Modified strut tower / wheel arch

[Turbo ///M3]

Gorilla asked for some pics of my modifided strut towers and wheel arches, but it may be interesting for others to, so I'll post the pics here.

The mod is done so I can run 19" wheels with a bit of rubber on them, and lower the car more than a stock chassi would allow.

The car can be lowered about 6,5cm more now than stock, and the wheel doesn't hit the chassi under full steer or full suspension travel. (approx 2,5cm / 1 inch)

It can be lowered 2cm more than on the wheel pic without any problems.

The strut tower is also reinforced with a 3mm plate at the top, since I run a very stiff coil over suspension.

[ADA///M]

if its just for looks...good work i guess

[JEDM3]

Man, you have some time in that project. I assume this is a track car, with v8 and hair dryer, should be most entertaining. My first thought looking at that was frankenfender!

[Bavarian3]

Just to start a fire; but why did you need to lower it more and run a 19" wheels?

[Gorilla]

Hi Turbo///M3,

Many thanks for posting the pictures they will assist greatly with the project car.

Seems you cut away as much of the 'chassis rail lip/return' and with leaving the Strut Tower in its original position 'lift' all the top square part of the inner arch up. I will require about 30-40 mm, as I will be running 18'' wheels.

I find it quite stange how sometimes people comment without understanding what they are looking at, or, what it was done to acheive.

Still its been a great help to me, for which I thank you.

Regards,

The Gorilla.

[JEDM3]

What suspension components are you using with this? It appears that the towers are much higher than oem. Thus changing the geometry. How about subframe and control arm mounts. Did you have a basis of design to work from or is it your own configuration?
Do you have assembled pics?

[Turbo ///M3]

First of all this is not been done just for the looks. Is not possible to run 19" with stock wheel arches without scrubbing all the time (with some lowering) And a stock car with 19" will be very high off the ground, and will not handle very well. They did the same ting to the arches on the late DTM M3 running 18".

I also need to cut off the front fenders to make place for the large wheels. (also done on DTM cars)

I have adjustable tubular control arms so the wheel will be centered in the wheel arch.

The strut tower is located in its org. posision and are the same hight, just stronger than oem.

I have designed the control arms my self and they are based on the oem arms, I just moved the wheels 2cm forward (adjustable)

The suspension is spesial ordered short advance design coilovers front and rear.

It's a track car with BMW V8 twin turbo....

I will have some more pics in a while.. my camera didn't like to be welded on.

[Dougy Fresh]

very impressive, sounds like your building a beast, im looking forward to some pics when shes all done.

[GodSpeed]

Originally posted by ADA///M
if its just for looks...good work i guess

[vodomagoo]

awsome work, just how much did you cut off toward the front ?

[Turbo ///M3]

Originally posted by vodomagoo
awsome work, just how much did you cut off toward the front ?

I don't understand what you mean..

[AlpineRunner]

I think he means how much did you have to cut the bumper.

This is very impressive work, especially to modify the bottom of the stut towers without changing the possition of the top of the towers. My only question is why did you feel you needed to run 19s? Wouldn't they just be adding to unsprung weight, increasing the overall rolling diameter which hurts turn-in in the front and gearing in the back? If you can get the width and short sidewall in a 17 or 18" wheel, why 19? I'm not trashing your project just curious. It looks like there is a lot of elbow-grease in that project.

[Reelizmpro]

Someone just installed 19's on their E30 M3 with some fat tires and lowered suspension with just Evo3 front fenders...not sure how bad it rubs if it does at all.

[JEDM3]

Originally posted by Reelizmpro
Someone just installed 19's on their E30 M3 with some fat tires and lowered suspension with just Evo3 front fenders...not sure how bad it rubs if it does at all.

Yes but as I recall, John(Germany) modified his inner fenders as well to achieve the full suspension travel clearance. This is only applicable for "real" hard driving as John stated.

[///Mflossin]

Originally posted by AlpineRunner
My only question is why did you feel you needed to run 19s? Wouldn't they just be adding to unsprung weight, increasing the overall rolling diameter which hurts turn-in in the front and gearing in the back? If you can get the width and short sidewall in a 17 or 18" wheel, why 19?

My sentiments exactly. You can't/shouldn't even mention 19" wheels and 'performance' in the same sentence.