extra things to make the drive a bit more pleasant.

I've read all the threads on roadster stiffening, yet there's nothing out there on this Ultra Racing brand. They seem to get good recognition with some Miata drivers and then a 128i guy put them on with relative success, but nothing on a z3. Anyone have any experience with these braces?

Link to one of their eBay listings

I like how it tucks under the exhaust, unlike Strong-Strut where you loose a few mm. I wonder how easy it would be to get on there. I don't like how poor these photos and descriptions are. The write-ups and descriptions on Strong-Strut's site are where they really win me over.

A link to one of their "mid" braces.

What's the deal with this? Would that be related to chassis stiffening? or is it some sort of torque-related brace? Why there?

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Haven't reached out to Ultra Racing about any of these questions yet. Really appreciate all the help here. This forum's been a great resource. Hope to someday soon end up at a z meetup where I can meet some people in person.

 

[Woodsta888]

Greetings from Exmouth, Devon.

I just can't see how much stiffening you can give the rear beam - would have thought it was solid in itself. The rear beam bushes on the other hand on all but the M's can be swapped out for solid bushings as the standard ones have a gapped design which allows lateral movement.

I could more understand how a rear top mount strut could stiffen like the ones across the engine for the front top mounts - but these look to add minimal if any stiffness.

That mid brace too, there's a factory fitted one just below it by the looks of it.

This thread is a good read for stiffening a Z3 and revolves mostly around bushings and anti-roll bar enhancements.

https://zroadster.org/articles/bmw-z3-subtly-stiffening-a-z3-by-mike-fishwick.44/

 

[Delk]

The mid brace is just aft of the transmission mount so I dont think it would give much additional stiffening. I could see it would keep the drive line in place if the joint let go but thats about it.

 

[GazHyde]

I think they'd sell more if they did them in chrome. Zed peeps love buying things in chrome, apart from chocolate teapots which are preferably made from chocolate.

 

[hellrot96]

All good points. Personally I don't understand why you'd make an enthusiast product without any sort of engineering explanation behind it. Even at that price point, it still doesn't sell me. That's what intrigued me about Strong-strut's stuff - the detailed description and photos that were actually of a z3.

 

[Pingu]

Has anyone measured the additional stiffness these (or any) braces add?

 

[SYMZ3]

Love that boot fill...

 

[hellrot96]

Love that boot fill...

Thanks! Making use of every square inch and I had to deal with the cd changer which I never use and the huge subwoofer I want to get rid of. Surely, there's gotta be a head unit setup that could get rid of some of those trunk space hogs. Also, with the 1.9, I could see the possibility of stuffing some extra stuff upfront somehow. Man, if they only fitted a front trunk under that long bonnet...

 

[elky]

Greetings from Exmouth, Devon.

I just can't see how much stiffening you can give the rear beam - would have thought it was solid in itself. The rear beam bushes on the other hand on all but the M's can be swapped out for solid bushings as the standard ones have a gapped design which allows lateral movement.

I could more understand how a rear top mount strut could stiffen like the ones across the engine for the front top mounts - but these look to add minimal if any stiffness.

That mid brace too, there's a factory fitted one just below it by the looks of it.

This thread is a good read for stiffening a Z3 and revolves mostly around bushings and anti-roll bar enhancements.

https://zroadster.org/articles/bmw-z3-subtly-stiffening-a-z3-by-mike-fishwick.44/

But Mike has another article (https://zroadster.org/articles/basic-bmw-z3-suspension-modifications-by-mike-fishwick.41/) in which he fits a butt strut and says it greatly increases responsiveness. As far as I can tell this butt strut from Strong Strut is the same as the one Ultra racing is now offering. Does anyone have any input in this?

 

[Mike Fishwick]

The rear crossmember bushes can be usefully stiffened by making inserts from 110 mm soil pipe (from B&Q) to fit inside the gaps of the Oe bushes. Lubricate them with WD-40 or surgical spirit, and press them in by jacking them into position. Do not expect a great difference, as this type of modification is only part of a greater plan, with butt, body, and strut braces, better sprngs and dampers etc.

 

[Andyboy]

Rear strut braces are a waste of time. I added one on an E36 318Ti for track days and it made bugger all difference. Absolutely zero. However, the placebo effect might be strong for some.

A good front one can have some benefit but only a solid one piece type - these are also often the cheapest ones. Ultra Racing make/use to make a very good one. Z3's are not like old MGB's but very strong cars.

 

[Mike Fishwick]

Yes, rear strut tower braces do nothing but brace the body in a non-critical area - but they are shiney! The Butt Strut on the other hand hides away, but does make an appreciable improvement, and in conjunction with the Body Brace works well - and also extends rear tyre life by reducing unwanted changes to the rear wheel geometry. I wonder if the new manufacturer still makes them?

 

[elky]

Yes, rear strut tower braces do nothing but brace the body in a non-critical area - but they are shiney! The Butt Strut on the other hand hides away, but does make an appreciable improvement, and in conjunction with the Body Brace works well - and also extends rear tyre life by reducing unwanted changes to the rear wheel geometry. I wonder if the new manufacturer still makes them?
View attachment 311765

A bit late on this but the butt brace shown here mounts and acts exactly like the ultraracing butt brace isn't that right? I understand that the body brace is even better. But given that StrongStrut are no in operation any more. Isn't the ultra racing lower rear brace the same as the butt brace from StrongStrut?