Feeler: Autopower Roll Bar GB

[Saul325is]

Looking at the pics of the VSR bar, it's safe to say that the Autopower bar has similar fitment to the B-pillar, if not a bit better. From the pics on the floor mounting location, the Autopower mounts at the same location. What I can't tell from your pictures is the dimensions of the mounting plates.

The VSR bar does hug the headliner better than the Autopower bar and having the crossmembers as a single unit is a definate plus. (for pics on the Autopower fitment w/ the headliner, see my thread http://www.r3vlimited.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=16715) However, after having a class or two in Engineering statics (informed, but not an expert by any means), I'm not exactly excited about the curve in the rear mounting tubes. It seems like a curve wouldn't transmit load evenly in the tube walls and buckle under load sooner.

For some reason Autopower designed the bar to be installed with or without the carpet removed, hence the gap between the bar and the headliner. I don't know why anyone would put carpet between the bar's feet and the car. Weird . . .

Thanks for your .02, Anyone here still interested?

-Saul

[Saul325is]

Here is the list so far:

Charlie
Boom-monkey

[Saul325is]

Sorry, my above message was a bit curt.


I dont really want to take this GB thread off-tack. So I'll be brief:

Kirk: Good bar, I'm not a huge fan of the lower mounting points on the main hoop. Also dont like how the horizontal bar and diagonal bar are not connected in an X, rather they are connected with a bar between the two. (3-4" gap between the 2 bars IIRC)

AP: Again, not a fan of the feet mounting points. But I'd take the kirk over AP. All of their products I've dealt with (E36, E30, 2002) have had bad fitment and left me thinking they were a bargain bar designed more for Auto-X harnesses.

VSR: I'll preface this as an honest statement... My father owns VSR. So I'm biased. However, I will admit when there are products that surpass ours. We designed the VSR bar to fit tightest to the B pillar, tight as possible to the roof while maintaining the headliner. Our bar is (again In My Opinion) the best Bolt In/ Weld In bar you can purchase for an e30. Going custom will obviously allow more tailoring to individual needs and an install more suited to your specific desires.

VSR also comes with the price... its not the cheapest bar. But I think the quality and fitment more than justify the price. I'm currently working on a GB for the VSR bar... I've got ~13 people interested at the moment.

If I couldnt run a VSR bar, I'd buy a Kirk, then Autopower.

Matt I see no value in your post? Once again, thank you for contributing nothing to a topical discussion. I was simply informing him that I've already got the GB going there, he is more than welcome to post his GB there and get interest too... its a free market economy.


Again, I'm biased, and thats just my $.02
Any more questions, discussions I'd be happy to answer in a specific thread in order to maintain the topical purchase of this thread for Autopower bars.

Thanks,
CL

Kirk over Autopower? Have you seen the mounting points on the kirk bars? Its dangerous! I know you do have a biased approach, so far 3 of my local friends have kirk bars and they would of taken Autopower if there was a GB around at the time, and had prior knowledge about the bar.

[UNHCLL]

You putting this up on any other boards such as bimmerforums or S14?

That'll probably get you a lot more bites than this board.

-Charlie

S14 is next, then bimmerforums. I just want to get a "feel" to the interest.

-Saul

And if I may say so myself... Autopower isnt on "par" with VSR. Its a good budget bar I guess.

How can you say that? Have you ever seen an Autopower Bar in an e30?

Yes, Many. Infact, we just ripped out 2 of them to replace with our own bar as they were pretty shoddy(installation, fitment) and didnt suffice for what the owners wanted and needed.
Unless AP has changed their jig, at least one of the lower main hoop bolts goes through the removeable rear floor drain.... now tell me, exactly how well is that going to stand up in a roll over?? (Maybe they have, and if so, I will gladly retract this statement about their mounting points!!!)


Skafrog: Mounting points are different. VSR is further out to the outside of the car. The pictures dont really do it justice, sorry.

[Saul325is]

You putting this up on any other boards such as bimmerforums or S14?

That'll probably get you a lot more bites than this board.

-Charlie

S14 is next, then bimmerforums. I just want to get a "feel" to the interest.

-Saul

And if I may say so myself... Autopower isnt on "par" with VSR. Its a good budget bar I guess.

How can you say that? Have you ever seen an Autopower Bar in an e30?

Yes, Many. Infact, we just ripped out 2 of them to replace with our own bar as they were pretty shoddy(installation, fitment) and didnt suffice for what the owners wanted and needed.
Unless AP has changed their jig, at least one of the lower main hoop bolts goes through the removeable rear floor drain.... now tell me, exactly how well is that going to stand up in a roll over?? (Maybe they have, and if so, I will gladly retract this statement about their mounting points!!!)


Skafrog: Mounting points are different. VSR is further out to the outside of the car. The pictures dont really do it justice, sorry.

Look on Bimmertoad's thread (he posted a link earlier) it shows his autopower roll bar in his e30. So I guess no other ineterest guys? Folowing UNHCCL's opinions? Let me keep you guys in mind that autopowers bars come sprayed too.

-Saul

[JasonH]

Kirk over Autopower? ... so far 3 of my local friends have kirk bars and they would of taken Autopower if there was a GB around at the time, and had prior knowledge about the bar.

By my count, Saul, there are only three Kirk bars in E30's locally. Mine would be one of them, along with Tyler and Bryson. I know you sure as hell haven't heard me say I would have necessarily taken an AP bar. I would also be willing to wager that you haven't spoken with Tyler much about this either (especially since he has more or less been off of the radar lately). Unfortunately, that leaves you with N=1. So, leave me out of this and check the accuracy of your claims.

When you start making such emphatic statements about a product you inevitably open yourself up for criticism or, at the very least, people calling you out on certain comments. Instead of trying to debate the values of this role bar versus another, just offer the opportunity for people to get in on a group buy. The fact remains that these are ROLL BARS and they are BOLT-IN and they are produced on a jig. There doesn't seem to be a roll bar that is "perfect" and you won't have ideal fitment unless you have it fabricated. In a roll over of sufficient magnitude, a bolt-in bar has a substantial risk of cookie-cutting regardless of the sheet metal it is bolted to (not to mention the risk of the A-pillar colapsing). If you are that concerned about mounting points, you will have your bar welded in anyway. Hell, you wouldn't even have a roll bar - you would have had a cage fabricated for your car.

You have your group buy and Chris has his...let's move on.

[Saul325is]

Kirk over Autopower? ... so far 3 of my local friends have kirk bars and they would of taken Autopower if there was a GB around at the time, and had prior knowledge about the bar.

By my count, Saul, there are only three Kirk bars in E30's locally. Mine would be one of them, along with Tyler and Bryson. I know you sure as hell haven't heard me say I would have necessarily taken an AP bar. I would also be willing to wager that you haven't spoken with Tyler much about this either (especially since he has more or less been off of the radar lately). Unfortunately, that leaves you with N=1. So, leave me out of this and check the accuracy of your claims.

When you start making such emphatic statements about a product you inevitably open yourself up for criticism or, at the very least, people calling you out on certain comments. Instead of trying to debate the values of this role bar versus another, just offer the opportunity for people to get in on a group buy. The fact remains that these are ROLL BARS and they are BOLT-IN and they are produced on a jig. There doesn't seem to be a roll bar that is "perfect" and you won't have ideal fitment unless you have it fabricated. In a roll over of sufficient magnitude, a bolt-in bar has a substantial risk of cookie-cutting regardless of the sheet metal it is bolted to (not to mention the risk of the A-pillar colapsing). If you are that concerned about mounting points, you will have your bar welded in anyway. Hell, you wouldn't even have a roll bar - you would have had a cage fabricated for your car.

You have your group buy and Chris has his...let's move on.

I did infact talk with Tyler and Bryson about the bar (a while back). I am also open to any comments AND criticism on this thread, I think its really helpful to let the buyer know the difference between the bars, and I appreciate UHCCL's comments (never said I didnt). Appreciate your pitch.

-Saul

[JasonH]

I said 3 :)

Finish reading the paragraph. You said three people would have purchased an AP bar instead. Not that there were simply three bars.

... thanks for your comments.

My pleasure.

[Saul325is]

I said 3 :)

Finish reading the paragraph. You said three people would have purchased an AP bar instead. Not that there were simply three bars.

Hey hey speedy poster, I edited it right after i posted. :)

[UNHCLL]

Yea, my biased opinion... what a horrible thing to have a topical discussion about the variations in the bars.

I stated from the start that I have a vested interest in the VSR bar. If I hadn't people would have cried wolf after I made my statements.


Yes, I'd take a Kirk over AP. Sorry Saul, just my opinion.

Just looked at BimmerToads pictures:
1) Glad to see AP has adjusted their mounting points. The ones I've seen were worse. I retract my sentiments about the poor mounting points From the looks of it though, the down tube is right at the edge of the mounting plate?

2) The pictures open up a whole other realm of "BAD" for me though....
Bolts on the diagonal bar? bolted through little brackets??? *sigh* need I say more? No thank you on that whole idea.

3) Also not a fan of the 2 piece bolted rear down tubes.. but I'm nit-picking there.

FWIW, as stated previously, if all you really need is a good bar for harnesses and auto-X use, I dont think you can really go wrong with any of the 3 aforementioned bars. If you want to go racing, I'd say get a custom bar/cage built, dont even bother with a bolt/weld in.

Again, these are only my opinions

[DanGillan]

i installed the autopower bar in my car, as i posted earlier, i have to say, it's pretty crappy, in my 4 door at least, the floor mounting points were not where they should have been making me have to trim the bottom plates to fit, the whole thing just isnt the best design, not a great bar, i dont really care as im not doing any fender to fender racing and this more than meets my needs, but its junk, if i didnt get it for $150ish i wouldnt have bought it. Now, i have also seen the kirk bar installed in gregs car, its better, then i have seen the VSR bar (many of them) and they are just better, plain and simple, better, i have no biased opinion, its better. end of story.

[Saul325is]

Yea, my biased opinion... what a horrible thing to have a topical discussion about the variations in the bars.

I stated from the start that I have a vested interest in the VSR bar. If I hadn't people would have cried wolf after I made my statements.


Yes, I'd take a Kirk over AP. Sorry Saul, just my opinion.

Just looked at BimmerToads pictures:
1) Glad to see AP has adjusted their mounting points. The ones I've seen were worse. I retract my sentiments about the poor mounting points From the looks of it though, the down tube is right at the edge of the mounting plate?

2) The pictures open up a whole other realm of "BAD" for me though....
Bolts on the diagonal bar? bolted through little brackets??? *sigh* need I say more? No thank you on that whole idea.

3) Also not a fan of the 2 piece bolted rear down tubes.. but I'm nit-picking there.

FWIW, as stated previously, if all you really need is a good bar for harnesses and auto-X use, I dont think you can really go wrong with any of the 3 aforementioned bars. If you want to go racing, I'd say get a custom bar/cage built, dont even bother with a bolt/weld in.

Again, these are only my opinions

I konw they are your opinions, and I have nothing against them. Like I said, I am glad you are posting in this thread and providing useful information. If no one is interested in the GB I am fine with that (no loss on my part, right?). Thanks.

-Saul

[ViEtNaMeeH]

how about a group buy on vsr?

[UNHCLL]

there is already one in the works.

I didnt bother to post it here as historically, R3V doesnt support high dollar GB's with products like this.

[brodee]

i installed the autopower bar in my car, as i posted earlier, i have to say, it's pretty crappy, in my 4 door at least, the floor mounting points were not where they should have been making me have to trim the bottom plates to fit, the whole thing just isnt the best design, not a great bar, i dont really care as im not doing any fender to fender racing and this more than meets my needs, but its junk, if i didnt get it for $150ish i wouldnt have bought it. Now, i have also seen the kirk bar installed in gregs car, its better, then i have seen the VSR bar (many of them) and they are just better, plain and simple, better, i have no biased opinion, its better. end of story.

Could your fitment problems have anything to do with putting a 2-door bar in a 4-door car?