The Best BMW Z4 Strut Brace: Front & Rear

Sports cars are designed to be razor-sharp, with responsive handling, taut body control and instant reaction to driver inputs. Having that agility and speed through the corners makes for an exciting and engaging drive. These fundamentals are something BMW’s engineers no doubt strived for when creating the Z4. Unfortunately, there are limitations of a car with no roof, chief among which is a drastic lack of structural strength.

Stiffening a car’s structure will help minimise body roll and make for a predictable handling vehicle, with quick-witted reactions. This leads to extra enjoyment and performance on any road. Strut braces are, without doubt, the simplest and one of the most cost-effective ways to stiffen any cars steering and body roll. While most effective on convertible models, strut braces are also mightily effective on coupe Z4’s too.

Such a small outlay and super easy to fit. Strut braces are one of the first modifications most owners will turn to, in the pursuit of handling prowess and driving joy. There are no real downsides and, if painted to protect from the elements, will likely outlive whatever vehicle it’s bolted to.

Types of Strut Brace

While essentially performing the same task, strut braces are specific to the front and rear of the vehicle. Front strut braces, generally found within the engine bay, join the front two strut towers, while the rear strut brace, often found inside the boot area, joins the two rears. Both are installed in remarkably similar fashions and generally constructed using the same methods.

Fundamentally a front and rear strut brace work in the same way, increasing stiffness and improving handling characteristics. The effect depends on a great variety of factors mentioned below. A front brace will, in general, help increase the predictability of the handling by dialling out unwanted oversteer. A rear strut brace, on the other hand, will increase stiffness across the rear, generally reducing understeer and give sharper turn-in characteristics.

While similar to strut braces, sway bars that connect the suspension units under the vehicle are installed differently, have different effects on vehicle characteristics and hence are not covered in this article.

Things to Consider Before Purchasing

Vehicle Fitment

As with any parts that fit between to suspension mounting points, strut braces need to be picked for the exact model to stand a chance of fitting correctly and stiffening the vehicle. Use the subheading below to find the correct parts for each specific Z4 model.

Strut Brace Material

Material choice is the big differentiator between different strut brace offerings. Steel items promise great strength but will likely carry more weight and can suffer from corrosion. Aluminium is also a common material used to create strut bars, while not always offering the largest increase in torsional rigidity, they are lightweight without being overly expensive.

Exotic materials such as carbon fibre have also started being used for strut braces in recent years. Due to the labour-intensive manufacturing process and high material cost, these braces will likely be the most expensive variants available. Carbon fibre strut bars, however, provide not only lightweight construction but also great strength and are resistant to corrosion unlike metal parts.

The Best BMW Z4 E85/E86 (2002-2008) Braces on the Market

Front Strut Braces

Wiechers Steel Front Strut Bar 061034

Check the latest price on eBay

Wiechers are relatively unique in the automotive parts segment, being both a racing team and parts manufacturer under the same name. Ever since their beginnings over 50 years ago, the brand, based in Germany, have been striving to produce the highest quality roll cages, suspension components and safety equipment for both road and track applications. Their extensive knowledge, gained from decades on the racetrack gives them the perfect foundations to design and test high-quality strut braces to improve the handling of performance road vehicles.

Entering at the budget end of the market, Wiechers offers their entry-level strut brace constructed from steel. Simply bolting onto the two front strut towers, the brace is designed to strengthen the connection between left and right suspension units to create a more responsive and tighter handling vehicle. The extra rigidity may bring some level of increased NVH but does so with a drastic increase in performance and enjoyment for the driver.

All modifications sold by Wiechers are held to highly controlled quality standards. This steel brace is coated in a red finish to protect from the elements and particularly nasty winters we experience here in the UK.

Part reference: 061034
Material: Steel
Fitment: Front strut towers

Pros:

• Least expensive E85/E86 front strut bar featured
• Improves the vehicles structural rigidity
• Increases steering responsiveness and agility
• Simple to install

Cons:

• Heavier than aluminium alternative

Wiechers Aluminium Front Strut Bar 06703

Check the latest price on eBay

For those that are more invested in keeping their vehicle lightweight or who may have concerns over steel corrosion, Wiechers also offers their E85/E86 front strut brace in aluminium. This brings a significant reduction in weight but, still offers the increase in suspension rigidity to improve the responsiveness of the steering and benefit overall performance. These extra benefits though, do come at the expense of an increased purchase price.

As with the steel option, this aluminium strut brace is coated, for that extra layer of protection against the elements and to maintain maximum engine bay appeal.

Part reference: 06703
Material: Aluminium
Fitment: Front strut towers

Pros:

• Lighter than steel strut braces
• Provides increase in steering responsiveness
• Better handling and increased driver enjoyment
• Simple to install

Cons:

• More expensive than steel alternative

The Best BMW Z4M (2006-2008) on the Market

Front Strut Braces

Wiechers Steel Front Strut Brace 061035

Check the latest price on eBay

Wiechers are relatively unique in the automotive parts segment, being both a racing team and parts manufacturer under the same name. Ever since their beginnings over 50 years ago, the brand, based in Germany, have been striving to produce the highest quality roll cages, suspension components and safety equipment for both road and track applications. Their extensive knowledge, gained from decades on the racetrack gives them the perfect foundations to design and test high-quality strut braces to improve the handling of performance road vehicles.

Entering at the budget end of the market, Wiechers offers their entry-level strut brace constructed from steel. Simply bolting onto the two front strut towers, the brace is designed to strengthen the connection between left and right suspension units to create a more responsive and tighter handling vehicle. The extra rigidity may bring some level of increased NVH but does so with a drastic increase in performance and enjoyment for the driver.

All modifications sold by Wiechers are held to highly controlled quality standards. This steel brace is coated in a red finish to protect from the elements and particularly nasty winters we experience here in the UK.

Part reference: 061035
Material: Steel
Fitment: Front strut towers

Pros:

• Least expensive Z4M front strut bar featured
• Improves the vehicles structural rigidity
• Increases steering responsiveness and agility
• Simple to install

Cons:

• Heavier than aluminium alternative

Wiechers Aluminium Front Strut Brace 06703

Check the latest price on eBay

For those that are more invested in keeping their vehicle lightweight or who may have concerns over steel corrosion, Wiechers also offers their Z4M front strut brace in aluminium. This brings a significant reduction in weight but, still offers the increase in suspension rigidity to improve the responsiveness of the steering and benefit overall performance. These extra benefits though, do come at the expense of an increased purchase price.

As with the steel option, this aluminium strut brace is coated, for that extra layer of protection against the elements and to maintain maximum engine bay appeal.

Part reference: 06703
Material: Aluminium
Fitment: Front strut towers

Pros:

• Lighter than steel strut braces
• Provides increase in steering responsiveness
• Better handling and increased driver enjoyment
• Simple to install

Cons:

• More expensive than steel alternative

The Best BMW Z4 E86/Z4M Coupe (2006-2008) on the Market

Rear Strut Braces

Wiechers Steel Rear Strut Bar 065012

Check the latest price on eBay

Wiechers are relatively unique in the automotive parts segment, being both a racing team and parts manufacturer under the same name. Ever since their beginnings over 50 years ago, the brand, based in Germany, have been striving to produce the highest quality roll cages, suspension components and safety equipment for both road and track applications. Their extensive knowledge, gained from decades on the racetrack gives them the perfect foundations to design and test high-quality strut braces to improve the handling of performance road vehicles.

Alongside their front strut braces, Wiechers also offers rear units for the E86 and Z4M coupe models. Simply bolting onto the two rear strut towers, the brace is designed to strengthen the connection between left and right suspension units to create a more responsive and tighter handling vehicle. The extra rigidity may bring some level of increased NVH but does so with a drastic increase in performance and enjoyment for the driver.

All modifications sold by Wiechers are held to highly controlled quality standards. This steel brace is coated in a red finish to protect from the elements and particularly nasty winters we experience here in the UK.

Part reference: 065012
Material: Steel
Fitment: Rear strut towers

Pros:

• Least expensive E86Z4M coupe rear strut bar featured
• Improves the vehicles structural rigidity
• Increases steering responsiveness and agility
• Simple to install

Cons:

• Heavier than aluminium alternative

Wiechers Aluminium Rear Strut Bar 066012

Check the latest price on eBay

For those that are more invested in keeping their vehicle lightweight or who may have concerns over steel corrosion, Wiechers also offers their E86/Z4M coupe rear strut brace in aluminium. This brings a significant reduction in weight but, still offers the increase in suspension rigidity to improve the responsiveness of the steering and benefit overall performance. These extra benefits though, do come at the expense of an increased purchase price.

As with the steel option, this aluminium strut brace is coated, for that extra layer of protection against the elements and to maintain maximum engine bay appeal.

Part reference: 066012
Material: Aluminium
Fitment: Rear strut towers

Pros:

• Lighter than steel strut braces
• Provides increase in steering responsiveness
• Better handling and increased driver enjoyment
• Simple to install

Cons:

• More expensive than steel alternative

The Best BMW Z4 E89 (2009-2016) on the Market

Front Strut Braces

Wiechers Steel Front Strut Brace 061040

Check the latest price on eBay

Wiechers are relatively unique in the automotive parts segment, being both a racing team and parts manufacturer under the same name. Ever since their beginnings over 50 years ago, the brand, based in Germany, have been striving to produce the highest quality roll cages, suspension components and safety equipment for both road and track applications. Their extensive knowledge, gained from decades on the racetrack gives them the perfect foundations to design and test high-quality strut braces to improve the handling of performance road vehicles.

Entering at the budget end of the market, Wiechers offers their entry-level strut brace constructed from steel. Simply bolting onto the two front strut towers, the brace is designed to strengthen the connection between left and right suspension units to create a more responsive and tighter handling vehicle. The extra rigidity may bring some level of increased NVH but does so with a drastic increase in performance and enjoyment for the driver.

All modifications sold by Wiechers are held to highly controlled quality standards. This steel brace is coated in a red finish to protect from the elements and particularly nasty winters we experience here in the UK.

Part reference: 061040
Material: Steel
Fitment: Front Strut Towers

Pros:

• Least expensive E89 front strut bar featured
• Improves the vehicles structural rigidity
• Increases steering responsiveness and agility
• Simple to install

Cons:

• Heavier than aluminium alternative

Wiechers Aluminium Front Strut Brace 06704

Check the latest price on eBay

For those that are more invested in keeping their vehicle lightweight or who may have concerns over steel corrosion, Wiechers also offers their E89 front strut brace in aluminium. This brings a significant reduction in weight but, still offers the increase in suspension rigidity to improve the responsiveness of the steering and benefit overall performance. These extra benefits though, do come at the expense of an increased purchase price.

As with the steel option, this aluminium strut brace is coated, for that extra layer of protection against the elements and to maintain maximum engine bay appeal.

Part reference: 06704
Material: Aluminium
Fitment: Front strut towers

Pros:

• Lighter than steel strut braces
• Provides increase in steering responsiveness
• Better handling and increased driver enjoyment
• Simple to install

Cons:

• More expensive than steel alternative

In Conclusion

The easiest suspension modification possible for any vehicle. Strut braces offer a myriad of positives with little to no downsides. The BMW Z4 was always designed to handle well and steer positively, strut braces give the option to further enhance this and really dial your vehicle in for that optimum driving experience.

Strut braces don’t take much experience or time to install, providing the right parts are chosen. These components require absolutely no additional maintenance and can simply be removed and sold on when selling the vehicle to recoup most of the purchase price. Better handling, stiffer structure and minimal outlay, this could be the sports car modifiers ultimate budget modification…

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