Autopower Roll Bars/Cages -- Experience?

swartzentruber · 08-17-2011, 01:51 PM

After my recent track weekend, my instructor strongly recommended harnesses (a recommendation I'd heard earlier from others), so I'm planning to take that advice. That means installing a roll bar for attaching the harnesses. For the R32, just about the only non-custom option I'm aware of are the Autopower bars. A few people on my thread there expressed dislike for the Autopower bars, although the one person who had installed one in his R32 said fitment was decent, and overall seemed pretty happy. Since Autopower makes bars/cages for a variety of cars, and this forum is fairly heavily trafficked (compared to many track forums), so I thought I'd open it up here to see if anyone had direct experience (positive/negative) with their bars and/or cages. I could still possibly go the custom route if I have to, but would prefer sticking with prebuilt if I can.

http://www.autopowerindustries.com/rollbars.asp

Rapture · 08-17-2011, 02:13 PM

FWIW, most AutoPower roll bars/cages are NOT NHRA/IHRA/SCCA/NASA/etc approved. For what they charge after shipping you could have a basic spec cage built. I had to go through this with my Cobra after buying the AutoPower cage and installing and having NHRA deem it unsafe due to poor weld penetration and inconsistent metal thickness throughout the tubing.

TL;DR - AutoPower stuff is all show no go

mkPOTO · 08-17-2011, 02:20 PM

contact VS Motorsports, they have a half cage and I am certain if you need it to meet regulations they can do it

VSmotorsports · 08-17-2011, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swartzentruber

After my recent track weekend, my instructor strongly recommended harnesses (a recommendation I'd heard earlier from others), so I'm planning to take that advice. That means installing a roll bar for attaching the harnesses. For the R32, just about the only non-custom option I'm aware of are the Autopower bars. A few people on my thread there expressed dislike for the Autopower bars, although the one person who had installed one in his R32 said fitment was decent, and overall seemed pretty happy. Since Autopower makes bars/cages for a variety of cars, and this forum is fairly heavily trafficked (compared to many track forums), so I thought I'd open it up here to see if anyone had direct experience (positive/negative) with their bars and/or cages. I could still possibly go the custom route if I have to, but would prefer sticking with prebuilt if I can.

http://www.autopowerindustries.com/rollbars.asp

We can help you out with building a roll cage. If you want to stop by our shop in Buffalo Grove we can talk more about what your looking to do. We have tons of experience with racing and tracking BMW's.

stega · 08-17-2011, 03:14 PM

My Autopower Race Roll bar just arrived today and my Recaro buckets are on the way...

I am doing this on my E93 M3...
So a bit different from an e90/2. I will post up the build as it happens.

LateBraking · 08-17-2011, 03:19 PM

I have one (in my dreams) and I like it well enough....

mkPOTO · 08-17-2011, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LateBraking

I have one and I like it well enough....

what dont you have lol

LateBraking · 08-17-2011, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkPOTO

what dont you have lol

Aero?

No more suprises after this, I'm done.

No, really. People are telling me that it's never over, but seriously....

BTW, when I said I have one and I like it well enough, I meant that I was dreaming. Of course, I then woke up and realized that my car is 100% stock....

stega · 08-17-2011, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LateBraking

Aero?

No more suprises after this, I'm done.

No, really. People are telling me that it's never over, but seriously....

Can you get me a bunch of pics of the cage installed???

I would really appreciate it and it would help me out a lot...

LateBraking · 08-17-2011, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stega

Can you get me a bunch of pics of the cage installed???

I would really appreciate it and it would help me out a lot...

Well, in my very vivid and realistic dream, my car is currently in the shop having warranty work done on the suspension, but I get it back at the end of this week, so after that, just let me know and I'll take whatever pictures you want.

And then I woke up.

stega · 08-17-2011, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LateBraking

Well, in my very vivid and realistic dream, my car is currently in the shop having warranty work done on the suspension, but I get it back at the end of this week, so after that, just let me know and I'll take whatever pictures you want.

And then I woke up.

Right... Gotcha

I think?

So your working w/ Platte Forme on all this?

LateBraking · 08-17-2011, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stega

Right... Gotcha

I think?

So your working w/ Platte Forme on all this?

?

lol The dream stuff is just in line with my "Things I DON'T Have" "joke" in my sig. And yeah, my car is primarily at Platte Form a.g. for all work done to it. Very busy people but I've known them for a while so they always go out of their way to make time for me and get stuff done. That, and I've always been happy with the quality of the labor that they put into the car.

tom @ eas · 08-17-2011, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LateBraking

I have one (in my dreams) and I like it well enough....

What is the distance from the top hoop from the headliner on your harness bar?

LateBraking · 08-17-2011, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom @ eas

What is the distance from the top hoop from the headliner on your harness bar?

That's a good question, I never measured it myself.

Is convertible roof height different than E92 one?

stega · 08-17-2011, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LateBraking

?

lol The dream stuff is just in line with my "Things I DON'T Have" "joke" in my sig. And yeah, my car is primarily at Platte Form a.g. for all work done to it. Very busy people but I've known them for a while so they always go out of their way to make time for me and get stuff done. That, and I've always been happy with the quality of the labor that they put into the car.

K cool. Thanks.

@Tom there is a good bit of space there it seems... I based my purchase of the bar on pictures like these and measurements from E92-E93. (no one has done this on an E93 before)

As the E93 has a lower headliner by a bit less than an inch.

LateBraking · 08-17-2011, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stega

K cool. Thanks.

@Tom there is a good bit of space there it seems... I based my purchase of the bar on pictures like these and measurements from E92-E93.

As the E93 has a lower headliner by a bit less than an inch.

lol There's the answer. I never knew that.

stega · 08-17-2011, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LateBraking

lol There's the answer. I never knew that.

Well its not the answer... I am just saying there is at least an inch or 2 there on the coupe.

LateBraking · 08-17-2011, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stega

Well its not the answer... I am just saying there is at least an inch or 2 there on the coupe.

Haha, I meant to the question that I asked Tom regarding if there's any difference at all.

tom @ eas · 08-17-2011, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LateBraking

That's a good question, I never measured it myself.

Is convertible roof height different than E92 one?

No, but it appears you have a sunroof-equipped bar rather than non-sunroof in your M3.

There's a good ~2" difference between head clearance between the two.

Quote:

Originally Posted by stega

K cool. Thanks.

@Tom there is a good bit of space there it seems... I based my purchase of the bar on pictures like these and measurements from E92-E93. (no one has done this on an E93 before)

As the E93 has a lower headliner by a bit less than an inch.

Edit: Seems stega beat me to it!

stega · 08-17-2011, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LateBraking

Haha, I meant to the question that I asked Tom regarding if there's any difference at all.

Ah ok yhea...

I will post all my details as the install happens as I am sure some people would find this info useful... I know I was and there was little to no info on DIY cage installs.

stega · 08-17-2011, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom @ eas

No, but it appears you have a sunroof-equipped bar rather than non-sunroof in your M3.

There's a good ~2" difference between head clearance between the two.

Edit: Seems stega beat me to it!

Not so sure on this.... I called Autopower when I ordered the cage and asked this exact question.
"is the sunroof bar any lower than the non-sunroof bar??" Because he asked if I had a sunroof.

He said no and that they have the option like that because for some cars the measurements of the bar are different. But for the E92 he said there is no difference.

Perhaps you have seen both variations in person for the E92 Tom???

stega · 08-17-2011, 04:44 PM

Ok just measured the bar I have at home and the Autopower bar is about 43'' tall.
So using these measurements the bar in the E92 is about 2 1/2'' from the headliner.

Roof Line:
E92: 44"
E93: 44 1/2

Center of back seat floor, straight up
E92: 45 1/2
E93: 45

Up from floor board near door
E92: 42
E93 42

Seam from rear seat up
36"

08-17-2011, 01:51 PM	#1
swartzentruber Captain 30 Rep 742 Posts Drives: 2011 E90 M3 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Chicago NW suburbs, IL iTrader: (0)	Autopower Roll Bars/Cages -- Experience? After my recent track weekend, my instructor strongly recommended harnesses (a recommendation I'd heard earlier from others), so I'm planning to take that advice. That means installing a roll bar for attaching the harnesses. For the R32, just about the only non-custom option I'm aware of are the Autopower bars. A few people on my thread there expressed dislike for the Autopower bars, although the one person who had installed one in his R32 said fitment was decent, and overall seemed pretty happy. Since Autopower makes bars/cages for a variety of cars, and this forum is fairly heavily trafficked (compared to many track forums), so I thought I'd open it up here to see if anyone had direct experience (positive/negative) with their bars and/or cages. I could still possibly go the custom route if I have to, but would prefer sticking with prebuilt if I can. http://www.autopowerindustries.com/rollbars.asp __________________ 2011 Jerez Black/Fox Red E90 M3 DCT, ZCP, ZCV, ZCW, ZP2, BMW Apps 2015 Golf R
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08-17-2011, 02:13 PM	#2
Rapture I'm suckin gas but I'm haulin ass 57 Rep 783 Posts Drives: 2016 M3 ZCP MW/SO Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: OC, CA iTrader: (18)	FWIW, most AutoPower roll bars/cages are NOT NHRA/IHRA/SCCA/NASA/etc approved. For what they charge after shipping you could have a basic spec cage built. I had to go through this with my Cobra after buying the AutoPower cage and installing and having NHRA deem it unsafe due to poor weld penetration and inconsistent metal thickness throughout the tubing. TL;DR - AutoPower stuff is all show no go
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08-17-2011, 02:20 PM	#3
mkPOTO Mr. Nice Says Hello 636 Rep 16,662 Posts Drives: BMW M3 \| X5 xdrive 35i MSport Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: USA iTrader: (25) Garage List 2002 Lexus GS300 [0.00] 2008 BMW E92 M3 [5.58]	contact VS Motorsports, they have a half cage and I am certain if you need it to meet regulations they can do it
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08-17-2011, 03:14 PM	#5
stega Captain 28 Rep 666 Posts Drives: 2011 M3 E93 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Boca Raton, FL iTrader: (3)	My Autopower Race Roll bar just arrived today and my Recaro buckets are on the way... I am doing this on my E93 M3... So a bit different from an e90/2. I will post up the build as it happens.
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08-17-2011, 03:19 PM	#6
LateBraking Brigadier General 324 Rep 3,882 Posts Drives: Relatively Quick. Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: U.S.A. iTrader: (27)	I have one (in my dreams) and I like it well enough.... Last edited by LateBraking; 08-17-2011 at 03:28 PM..
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08-17-2011, 04:44 PM	#22
stega Captain 28 Rep 666 Posts Drives: 2011 M3 E93 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Boca Raton, FL iTrader: (3)	Ok just measured the bar I have at home and the Autopower bar is about 43'' tall. So using these measurements the bar in the E92 is about 2 1/2'' from the headliner. Roof Line: E92: 44" E93: 44 1/2 Center of back seat floor, straight up E92: 45 1/2 E93: 45 Up from floor board near door E92: 42 E93 42 Seam from rear seat up 36"
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