Carbon fiber bumper carrier

[carbonFab]

I upgraded my engine mounts to vibra technics (street), swapped rear subframe mounts to solid and diff bushings to poly. The engine mounts were done earlier. Each of these has given the car a tighter, more responsive feel.

I'm a little obsessed about finding more ways to stiffen the already stiff body. I plan to weld in half cage sometime in the future when I get another car for running around.

It occurred to me that the bumper carrier could be a place to tie up the front end more stiffly. The body in white (chassis) pictures I've seen does not show this member. The roof which we know to be stiffening (esp. when it's CF) isn't shown either.

After a little research, I was pleased to find that the bumper is actually a stiffening member and in the m3 is made from carbon fiber while the 3 series gets a steel bumper carrier. I almost feel like taking off the bumper to see for myself!

Just one more thing to appreciate about your car.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=51_6738

https://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-7...uine-bmw-part/

https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=735207

[Richbot]

There's apparently an aluminum E60 bumper beam that can be made to fit the rear of our cars as well and is worth a half dozen or so pounds of savings

https://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E90-M3...h/51117178087/

https://www.facebook.com/pg/sctsrace...19084188280896

[M43S7RO]

Rear bumper beam is already cf.

I've been interested in structural rigidity as well, Slonik has hinted at making a rear seat delete kit that adds structural rigidity as well. Hopefully that pans out.

I wonder if it would be possible to brace the front bumper cf beam to the top side beam that runs from side to side, like the v-brace you see through the front grills of the F series cars.

Originally Posted by Richbot

There's apparently an aluminum E60 bumper beam that can be made to fit the rear of our cars as well and is worth a half dozen or so pounds of savings

https://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E90-M3...h/51117178087/

https://www.facebook.com/pg/sctsrace...19084188280896

[roastbeef]

Yep. I've seen it a few times. It's not the pretty carbon like our roofs...

Now I'm curious about the rear bumper... I haven't had the rear bumper off. I've been wanting to replace the front/rear bumper carrier nuts with titanium nuts. Maybe I'll have a look.

[amrazM]

Front bumper Inner reinforcement is made from carbon fiber so is the rear.

[Richbot]

The rear bumper beam is steel on the e90m. It weighs more than 20lb.

I had no idea the rear E92 beam was frp. That’s an interesting development. They use the same part number for the chassis gasket so it should bolt up the question would be how well it fits the e90m valence which is a little shorter than the e92’s

[deansbimmer]

I'm going to blow your minds but they're not actually carbon fiber. They're fiberglass wetted with flexible resin which is black in color. It give it the dark appearance sort of like carbon fiber.

The E92 rear support won't fit under the E90 bumper.

[M43S7RO]

Awee no!!!! That's it, I'm selling the car.

Originally Posted by deansbimmer

I'm going to blow your minds but they're not actually carbon fiber. They're fiberglass wetted with flexible resin which is black in color. It give it the dark appearance sort of like carbon fiber.

The E92 rear support won't fit under the E90 bumper.

[Richbot]

Originally Posted by deansbimmer

The E92 rear support won't fit under the E90 bumper.

*flexes dremel* awww yiss

[roastbeef]

Originally Posted by deansbimmer

I'm going to blow your minds but they're not actually carbon fiber. They're fiberglass wetted with flexible resin which is black in color. It give it the dark appearance sort of like carbon fiber.

The E92 rear support won't fit under the E90 bumper.

call me crazy, but i'm pretty sure i've seen a vague weave in it... its just not a pretty finish. fiberglass weave?

[deansbimmer]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

call me crazy, but i'm pretty sure i've seen a vague weave in it... its just not a pretty finish. fiberglass weave?

Yes. Generally speaking, fiberglass is available in any of the same weaves as carbon fiber.

[Richbot]

It’s fiber reinforced plastic - an innovation GM came up with when it was going to cost too much to landfill all the leftover bits on the floor at the corvette body shop in Kentucky, which they then melted together with leftover Saturn body panels from that superfund site of a factory

True story

[Shredicus]

Here's an exploded one I saw at a body shop