Broke Stud for Strut Bar

pyo · 06-08-2023, 05:32 PM

Hey, all. Looking to get some advice here. Was putting everything back after installing the BMS Intake and broke a stud while tightening down the strut bar. I was using a torque wrench at 30 Nm / 22 ft-lbs... FML

Can the stud be removed and a new one inserted? Or, do I need to get a new guide support? I believe this is the 51-61-8-075-318

I assume I should take it easy driving until I get this fixed, even though the bar does not feel loose...

goldfz8 · 06-09-2023, 07:49 PM

you could not fix it...I removed my bar

rmnoonan · 06-10-2023, 08:20 AM

Same boat, what was your solution? Thanks!

Vervish · 06-10-2023, 08:32 AM

I think the part you need is actually for sale in the members sale section.

Support mounting brackets - 51618075317 (left) / 51618075318 (right)

rmnoonan · 06-10-2023, 08:50 AM

Thanks for the heads up, doesn't look like that person is parting out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vervish

I think the part you need is actually for sale in the members sale section.

Support mounting brackets - 51618075317 (left) / 51618075318 (right)

pyo · 06-13-2023, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmnoonan

Same boat, what was your solution? Thanks!

Spoke with a local shop + BMW dealer and the stud itself is not repairable. I ordered a new support plate (passenger side) and should have it soon. My go to modification technician said should be able to replace without messing with the alignment.

rmnoonan · 06-13-2023, 10:56 AM

Yeah I just ordered one too, dealer said only one in country is in Dallas lol. We’re probably fighting for the same part. Will be ordered from Germany if not. I’m gonna try to do it myself….

Quote:

Originally Posted by pyo

Spoke with a local shop + BMW dealer and the stud itself is not repairable. I ordered a new support plate (passenger side) and should have it soon. My go to modification technician said should be able to replace without messing with the alignment.

pyo · 06-13-2023, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmnoonan

Yeah I just ordered one too, dealer said only one in country is in Dallas lol. We’re probably fighting for the same part. Will be ordered from Germany if not. I’m gonna try to do it myself….

haha, when did you order yours? I ordered 51-61-8-075-318 (passenger) on Fri morning (6/9).

Good luck, it should be straight forward but I am not going to chance it. This was my 3rd time removing/installing the strut bar (installed Dinan Engine Cover and swapped for CF Strut bar myself) and I snapped the stud...It was the 4th (last) bolt I was torqueing down to finish up BMS Intake install...

Dawgz · 06-13-2023, 01:14 PM

No need to torque that bolt down that far. Just a little past snug is sufficient.

spta97 · 06-13-2023, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dawgz

No need to torque that bolt down that far. Just a little past snug is sufficient.

As this is not the first I have heard of one of these snapping, it appears BMW did not use a strong enough bolt.

The torque spec should be way below the breaking point.

rmnoonan · 06-13-2023, 05:35 PM

Mine is driver side. Yeah I was wrapping up spark plugs and oil change. Doh! Good luck. Let me know when you get yours, I didn’t go through dealer so I’m sure I’ll be waiting longer I’m sure…

Quote:

Originally Posted by pyo

haha, when did you order yours? I ordered 51-61-8-075-318 (passenger) on Fri morning (6/9).

Good luck, it should be straight forward but I am not going to chance it. This was my 3rd time removing/installing the strut bar (installed Dinan Engine Cover and swapped for CF Strut bar myself) and I snapped the stud...It was the 4th (last) bolt I was torqueing down to finish up BMS Intake install...

FLX4M · 06-13-2023, 06:13 PM

Exact same thing happened to me. Tq wrench...SNAP. Brutal. Dealer fixed mine. Was like $400. I chalked it up to a learning moment. I didn't want to leave it as is. My .02

rmnoonan · 06-13-2023, 06:18 PM

My part is shipping now, was like $125 part. Will see how hard to fix myself, expecting to be simple.

robopp · 06-14-2023, 07:26 AM

So what’s the recommendation for torquing these bolts down? BMW TIS calls for 30NM, which broke the bolt according to the OP

JB20DGM · 06-14-2023, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robopp

So what’s the recommendation for torquing these bolts down? BMW TIS calls for 30NM, which broke the bolt according to the OP

I would also like to know...it's a decent sized stud so I'm surprised it would be breaking at only 30nm.

rmnoonan · 06-16-2023, 06:01 PM

For those in the future, this is an easy easy fix. The plate doesn’t interact with suspension at all, took me 10m to replace. It’s a $125 part but don’t pay the dealer to fix it, sooo simple.

spta97 · 06-16-2023, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmnoonan

For those in the future, this is an easy easy fix. The plate doesn’t interact with suspension at all, took me 10m to replace. It’s a $125 part but don’t pay the dealer to fix it, sooo simple.

Thanks for the info. I don’t plan to remove mine anytime soon but good to know.

So if a torque wrench will snap it, is it just snug and that’s it? Loctite?

On my gfs Supra (built by BMW, basically a Z4) they have a yellow Loctite which is very strong. I forgot the torque rating but it was pretty high.

rmnoonan · 06-16-2023, 07:44 PM

I just snuggled it down tight, maybe three finger tight? Haha. Just snug then a little bit more. I’ll check the bar later for looseness. I don’t think it. Has to be very tight.

spta97 · 06-20-2023, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmnoonan

I just snuggled it down tight, maybe three finger tight? Haha. Just snug then a little bit more. I’ll check the bar later for looseness. I don’t think it. Has to be very tight.

Hmmm...a part like this will have a lot of stress on it. I would imagine the torque spec is for a reason. Annoying to say the least.

3 finger tight - I understand that measurement

pyo · 06-20-2023, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmnoonan

For those in the future, this is an easy easy fix. The plate doesn’t interact with suspension at all, took me 10m to replace. It’s a $125 part but don’t pay the dealer to fix it, sooo simple.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmnoonan

I just snuggled it down tight, maybe three finger tight? Haha. Just snug then a little bit more. I’ll check the bar later for looseness. I don’t think it. Has to be very tight.

Replaced mine on Sunday too. Straight forward replacement. I was extra careful tightening everything this time. Finger tight, then 3 finger tight, then torque with 20ft lbs as good measure, and making sure full socket engagement at 90 degrees.

JaCole9 · 05-24-2024, 03:05 PM

Just did this to mine after putting in some drop in filters.

Is this the suspension top hat, ie take off wheels and suspension or can you just remove the 3 bolts and slap the new support on?

pyo · 05-24-2024, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JaCole9

Just did this to mine after putting in some drop in filters.

Is this the suspension top hat, ie take off wheels and suspension or can you just remove the 3 bolts and slap the new support on?

Just remove 3 bolts and put on the new support. It's separate from the top hat.

06-08-2023, 05:32 PM	#1
pyo Lieutenant 595 Rep 559 Posts Drives: 2022 X3MC Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Fairfax, VA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2022 BMW X3M Compet ... [7.13]	Broke Stud for Strut Bar Hey, all. Looking to get some advice here. Was putting everything back after installing the BMS Intake and broke a stud while tightening down the strut bar. I was using a torque wrench at 30 Nm / 22 ft-lbs... FML Can the stud be removed and a new one inserted? Or, do I need to get a new guide support? I believe this is the 51-61-8-075-318 I assume I should take it easy driving until I get this fixed, even though the bar does not feel loose... Attached Images __________________ '00 328i // Sold '04 Z4 3.0i // Sold '22 X3MC LCI Last edited by pyo; 06-08-2023 at 06:28 PM.. Reason: Correct Part #
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06-09-2023, 07:49 PM	#2
goldfz8 First Lieutenant 387 Rep 372 Posts Drives: 08 Bmw 135 Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	you could not fix it...I removed my bar __________________ 2022 BMW X3M - 11.604 @117.96 Gone But not forgotten 2008 BMW 135 - 10.9 @ 131 2016 BMW X6
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06-10-2023, 08:20 AM	#3
rmnoonan Private First Class 23 Rep 189 Posts Drives: F30 328I (July '12 ED) Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Chicagoland iTrader: (0)	Same boat, what was your solution? Thanks!
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06-10-2023, 08:32 AM	#4
Vervish Private First Class 157 Rep 122 Posts Drives: 2020 X3M Competition Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	I think the part you need is actually for sale in the members sale section. Support mounting brackets - 51618075317 (left) / 51618075318 (right)
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06-13-2023, 01:14 PM	#9
Dawgz 2022 M4 Comp Xdrive 1057 Rep 1,565 Posts Drives: 2022 M4 Comp Xdrive Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	No need to torque that bolt down that far. Just a little past snug is sufficient.
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06-13-2023, 06:13 PM	#12
FLX4M Private 78 Rep 88 Posts Drives: BMW X4 M Comp, F30 335i xDrive Join Date: Dec 2022 Location: FL Beaches iTrader: (0)	Exact same thing happened to me. Tq wrench...SNAP. Brutal. Dealer fixed mine. Was like $400. I chalked it up to a learning moment. I didn't want to leave it as is. My .02
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06-13-2023, 06:18 PM	#13
rmnoonan Private First Class 23 Rep 189 Posts Drives: F30 328I (July '12 ED) Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Chicagoland iTrader: (0)	My part is shipping now, was like $125 part. Will see how hard to fix myself, expecting to be simple. Last edited by rmnoonan; 06-13-2023 at 06:54 PM..
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06-14-2023, 07:26 AM	#14
robopp Lieutenant Colonel 2025 Rep 1,530 Posts Drives: 2020 X3MC Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: MA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 BMW X3MC [6.00] 2023 Porsche 911 Ca ... [7.62]	So what’s the recommendation for torquing these bolts down? BMW TIS calls for 30NM, which broke the bolt according to the OP
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06-16-2023, 06:01 PM	#16
rmnoonan Private First Class 23 Rep 189 Posts Drives: F30 328I (July '12 ED) Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Chicagoland iTrader: (0)	For those in the future, this is an easy easy fix. The plate doesn’t interact with suspension at all, took me 10m to replace. It’s a $125 part but don’t pay the dealer to fix it, sooo simple.
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06-16-2023, 07:44 PM	#18
rmnoonan Private First Class 23 Rep 189 Posts Drives: F30 328I (July '12 ED) Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Chicagoland iTrader: (0)	I just snuggled it down tight, maybe three finger tight? Haha. Just snug then a little bit more. I’ll check the bar later for looseness. I don’t think it. Has to be very tight.
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05-24-2024, 03:05 PM	#21
JaCole9 New Member 34 Rep 34 Posts Drives: BMW X3M Join Date: Sep 2023 Location: Wisconsin iTrader: (0)	Just did this to mine after putting in some drop in filters. Is this the suspension top hat, ie take off wheels and suspension or can you just remove the 3 bolts and slap the new support on?
	Appreciate 0 Quote