Ireland Engineering Strut bar

[318driver]

I was looking at there site and came a cross the bar. Is there any diff between that one and the sparco. Im getting my 91 325ic soon and id like to get one as a christmas gift if its anygood. Anyone have one? what do you think?

[aaron_silva]

The IE bar is a replica. It is also a little more expensive than the sparco. I would go with the sparco, it looks like a better build quality (judging from pictures).

HTH

[Digitalwave]

They are the same, except the IE bar is black and available in 2 different lengths. I am getting the IE bar just because its hard to find the Sparco one and black will match my car a lot better.

[Jand3rson]

I am getting the IE bar just because its hard to find the Sparco one

You can get the Sparco bar from www.evosport.com for like $90.

[Nick325is]

The sparco bar is steel. However, I believe the IE bar is aluminum.



NIck

[Digitalwave]

I am getting the IE bar just because its hard to find the Sparco one

You can get the Sparco bar from www.evosport.com for like $90.

It's $109, and I have known about evosport for years. They are almost always out of stock.

[matt325is]

I have the IE bar, I painted it "Anodized Blue" Both Sparco and IE bars are steel.

matt

[tobybmw]

The IE bar I purchased new was $110. Because there paint guy no longer paints them with as high quality as the sparco bar. The IE bar also did not require me to bend the cruise control on my 90 325is.
andy

[Nick325is]

Hmm...my apoligies for being incorrect about the IE bar. I have a friend with the IE bar and it is so much lighter than my sparco bar.


Nick

[bmwguru007]

Pick the bar you like the best and paint it or get it powdercoated. The paint on the IE bar looks kinda cheap so I don't think I'd pick it solely for that reason. I'm going to go with the IE bar so I won't have to bend anything. Color isn't a factor for my purchase. No matter what my bar will end up getting powdercoated black or maybe white.

[318driver]

Thanks guys, ill probably go with the sparco if i can get it for that price. saving a little money isnt ever a bad thing.

What do you guys think of IE's short shift kit, or should i go the Z4 shift lever way?

Whats needed if i go the Z4 way?

[MattM20]

Pick the bar you like the best and paint it or get it powdercoated. The paint on the IE bar looks kinda cheap so I don't think I'd pick it solely for that reason. I'm going to go with the IE bar so I won't have to bend anything. Color isn't a factor for my purchase. No matter what my bar will end up getting powdercoated black or maybe white.

bend what? your still gonna ahve to adjust the throttle cable

[De //m3]

I got the IE bar a while ago and the paint comes crumbling off. Just a cheap spray job. You will definitely have to repaint it. As for the Sparco, I dont know mcuh about it except that it is cheaper. Also, I receieved the IE bar nearly six weeks after ordering. I called them every week, and each time they promised they were making more over the weekend, although the part was listed IN STOCK on the website, but it never happened. Other times that I did business with them that parts came very quickly, so that may have just been a fluke.

[bmwguru007]

bend what? your still gonna ahve to adjust the throttle cable

Supposedly you don't have to bend the cruise control cable bracket when installing an IE bar. No bending = no adjustments necessary. As you probably know, the Sparco bar is designed for the M3 which is why you have to bend that bracket on 325 models. I think most people assume the IE bar is an exact replica of the Sparco, but from what I have heard, it isn't. It is simply modeled after it. I could be wrong obviously because I've never personally compared the two in person. It would be great if anyone can give a definite answer on this one.

[franz]

I dunno if you have an M10 or M42 but IE said it will NOT fit the M42.