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Thread: X Brace

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
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    San Jose CA
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    My Cars
    1991 850i S70 6 speed

    X Brace

    I have been reading alot of old threads on this.

    From what I read, all 1993 build years came with it or was it an option and only mounting holes were there?

    I am trying to keep my car OEM, so Strut Bar is not an option.

    Alex

  2. #2
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    DE-spec E36 328i/M3 cab
    P/N for the E31 X-brace is: 31111140614
    1998 BMW M3 3.2 Cabrio • Alpinweiß III on Schwarz • German spec • 1 of 12
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  3. #3
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    1991 850i S70 6 speed
    Quote Originally Posted by MParallel View Post
    P/N for the E31 X-brace is: 31111140614
    Thank you for the reply, but I saw the part number on realiwn

    The issue is I thought later E31s came with it mine is /05/1993 build and EG13 code
    Last edited by alex840; 01-24-2017 at 02:12 PM.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    Vena, Sweden
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    My Cars
    1992 BMW 850ia
    I did mount a x-brace on my 850 - 9/91. It was not without some difficulties though. First, the bolts (4) on the long ends that is supposed to be bolted under the a-pillar did not reach down to the chassi also there were no hole or thread for the bolts. I had to make studs with a thread for the bolt that I spot-welded. Other people have cut off the arms on the x-brace. The arms on the old sway-bar were to long. Not much but they did hit the control arm (13). I bought a new sway-bar from BMW for some $100 and the rubber bushings as well. You could just cut off the ends of the old sway-bar a couple of mm. All in all it made a great difference when driving the car, a little bit of a new-car feeling.


  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    France
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    453
    My Cars
    840 IA 1993
    My 840 is 05/1993 too and it has a X-brace
    X-brace is not an option but an evolution.
    DSC02058.JPG
    Last edited by NICO57; 01-24-2017 at 02:42 PM.

  6. #6
    Join Date
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    1991 850i S70 6 speed
    Quote Originally Posted by NICO57 View Post
    My 840 is 05/1993 too and it has a X-brace
    X-brace is not an option but an evolution.
    I got get under my car again tomorrow and see.....It must have it and I just missed it.

    - - - Updated - - -

    Quote Originally Posted by peake View Post
    I did mount a x-brace on my 850 - 9/91. It was not without some difficulties though. First, the bolts (4) on the long ends that is supposed to be bolted under the a-pillar did not reach down to the chassi also there were no hole or thread for the bolts. I had to make studs with a thread for the bolt that I spot-welded. Other people have cut off the arms on the x-brace. The arms on the old sway-bar were to long. Not much but they did hit the control arm (13). I bought a new sway-bar from BMW for some $100 and the rubber bushings as well. You could just cut off the ends of the old sway-bar a couple of mm. All in all it made a great difference when driving the car, a little bit of a new-car feeling.

    Thanks you for the detailed reply. My other car is a 1991 and i might attempt to do this. I don't know I might just get a Strong Strut (strut bar) and call it a day. Much easier to install.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
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    Vena, Sweden
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    1992 BMW 850ia
    I don't believe that strut bar will work in the same way as a x-brace.

  8. #8
    Join Date
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    Denver, Colorado
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    840ci
    1 have a late 94 840ci but I don't remember seeing this from underneath. Should it be there?

  9. #9
    Join Date
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    6.5 second 69 Camaro
    X Brace is a lot of work but worth it! Strut Brace is easy, Doesn't compare to the X Brace for stiffening up the front but It does help, It also gives you something to lean on when working on the car, V12 manifolds don't like being leaned on the wrong way and the holes already in the SS brace make for perfect ratchet and screwdriver holders.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
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    1991 850i S70 6 speed
    8eights, just got a quote for the X Brace.....not cheap. Strong Strut would be nice, but this particular car I am keeping everything BMW/OEM.

    Tell me about it, I was laying on top of the engine last night getting that third near to impossible temp sensor out by the firewall.

    Quote Originally Posted by 8eights View Post
    X Brace is a lot of work but worth it! Strut Brace is easy, Doesn't compare to the X Brace for stiffening up the front but It does help, It also gives you something to lean on when working on the car, V12 manifolds don't like being leaned on the wrong way and the holes already in the SS brace make for perfect ratchet and screwdriver holders.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Orlando, FL USA
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    91 850
    Quote Originally Posted by alex840 View Post
    8eights, just got a quote for the X Brace.....not cheap. Strong Strut would be nice, but this particular car I am keeping everything BMW/OEM.

    Tell me about it, I was laying on top of the engine last night getting that third near to impossible temp sensor out by the firewall.

    Did you remove the external air filter assembly housing? You'll have a lot more room to work with when the housing is removed. It's fairly easy to remove if you haven't done it before.
    Remove #1 and #4. The #3 comes out when #1 comes out.

    http://bmwfans.info/parts-catalog/E3...l_microfilter/

  12. #12
    Join Date
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    1991 850i S70 6 speed
    Just got a quote for the xbrace......pricy!!!

    Quote Originally Posted by 8eights View Post
    X Brace is a lot of work but worth it! Strut Brace is easy, Doesn't compare to the X Brace for stiffening up the front but It does help, It also gives you something to lean on when working on the car, V12 manifolds don't like being leaned on the wrong way and the holes already in the SS brace make for perfect ratchet and screwdriver holders.
    - - - Updated - - -

    The first two are easy. I did take cabin air filters assembly out, and had a Crow Wrench. The part that worried me was not drop the it, just hard to get to.......it didn't take long but definitely no easy.

    Quote Originally Posted by ChrisFuture8 View Post
    Did you remove the external air filter assembly housing? You'll have a lot more room to work with when the housing is removed. It's fairly easy to remove if you haven't done it before.
    Remove #1 and #4. The #3 comes out when #1 comes out.

    http://bmwfans.info/parts-catalog/E3...l_microfilter/

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by e31bev View Post
    1 have a late 94 840ci but I don't remember seeing this from underneath. Should it be there?
    I was working on my suspension this past weekend and what a pleasant view it was to see the xbrace under my car. I was getting nervous about having to add this onto my agenda. Thank god, good luck to those who are working to install one of these.

  14. #14
    Join Date
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    1991 850i S70 6 speed
    My 1993 850CI has it too. Noticed it while checking out parts needed for exhaust rebuild, which had seen better days.

    Quote Originally Posted by e31bev View Post
    I was working on my suspension this past weekend and what a pleasant view it was to see the xbrace under my car. I was getting nervous about having to add this onto my agenda. Thank god, good luck to those who are working to install one of these.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Northern VA
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    1991 BMW 850i
    Reviving this old thread. I had been looking for a while and finally managed to get my hands on a X-brace for my 91 850i (4/91), looking at Peake's post from 2017 looks like this isn't a direct bolt-on. Anyone else has any additional guidance?
    ========
    91 850i 6-speed, 2018 M550 - wife mobile, Lexus GX460 - Family mobile

  16. #16
    Join Date
    May 2019
    Location
    Grovetown, GA
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    777
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    1991 850i 6-speed

    X Brace

    I fitted an X-brace to my 91.
    It is plug and play, just compare part numbers between the E31 with and without X-brace to check for additional parts needed (e.g. pay attention to bolt lengths)

    https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=31_0208
    https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=31_0222

    In my case, I needed 2x 31111140576 adapters and assorted nuts and bolts.
    I was also able to fit the rear heat shields, which luckily came with my X-brace.

    It's a great opportunity 'while you're there' to inspect and refresh the whole of the front end, fitting Mooseheads etc.

    You will also want to fit either the later front sway bar or the CSi part due to the difference in shape
    Last edited by petejk; 05-06-2021 at 05:03 PM.

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Dec 2020
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    New Smyrna Beach, FL
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    1991 850i
    Quote Originally Posted by petejk View Post
    I fitted an X-brace to my 91.
    It is plug and play, just compare part numbers between the E31 with and without X-brace to check for additional parts needed (e.g. pay attention to bolt lengths)

    https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=31_0208
    https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=31_0222

    In my case, I needed 2x 31111140576 adapters and assorted nuts and bolts.
    I was also able to fit the rear heat shields, which luckily came with my X-brace.

    It's a great opportunity 'while you're there' to inspect and refresh the whole of the front end, fitting Mooseheads etc.

    You will also want to fit either the later front sway bar or the CSi part due or the difference I shape
    Just purchased an X- Brace for my 91 last month and was wondering what additional parts were needed. Thanks for saving me the research time!

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Location
    Göteborg
    Posts
    57
    My Cars
    Z4M Coupe 850e31 540e39
    Anyone got a tip for where to look for an X-brace that ship worldwide or in Europe? Seems rather hard to find these days.

    My project is slowly moving towards front end refurbishment and it would be nifty to find one soon.
    Last edited by exalted; 05-08-2021 at 05:55 PM.

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
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    FL, Sydney, Hong Kong
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    '92 850i '94 850ci
    Quote Originally Posted by akatoch View Post
    Reviving this old thread. I had been looking for a while and finally managed to get my hands on a X-brace for my 91 850i (4/91), looking at Peake's post from 2017 looks like this isn't a direct bolt-on. Anyone else has any additional guidance?
    For an 91 you have a few choices, depends on the level of invasiveness you're willing to put up:

    1. cut the extensions off the X-brace, bolt it in (most people's choice, still an improvement over the stock pre-'92 suspension)
    2. make a spacer (basically a small steel bar) to go under the footwells and bolt the X-brace extensions to the floor
    3. cut off and replace the footwell panels with post-'92 and everything will fit as designed. The panels were still available when I last checked.

    I had option 3 in my mind and I have the brace and panels new from BMW on the shelf. However, I have just become a proud owner of a '94 with all that baked in. Tossing up whether to still go ahead with the '91
    Last edited by affa; 05-12-2021 at 04:26 PM. Reason: wrong reply

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