MyE28.com

I'm trying to put mine in and the holes aren't lining up. They're close, but not spot on. I've tried jacking the car up to see if it favourably reorients the strut bolts, to no avail. The bar is made by Sparco and I fear that it may be the problem.

TIA

I had the same problem with the one i got from BMP. I had jacked one side and still no workie. I got really flustered so i just put one side on fully then hit the orther end in as hard as possible with a rubber mallet. Sounds VERY unprofessional, which it is, and funny but it worked. I used the rubber mallet and a piece of wood as not to scuff up the bar. Installed weeks ago and its still fine and tight. Im sure no one does it like this and im sure i could get flammed for it but hey. IT WORKED

[QUOTE="Nick C."]I had the same problem with the one i got from BMP. I had jacked one side and still no workie. I got really flustered so i just put one side on fully then hit the orther end in as hard as possible with a rubber mallet. Sounds VERY unprofessional, which it is, and funny but it worked. I used the rubber mallet and a piece of wood as not to scuff up the bar. Installed weeks ago and its still fine and tight. Im sure no one does it like this and im sure i could get flammed for it but hey. IT WORKED [/QUOTE]

Sometimes you just need to "persuade" things with a BFH!

I remember seeing a lot of threads a while back about strut tower bars not fitting just right. A search on the old forum may be helpful.

when you say "jacking the car up" you mean jacking one corner up, right? My Ladue/Ireland strut brace wouldn't fit until I jacked one corner up (from jacking point under driver door) and then it fit like a glove. Has really improved the handling/turn-in too!

Is the bar a 3-pcs item? My BMP bar bought on sale several years ago has an adjustable (via an eccentric bushing) lenth center bar bolted to the strut adaptors. AIR, the bar on TCD's 535 as well on other members 5's also bolts to the adaptors. If your bar can be seperated from the strut adaptors, it certainly is much easier to align one bolt as opposed to six bolt holes where the plates sit on the strut towers.

If not, loosen the struts at the the tower (and the control arms) if needed to gain some play in the angle of the six strut locating studs and do like Booker did, get the Tim Allen hammer out !!!!

nope, it's the right length

I got my front one from Bavauto -- They sent me one for the e34 so I measured things up -- and took the bar to my drill press and drilled new holes. Fits like a charm now