WTB: Front Strut Bar (m42)

[misterTT]

Looking for a front strut bar that will fit my 91 318is (m42).

In the worst case, i'll pick up an ebay bar, but i'd prefer to pick up a used bar from a reputable source, and keep my $$ in the r3v community :). Any brand is fine. For some reason people seem to think sparco is the way to go, so I guess that's my preference.

Thanks in advance.

[vpilarrt]

Be careful - only a few brands will fit the M42. Basically there is no room between the hood and the top of the intake manifold so the bar has to go across the rear portion of the manifold where it slopes downward. Here's a pic of my Mason to illustrate. Best bar, IMHO, but pricey ($275 new for steel, $325 for aluminum). I had to heat up the plastic wire harness cover and deform it a little to get the bar to fit. You could put spacers under the bar mounting points but you run out of thread on the strut mounts if they're too thick.

Here's a link on someone mod'ing a Sparco to fit:

http://www.m42club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4637&highlight=sparco

[KenC]

OMP ones will fit

[Hick]

buy a sparco and flatten the area around the intake manifold. works like a charm, some guys have taken it to muffler shops and put a very nice face in the strut bar.

[misterTT]

Thanks guys . . .

That Mason bar is pretty hot, but that is way too pricey for my little build.

It seems that sparco is probably the way to go then. Anyone got one for a good price?

[KenC]

Aren't they like $125 new?

[KenC]

I think my friend still has a few OMP ones sitting around. I'll ask him.

[misterTT]

If he does, i'll be driving back to visit the folks in Oregon next week, I can probably pick it up in person. :)

I think my friend still has a few OMP ones sitting around. I'll ask him.

[mcr_driver]

Where in LA are you? I have a bar that came off a 318is.

[misterTT]

Where in LA are you? I have a bar that came off a 318is.

Sweeeeeet!
I'm in Silver Lake / Los Feliz (90027).

I'm very interested in more info and a price!

[KenC]

If he does, i'll be driving back to visit the folks in Oregon next week, I can probably pick it up in person. :)

Sweet. He's checking to see if he can find them. His shop is in NW... so right in PDX.