Z4 AND ///M CUSTOMER TESTIMONIALS FOR FRONT & REAR STRONG-STRUT BRACES
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Kenneth.............Paso Robles, California. 2006 Z4 M Coupe
Hello Strong-Strut Team, I just wanted to let you know I received and installed
the rear Strong-Strut braces on my 06 M Coupe and I am really impressed with the
improvement. I track and autocross my Coupe quite a bit in addition to it being
my daily driver so I am probably a bit more informed on the benefits of handling
accessories than is the average driver. Even on my Coupe, there is a perceived
benefit, I drove a friends 2007 M Roadster before and after he installed your
rear braces and I wasn't expecting a big difference on my Coupe but the
improvement is substantial. You hit the nail on the head with this one. In a few
months I will be ordering the entire front Strong-Strut setup with the firewall
braces.
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Howard..............Savanna, Georgia 2005 Z4 3.0
Dear Paul,
Thank you for answering all my email and
telephone questions regarding the Strong-Struts for my 2005 Z4. 3.0 . Since I
purchased the car new, I have always made it a habit to thoroughly research any
contemplated accessories for the car as I did in this instance. Like many BMW
owners, I don't mind paying a little more for high quality, well engineered
products, as I have learned the hard way in the past that you usually get what
you pay for and many so called, "deals or bargains" seldom prove to be so
wonderful in the end. Not that your products are expensive, the alternate front
brace I was considering is priced substantially higher than the Strong-Strut and
as far as I could research it, you are the only one manufacturing a rear brace
for the Z4, which you confirmed on the telephone.
Following the easy installation of the front Strong-Strut, the improvement and
benefits were immediately evident and I echo the same comments I have read from
your other customer testimonials about faster turn in, quicker steering response
and a substantially more solid feel to the front end. Although my Z4 is not a
daily driver, I held off on installing the rear braces for a few weeks while I
put about 200 miles on the car enjoying the improvements of the front
Strong-Strut. I managed to install the rear Strong-Strut braces in about 30
minutes once I had the rear of the car elevated and then I took it out for its
first test drive. I had planned on a 15 minute test drive just to get the feel
of it but I was enjoying the combined improvements so much I drove for well over
an hour. As I told you in my initial inquiry to you, I am the former owner
of a 1999 Z3 M Roadster and I was well aware of how wiggly the chassis was on
that car. Unfortunately, at that time, I was unaware of your products and I sold
the Z3 and went to the Z4 because I learned that BMW improved the chassis
rigidity in the Z4. I am really appreciative that the installation of your
Strong-Struts has made such a substantial improvement over what BMW offered on
the standard Z4 and quite surprised to learn there was that much room for
improvement. In summary, I am one "happy camper" and as I read somewhere in your
web site, "these are accessories that the customer will enjoy every moment they
are at the wheel." Thank you for making these braces available, I do in fact
enjoy them every time I drive the car.
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As an owner of a 2008 BMW Z4M Roadster I read a series of articles (see http://www.europeancarweb.com/tuned/epcp_0709_project_z4m/index.html) on upgrading the performance and handling of my already pretty good handling sports car. The article referenced above noted the most direct and cheapest way of improving the handling was through adding a front shock tower brace.
After a fair amount of research of the many different brands of strut braces I decided to purchase both the shock tower and firewall braces from Strong Strut. One reason was the Strong Strut was made by an owner of a Z4M and the second was the solid materials used in fabricating the braces. The installation was easy and quick with no clearance problems and looks great – even my son thinks so. When I did have one item missing in the initial shipment, Paul Ebeyer, shipped the part overnight with apologies and follow-up emails – great service.
After installing the front Strong-Strut assembly, I noted the front end was immediately more taut – especially on turn in and delay in braking around my local road “course” - and less “rattle/cowl shaking” going over the many bumps in the roads around my area and down my quarter mile dirt driveway. I then added the rear braces from Strong Strut – and yes the original ones do bend about 2 inches when placed in a vise – after installing the Strong-Strut rear braces the rear seemed to be tighter with less body roll when going around my local road “course”.
I currently compete in Solo autocross – still retaining a stock classification with the front and rear braces – and while I cannot compare racing autocross prior without the braces my lap times have improved as I have started to push the limits of my car.
Overall I feel the front and rear Strong Strut braces have added to the rigidity of my Roadster adding, to some degree, to improved turn in and in the already flat handling which seems to be even flatter now with less lean-in/body roll on curves. These handling improvements seem to parallel the results of the article noted above and appear to be a reasonable return on investment.
Geno
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Hi Paul,
Wow!
I can really tell a big improvement over the stock setup on my 2003 Z4 3.0 with
the sport "button", and some Dinan "improvements". This is like adding a new
life to an 8-yr old car. Having a more rigid car, it is almost like driving with
the sport button on ALL the time. Somehow the acceleration feels different and
now the car handles bumps better, generally, much more stable and it seems the
car sways less on uneven highways and steering response is quicker. Thank you for the
truly impressive products, I know how much sweat is involved from taking a
dream to reality. Congratulations, You've earned it.
David
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Paul...............I think your products are amazing. I had a 2000 Z3 M Roadster and I added your Strong-Strut "Trilogy" which totally transformed the car into what it should have been when it left the factory. The improvement was so dramatic I could hardly believe it. Now, I have installed your front Strong-Strut including the firewall braces on my 2006 Z4 M Roadster and also the Strong-Strut replacement braces for the rear. Seems to me you have worked your magic all over again for the Z4 chassis, what a fantastic improvement. I don't know how you keep coming up with these accessories but I'm sure glad you do. Always, your loyal customer,
Frank in St. Louis.