New Mod Installed…something different from the usual around here >>>

dj_dub · 06-05-2014, 01:04 AM

I've always wanted Dinan CF Strut Braces, and recently I was able to pick up a set for a good price from Dinan directly. I couldn't wait to install them, but I wanted to add a little twist, my own personal touch to these. Came up with an idea that I've never seen anyone do in the E9X M3 community.

I've always liked the look of Red Painted Strut Tower Rings…gives that nice Motorsport look to the engine bay.

Well, I picked up a spare set of OEM Strut Tower Rings, painted them Red myself, and completed the install. Very pleased with the outcome…glad I was right. It looks great!

IMG_5234aa by dj_dub, on Flickr

The install and painting the rings myself was very easy. Total time with painting to complete this install was around 3 hours. Well worth the time and money for the outcome at the end IMO. Enjoy the pics of the guide below!

The OEM Strut Tower Rings…one comes in a plastic bag and one comes in a box, weird. lol
The Part Numbers for your reference are:
LEFT: 51618055091
RIGHT: 51618055092

IMG_5122a by dj_dub, on Flickr

Grabbed a few sheets of different grits of sandpaper and began to prep the rings. Tried to get it as smooth as possible and remove the texture.

IMG_5126a by dj_dub, on Flickr

Figured I would paint these myself because I can't justify paying a shop a crazy amount to do the work when I can do this myself. Decided on this color…it's as close as the color red I was looking for.

IMG_5141a by dj_dub, on Flickr

Painted the rings in my backyard on a non-windy warm afternoon…hey it worked. lol

IMG_5144a by dj_dub, on Flickr

Here's how they came out after 4 coats…not bad for a rattlecan job if I say so myself! (The black parts around the threads are from the tape and the black square lets me know which ring is which. Those black areas won't be seen in the end.)

IMG_5164a by dj_dub, on Flickr

Those with EDC, you'll need to remove this cap and wire. Squeeze the dust cap and pull up gently, then pull the wire inside straight up slowly to unplug it. Be careful with this step not to break the 2 small wire plug…unless you wanna buy a new set. lol

IMG_5175a by dj_dub, on Flickr

IMG_5180a by dj_dub, on Flickr

Remove both Microfilter Housings and you can begin removing the strut braces and strut rings.

IMG_5179a by dj_dub, on Flickr

Here's one ring installed…not yet torqued down.

IMG_5184a by dj_dub, on Flickr

Passenger side completed. A pic for comparison to the stock side…

IMG_5187a by dj_dub, on Flickr

Close-up pic. You can see a little paint came up around one nut after torquing them down…will spot paint that later to fix.

IMG_5190a by dj_dub, on Flickr

Both sides installed…

IMG_5193a by dj_dub, on Flickr

IMG_5203a by dj_dub, on Flickr

Reinstall the Microfilter Housings and replug the EDC wires carefully…and you're done. The engine bay looks so much better with this little mod. Adds that nice little bit of contrast to break up all that black.

IMG_5213a by dj_dub, on Flickr

A few "beauty shots" I took after the install…

IMG_5219aa by dj_dub, on Flickr

IMG_5238aa by dj_dub, on Flickr

IMG_5251aa by dj_dub, on Flickr

FogCityM3 · 06-05-2014, 01:09 AM

Wow, great idea and nice job! Looks awesome.

PerfM5 · 06-05-2014, 01:19 AM

looks great!!

meza0531 · 06-05-2014, 01:22 AM

I Really like it, may even consider doing the same. Good post, and thanks for sharing!

OOO · 06-05-2014, 01:23 AM

Looks awesome!

Flea7 · 06-05-2014, 01:38 AM

Love it! Great Job and imagination!

schlichtm3 · 06-05-2014, 04:13 AM

looks great -

is "dinan" a sticker an can be removed? for a very clean carbon look.

AlpineE92M3 · 06-05-2014, 07:33 AM

That does look really awesome! I think I might do the same, but in white. Thanks for the idea!

JEllis · 06-05-2014, 07:55 AM

I like it

BMWDEMON · 06-05-2014, 08:05 AM

awesomeness! Great job

WCM3 · 06-05-2014, 08:10 AM

Great work! Looks really nice.

B8bydesign · 06-05-2014, 08:19 AM

Looks really good man, love the color it brings to the engine bay. Nice job!

thetastelingers · 06-05-2014, 08:20 AM

You could have just painted the stock hats and got the stock bars hydro-dipped in carbon.

If you were just going for the look.

Otherwise, looks great man!

dagolfpro · 06-05-2014, 08:58 AM

Looks clean WW.

s85e90 · 06-05-2014, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thetastelingers

You could have just painted the stock hats and got the stock bars hydro-dipped in carbon.

If you were just going for the look.

Otherwise, looks great man!

Hydro dipping looks absolutely nothing like real carbon

jeff@autocouture · 06-05-2014, 09:25 AM

looks awesome man, glad to see something different,
no matter how small of a mod

Sebringjetta · 06-05-2014, 09:46 AM

SEXY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

thetastelingers · 06-05-2014, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by s85e90

Hydro dipping looks absolutely nothing like real carbon

Depends on which design you go with.

dj_dub · 06-05-2014, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FogCityM3

Wow, great idea and nice job! Looks awesome.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PERFM3

looks great!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by OOO

Looks awesome!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flea7

Love it! Great Job and imagination!

Thanks guys, I appreciate it!

Quote:

Originally Posted by meza0531

I Really like it, may even consider doing the same. Good post, and thanks for sharing!

No problem, please do...post pics if you decide to do it.

dj_dub · 06-05-2014, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schlichtm3

looks great -

is "dinan" a sticker an can be removed? for a very clean carbon look.

Thank you! ...unfortunately, it cannot. The sticker is placed under a layer of clear. Good news is the sticker won't deteriorate.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlpineE92M3

That does look really awesome! I think I might do the same, but in white. Thanks for the idea!

Quote:

Originally Posted by JEllis

I like it

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMWDEMON

awesomeness! Great job

Quote:

Originally Posted by WCM3

Great work! Looks really nice.

Thanks guys, appreciate the kind words!

slicer · 06-05-2014, 11:20 AM

I like!

dj_dub · 06-05-2014, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B8bydesign

Looks really good man, love the color it brings to the engine bay. Nice job!

Quote:

Originally Posted by studntloan

looks awesome man, glad to see something different,
no matter how small of a mod

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sebringjetta

SEXY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the compliments guys, much appreciated!

Quote:

Originally Posted by thetastelingers

You could have just painted the stock hats and got the stock bars hydro-dipped in carbon.

If you were just going for the look.

Otherwise, looks great man!

Thanks man! ...I was just trying to go for the look, but I love the Dinan bars, well worth the price I paid for them. Really quality pieces. I also went the route I did so that my car wouldn't have any down time if I did just paint the stock rings and modded the stock bars. Up and running within an hour from start to finish.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dagolfpro

Looks clean WW.

Thanks Ren!

Quote:

Originally Posted by s85e90

Hydro dipping looks absolutely nothing like real carbon

This I'd have to agree with. But I would hydro dip some gun parts I have though...lol

06-05-2014, 01:04 AM	#1
dj_dub IG: @dj_dub 1803 Rep 1,452 Posts Drives: 2010 BMW E90 M3 - SG/FR 6MT Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: SF Bay Area to Las Vegas iTrader: (4) Garage List 2017 Porsche 991.2 C2S [0.00] 2001 MBZ ML430 [0.00] 2006 BMW E46 M3 Vert [0.00] 2010 BMW E90 M3 [6.00]	New Mod Installed…something different from the usual around here >>> I've always wanted Dinan CF Strut Braces, and recently I was able to pick up a set for a good price from Dinan directly. I couldn't wait to install them, but I wanted to add a little twist, my own personal touch to these. Came up with an idea that I've never seen anyone do in the E9X M3 community. I've always liked the look of Red Painted Strut Tower Rings…gives that nice Motorsport look to the engine bay. Well, I picked up a spare set of OEM Strut Tower Rings, painted them Red myself, and completed the install. Very pleased with the outcome…glad I was right. It looks great! IMG_5234aa by dj_dub, on Flickr The install and painting the rings myself was very easy. Total time with painting to complete this install was around 3 hours. Well worth the time and money for the outcome at the end IMO. Enjoy the pics of the guide below! The OEM Strut Tower Rings…one comes in a plastic bag and one comes in a box, weird. lol The Part Numbers for your reference are: LEFT: 51618055091 RIGHT: 51618055092 IMG_5122a by dj_dub, on Flickr Grabbed a few sheets of different grits of sandpaper and began to prep the rings. Tried to get it as smooth as possible and remove the texture. IMG_5126a by dj_dub, on Flickr Figured I would paint these myself because I can't justify paying a shop a crazy amount to do the work when I can do this myself. Decided on this color…it's as close as the color red I was looking for. IMG_5141a by dj_dub, on Flickr Painted the rings in my backyard on a non-windy warm afternoon…hey it worked. lol IMG_5144a by dj_dub, on Flickr Here's how they came out after 4 coats…not bad for a rattlecan job if I say so myself! (The black parts around the threads are from the tape and the black square lets me know which ring is which. Those black areas won't be seen in the end.) IMG_5164a by dj_dub, on Flickr Those with EDC, you'll need to remove this cap and wire. Squeeze the dust cap and pull up gently, then pull the wire inside straight up slowly to unplug it. Be careful with this step not to break the 2 small wire plug…unless you wanna buy a new set. lol IMG_5175a by dj_dub, on Flickr IMG_5180a by dj_dub, on Flickr Remove both Microfilter Housings and you can begin removing the strut braces and strut rings. IMG_5179a by dj_dub, on Flickr Here's one ring installed…not yet torqued down. IMG_5184a by dj_dub, on Flickr Passenger side completed. A pic for comparison to the stock side… IMG_5187a by dj_dub, on Flickr Close-up pic. You can see a little paint came up around one nut after torquing them down…will spot paint that later to fix. IMG_5190a by dj_dub, on Flickr Both sides installed… IMG_5193a by dj_dub, on Flickr IMG_5203a by dj_dub, on Flickr Reinstall the Microfilter Housings and replug the EDC wires carefully…and you're done. The engine bay looks so much better with this little mod. Adds that nice little bit of contrast to break up all that black. IMG_5213a by dj_dub, on Flickr A few "beauty shots" I took after the install… IMG_5219aa by dj_dub, on Flickr IMG_5238aa by dj_dub, on Flickr IMG_5251aa by dj_dub, on Flickr __________________ CarboProject CF Plenum \| Dinan CF Intake \| ESS Tune \| RKP X-Pipe \| Akra w/CF Tips \| MFactory CF DS \| CSF Cooling \| AST 5200 \| Hotchkis F/R Sways \| SPL/Ground Control/Fall-Line Arms \| DEFIV Diff Brace \| StudioRSR Rollcage \| 3-piece BBS RT88 \| Michelin PS4S \| Brembos F/R \| Recaro Profi SPG XL \| CAE Ultra Shifter \| Perf Elec Wheel V2 \| BAVSOUND \| GT4 CF Front Lip/Canards/Rear Wing \| Arkym CF Rear Diffuser \| Forcewerkz CF SS \| Varis CF Lower Tray \| Turner Skidplate \| BayOptiks Headlights
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06-05-2014, 01:09 AM	#2
FogCityM3 Colonel 499 Rep 2,400 Posts Drives: M3 (E90) & Porsche GT3 RS Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (0)	Wow, great idea and nice job! Looks awesome.
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06-05-2014, 01:19 AM	#3
PerfM5 Lieutenant 94 Rep 530 Posts Drives: F10 M5 Space, E92 M3 Techno Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: SoCal iTrader: (7)	looks great!! __________________
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06-05-2014, 01:22 AM	#4
meza0531 Banned 34 Rep 553 Posts Drives: 08 Jerez E90 M3 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Walla Walla, Wa iTrader: (8)	I Really like it, may even consider doing the same. Good post, and thanks for sharing!
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06-05-2014, 01:23 AM	#5
OOO First Lieutenant 28 Rep 310 Posts Drives: in the slow lane Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SoCal iTrader: (4)	Looks awesome! __________________ E92 BMW M3\|Space Gray\|DCT\|Performance Splitters\|Carbon Fiber Mirrors\|Performance Spoiler
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06-05-2014, 01:38 AM	#6
Flea7 Major 112 Rep 1,260 Posts Drives: E92 M3 6MT/F48 X1/F430/F12 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: PNW iTrader: (6) Garage List 2016 X1 [0.00] 2008 E92 M3 [0.00] 2005 Ferrari F430 [0.00] 2014 Ferrari F12 Be ... [10.00]	Love it! Great Job and imagination! __________________
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06-05-2014, 04:13 AM	#7
schlichtm3 Driver 155 Rep 155 Posts Drives: M4 Competition 2019 Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Germany iTrader: (0)	looks great - is "dinan" a sticker an can be removed? for a very clean carbon look.
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06-05-2014, 07:33 AM	#8
AlpineE92M3 Currently Driving 269 Rep 1,426 Posts Drives: BPM tuned '13 AW ZCP E92 M3 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Rochester, NY iTrader: (9) Garage List 2013 BMW E92 M3 [0.00] 2011 BMW M3 [0.00]	That does look really awesome! I think I might do the same, but in white. Thanks for the idea!
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06-05-2014, 07:55 AM	#9
JEllis Major General 531 Rep 5,498 Posts Drives: E36 M3, E92 M3 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Dallas/Ft. Worth iTrader: (4)	I like it __________________ Instagram: jellismotorwerks
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06-05-2014, 08:05 AM	#10
BMWDEMON Super modder 104 Rep 1,973 Posts Drives: E90 M3 & E46 M3 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Annapolis, MD iTrader: (1)	awesomeness! Great job __________________ SOLD - 2005 E46 M3 ZCP - I/B on black CURRENT - 2011 E90 M3 - meticulously modified 2015 X1 Xdrive 28i
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06-05-2014, 08:10 AM	#11
WCM3 Î canŧ főcus mŷ attėntĭon 72 Rep 1,406 Posts Drives: 13 Rubicon Join Date: May 2008 Location: Morgantown, Pa iTrader: (7)	Great work! Looks really nice. __________________ 2011 M3 Coupe - Individual Fire Orange/Black Novillo Extended Leather, 6MT, Mode Carbon, Eisenmann Race, BBS CH-R, BC Coil-overs (Sold) 1995 M3 Coupe - Avus/Hurricane, AEM EMS, Precision Turbo, Boostlogic, H&R, Fikse FM/5, MaxVelocity, Maximum PSI, 20% Tint, etc etc..(Sold) 2009 M3 Coupe - AW/Fox Red, 6MT, Carbon Roof, Shadow Trim, etc (Sold)
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06-05-2014, 08:19 AM	#12
B8bydesign Lieutenant Colonel 680 Rep 1,527 Posts Drives: '11 BMW M3 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Charlotte, NC iTrader: (10) Garage List 2011 BMW M3 [10.00]	Looks really good man, love the color it brings to the engine bay. Nice job! __________________ New: '11.5 e90 M3 \| DCT \| Space Gray/Novillo \| ZCV \| ZCW \| ZP2 \| ESS 625 \| BPM \| M Performance \| iPE \| BC Racing \| BPM \| iND \| LUX \| Volk \| Coby \| Recaro Sold: '11.5 e92 M3 \| DCT \| Mineral White/Novillo \| ZCP \| ZCV \| ZCW \| ZP2 \| M Performance \| ACM \| BPM \| iND \| Thule \| LUX \| Macht Schnell \| Broadway Static \| Rogue Engineering \| BBS \| Challenge \| Metak
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06-05-2014, 08:20 AM	#13
thetastelingers Master Baiter 4169 Rep 626 Posts Drives: 18 M2 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Soddy Daisy iTrader: (1) Garage List 2018 BMW M3 SOLD [10.00] 2018 BMW M2 [9.67]	You could have just painted the stock hats and got the stock bars hydro-dipped in carbon. If you were just going for the look. Otherwise, looks great man!
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06-05-2014, 08:58 AM	#14
dagolfpro Colonel 247 Rep 2,271 Posts Drives: 2011 E90 M3 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: SF Bay Area, CA iTrader: (9)	Looks clean WW. __________________ 2011.75 E90 AW \| DCT \| ZCP \| ZCV \| ZCW \| ZP2 \| Prem Sound \| Moonroof \| BMW Apps \| Mods List: Evolve Exhaust \| M Perf Steering Wheel \| Tint \| Lux \| Hardwired V1 \| KW V3 \| Volshlag CP \| Brembo BBK \| BBS FI \| Yokohama AD08 R\| Schroth 4 Point Harness \| Challenge GT Diffuser \| OEM GTS Wing\| GTS Lip\| I lied earlier, I wasn't done with mod, but I swear, I'm done now, no more mods...
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06-05-2014, 09:25 AM	#16
jeff@autocouture BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 966 Rep 13,780 Posts Drives: 2002 E53 X5 4.6is Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0)	looks awesome man, glad to see something different, no matter how small of a mod
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06-05-2014, 09:46 AM	#17
Sebringjetta Brigadier General 311 Rep 3,675 Posts Drives: E46m3 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Sacramento iTrader: (39)	SEXY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! __________________
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06-05-2014, 11:20 AM	#21
slicer Major General 2736 Rep 6,734 Posts Drives: 'E46 M3 Race Car, '23 X7 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Wisconsin - Instagram - @slicer_m iTrader: (39)	I like! __________________ '23 X7 '04 M3 - Fall Line Motorsports Built Race Car - S65 swap, Dry Sump, Bosch Stand-Alone ECU, Drenth Sequential Trans, MCS 3-Way, Flossmann Wide Body, Brembo Motorsports Brakes, Drexler LSD, BBS E88 Etc. INSTAGRAM - @Slicer_M
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