[longtran]

[just4kickz]

ehh... haha already have the oem one

[ksfrogman]

That thing is $445.00.

[canucklion]

that price is just silly

Originally Posted by ksfrogman

That thing is $445.00.

[ctgazer]

well, at least theres competition from oem now...prices are gonna drop soon.hopefully

[ScheerSpeed]

all i know is the OEM one doesnt do much for stiffening up the chassis

[KL2DC]

Originally Posted by ScheerSpeed

all i know is the OEM one doesnt do much for stiffening up the chassis

Don't be too sure, the strut bar does do something...

A poster had problems with dash creaks. His SA tried everything and the OEM strut bar was suggested and installed after which the problem was solved. So obviously the bar does offer some degree of strenghtening, enough to quell the poster's dash creak issue which, to me, sounds like chassis flex.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ghlight=creaks

I can imagine the more robust looking RD bar to exact even more effect on rigidity, but it looks like a PITA everytime you need to change or top up oil.

[nine4surfah]

$445?

[jjhan85]

why do the aftermarket ones cover the oil top?

[just4kickz]

i think its also suggested that you remove the oem one if your doing oil change... it doesnt get in the way as much as the RD one but it still does to some extent.

[KL2DC]

Originally Posted by just4kickz

i think its also suggested that you remove the oem one if your doing oil change... it doesnt get in the way as much as the RD one but it still does to some extent.

Not too sure about that either...I think the OEM bar is curved for that very reason (at the cost of maximum function/strength)

[ironic]

that's damn expensive, i'm sure the quality is good, but damn

i'll be waiting for a cf one

[HappyG]

Does that mean that anytime oil needs to be added, the strut must be removed by the dealer? I bet they'd charge an hour of labor for that..geez.
________
NEW JERSEY DISPENSARIES

[shragon]

for those of you not familiar with the background of racing dynamics. there's two: (1) racing dyamics based in italy (sometimes branded as "rd sport" in north america), and (2) racing dynamics based in the US (electrodyne) that at one time had a relationship with racing dynamics italy, but now sells their own manufactured products under the racing dynamics name, and a lot of times are direct copies of the real thing.

Warning to our U.S. and Canadian Customers.

Racing Dynamics S.p.A. of Milan, Italy is no longer supplying its products to Electrodyne, Inc. and Racing Dynamics Inc. These companies, both based in Alexandria, Virginia, registered the Racing Dynamics trademark in the U.S. and Canada, and are manufacturing many products that are 1:1 copies of our original designs (such as the Tornado AeroKits, GTR strut braces), as well as promoting the sale of such products on their web sites by using copyrighted images that they illegally downloaded off our site.

Furthermore, customers have consistently reported that personnel at these two companies misrepresent their affiliation with Racing Dynamics S.p.A., as they portray the whole Racing Dynamics group as being one entity, when, in fact, it is not.

They further their misrepresentation by listing their copied products using the same names and acronyms we created for our own original products, such as Tornado, RS2, GTR strut brace, and so on. These business practices are questionable at best, and are in blatant violation of generally accepted business ethics. They also show that these companies, and the individuals behind them, have no respect for the intellectual property of others, and they engage in what is tantamount to theft in order to make a profit. In order to better perpetrate their scam, these two companies and their cronies consistently represent to the inquiring customers that their products are a subset of the complete line manufactured in Europe by Racing Dynamics S.p.A., of Milan, Italy.

This situation has created a lot of confusion amongst BMW owners and our loyal customers alike, as most of them expect Racing Dynamics brand products to be only the ones manufactured by Racing Dynamics S.p.A. in Europe. They are instead being sold products that are either copies of our original designs, or were never developed by Racing Dynamics S.p.A. in the first place.

We apologize for this situation and wish to reiterate to the BMW community that:

any new product sold in the U.S. and Canada under the Racing Dynamics brand name, after January 1, 2003, is most likely NOT manufactured by Racing Dynamics S.p.A., therefore, no assurances can be given that it is an original Racing Dynamics S.p.A. product. If you are located in the U.S. and Canada, and intend to purchase the original tuning products from Racing Dynamics S.p.A., please insist with your retailer that you expect to receive and will only accept RDSport® brand products.

If you need any assistance in determining whether the product you intend to purchase is manufactured by Racing Dynamics S.p.A. or is a copy, or if you would like to receive a "blacklist" of dealers who are engaging in business transactions with these two companies, please email: genuineornot@racdyn.com or call us toll-free at (866) TO BUY RD.

the picture in the original post is from electrodyne.

[ksfrogman]

Originally Posted by just4kickz

i think its also suggested that you remove the oem one if your doing oil change... it doesnt get in the way as much as the RD one but it still does to some extent.

Right. As KL2DC has shown in his photo . . .

. . . the OEM accessory curves away from the oil cap. I have changed the oil without removing the strut bar. No problem. If you're worried about spilling oil on it, just use a funnel.

After looking at the different strut bars, I still like the OEM accessory the best in terms of looks and function. It's simple, light, and of good quality. However, as ADHD has pointed out, it apparently does not fit the 335i.

[TRICKE90]

You have to understand that it was machined on a c.n.c machining center out of solid billet aluminum, I am guessing out 6061-t6. The real reason it cost so much is because of all the cutouts in it (triangles) that takes more time. It also doesn't do a lot for stiffness compared to one that is solid. I am guessing they did this to save weight.

[Hunter399]

I have always like the Dinan Strut bar

I have the OEM and it looks so small and weak compaired to the Dinan one

[montreal_bimmer]

how much is the OEM one??

[Orb]

Given that the OEM bar and RD bar have similar section perimeter the modulus of the steel bar is 3x the aluminum so the OEM bar is going to be 3x stiffer. The only thing better is carbon fiber due to space limitations.

[NaTuReB0Y]

Originally Posted by ksfrogman

That thing is $445.00.

$350.....

type in "E90 Intro" at checkout if you're buying through their website

[SamBoler]

RD one looks better

Performance Aftermarket vs OEM