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This install takes 5 - 10 minutes. If you can walk and chew gum you can do this
Click on the images for larger views. |
WARNING:
- The car must be parked on a level surface. DO NOT install the strut brace with the car on a lift or the front wheels off the ground in any way.
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Step 1: Getting the required items together
This install requires:
- 1 OEM strut bar kit (typically sold as a kit)
- (6) 51-71-7-895-241 Nuts
- (1) 51-71-7-895-251 Cover
- (1) 51-71-7-895-252 Cover
- (1) 51-71-7-895-250 Bracket
- (1) 51-71-7-895-249 Bracket
- (1) 51-71-7-895-414 Transverse (center piece)
- 13mm Socket
- Ratchet wrench
- A BMW M3 (E46).
- 5 - 10 minutes of free time.
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OEM Strut Bar Kit |
Step 2: Remove the nuts from the driver's side strut tower
- Open the hood and locate the sturt towers (see image).
- Remove the strut tower bolt cover - black plastic piece with ///M in the center.
- There are 3 nuts at the top of the driver's side strut tower. Remove these.
- Don't lose these as they will be required to complete the installation.
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Stock View
Strut Tower Nut Locations |
Step 3: Install the driver's side bracket
- Place the bracket over the bolts protruding from strut tower with the extended side of the bracket pointing toward the center and forward (see image).
- Using the nuts provided with the kit snug down the bracket to the strut tower. The new nuts have an extension on the bottom of the nut - this is made to fit inside the holes in the bracket and correctly position it.
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Driver's Side Bracket Installed |
Step 4: Repeat for the passenger side
- The passenger side is a bit more tricky than the drivers side due to the factory location of the positive battery terminal outlet.
- Once you remove the stock nuts from the strut tower, you will have to wiggle and finesse the bracket under the terminal.
- Repeat the same steps as above to snug down the passenger side bracket.
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Passenger Side - Note Battery Terminal
Bracket Installed |
Step 5: Installing the transverse (center piece)
- The transverse fits on the bolts which protrude from the brackets.
- The pointed part of the transverse should point toward the front of the car.
- Center the traverse and snug it down with 4 (2 per side) of the nuts that you removed from the strut towers.
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Transverse Bolt Locations |
Step 6: Tightening things up
- Starting at the brackets, go over the nuts and tighten them down (the factory torque is 18 foot lbs).
- Pop in the provided plastic bracket inserts.
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Plastic Bracket Insert
Finished! |
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