I installed my new strut brace but as usual things didn't go as planned. Although the vendor pictures show the strut brace installed over an engine with plenty of clearance it doesn't fit over the engine cover on a 545i. The engine is too tall. I am always concerned about resale value and I don't like to install mods I can't reverse so I sourced a used engine cover from Bavarian recyclers to modify.

Here is the strut brace without the engine cover



Here is my original engine cover and the used one I modified



Finished install





Overall I am happy with how the car drives, even with crappy snow tires on, the cars turn in is better. I have no way to measure (or prove) any improvement but the physics is sound. The factory strut brace goes from the strut towers to under the fire wall. The Racing Dynamics strut brace works with the factory strut brace but goes across the engine to create a triangle. This is a configuration you will see in some road race cars.

Overall a fun project while enjoying a few days off over the holidays. Now I have to get back to polishing and waxing my summer wheels...

 

Looks great installed. It is a shame that the manufactuer's advertising on the fitment is misleading, however.

The added strength of this mod should feel like a million bucks in the twisties.

 

That actually looks pretty cool going through the engine cover