the big one....Strut brace...GTT LOHEN JCW or OMP

[aid]

ok planning a wee trip to the nuerburgring later this year but i want to start fixing up my MCS

so first things first a front strut brace but which is best

GTT
Lohen
Jcw
Omp
???????????

or if anyone has other suggestions please feel free to add them

[Japper]

Quote: Originally Posted by aid (original)

ok planning a wee trip to the nuerburgring later this year but i want to start fixing up my MCS

so first things first a front strut brace but which is best

GTT
Lohen
Jcw
Omp
???????????

or if anyone has other suggestions please feel free to add them

GTT Aerobox upper brace + GTT lower mid brace + OMP lower front brace = even more fun

[aid]

i was thinking id start with the front brace then later on in the year buy one of the rear braces that fit behind the seats?????

[Japper]

Quote: Originally Posted by aid (original)

i was thinking id start with the front brace then later on in the year buy one of the rear braces that fit behind the seats?????

Both the lower braces ( under engine area ) are the cheapest ( £150 for both ) places to start and i think have the biggest effect, certainly more effect than the rear brace behind seats.

[Japper]

Quote: Originally Posted by Japper (original)

Both the lower braces ( under engine area ) are the cheapest ( £150 for both ) places to start and i think have the biggest effect, certainly more effect than the rear brace behind seats.

And the ONLY upper brace that has any effect is the GTT one, although it's not the cheapest.

[aid]

see i like the idea of the GTT upper front as i can fit it myself but im not familar with either the position or the fitting of the lower ones


found the omp lower for 38 quid tho

[humph]

Think you'll get a lot of people singing the praises of the GTT one on here. It is quite pricey though, but I can't comment on value for money as I don't have one I have a JCW one that was fitted form new so can't really comment on how much of a difference it made. I have since fitted the OMP lower one and could definitely feel the difference. I think most people would agree with the above and tell you to get at least a top and bottom brace, big improvement. There is a lot of debate on here about the value of the rear brace (behind the seats) as it doesn't actually attach directly to the strut towers. Personally would leave that one to last.

[aid]

ok but where does the lower one fit on to and how easy it it to fit

is it a diy job like the upper one or is it a garage job?????

thanks for the help folks

[humph]

Lower one is fitted very easily I believe (although I didn't do mine). Two bolts to undo and replace at the bottom of the front struts.

[CC07ERS]

You can get OMP upper & lower from ebay for £90 . I had them on my cooper it was awesome in & out of the corners.

[Japper]

Quote: Originally Posted by aid (original)

ok but where does the lower one fit on to and how easy it it to fit

is it a diy job like the upper one or is it a garage job?????

thanks for the help folks

Aid, if you lie down at the side of your car and look directly behind the front wheels you'll see a silver coloured hex bolt angled forwards / downwards at 45 degrees. You simply take these out offer up the brace and ( using two new bolts from BMW ) tighten in place. You do not need to jack car up or remove wheels. It's a 5 min job honestly. The GTT mid lower brace is just as easy with four bolts ans is situated about 2 feet further back.

I'd start with the OMP lower and then add as you can afford.

If you do a search you'll see lots of threads / pics / how to's on these braces.

[humph]

Just make sure you use new bolts for the lower brace and you get the torque settings right.

[aid]

ahhhh perfect excuse to buy a new torque wrench

ok think i will start with the lower omp then get the gtt upper in black (as the mcs is dark silver with black roof and mirror caps)

[Vitesse]

The GTT upper has been raved about on this forum from day one. I personally, at the time, couldn't believe that it could make that much difference, but the high praise converted me.

I met up with Tigger a couple of weeks ago, he also has one and sung it's praises. So much so that I ordered one from Roland the other day.

[GTT 280]

Quote: Originally Posted by aid (original)

i was thinking id start with the front brace then later on in the year buy one of the rear braces that fit behind the seats?????

...and you'll see there is only one option that works. GTT upper front (and lowers too if you like).
The rear brace is not a strut brace, so don't waste your money. (that's why GTT don't make one, there is no point)

Cheers,
K.