An E46 M3 with the S54 singing toward redline is still one of the best driving experiences BMW ever built. After two decades, though, the chassis has seen a lot of miles, and the front towers work hard every time you load the car into a fast corner. A sharp M3 should turn in like it did when it was new.
The Dinan Aluminum Front Strut Tower Brace ties the two front strut towers of the BMW E46 M3 together, helping maintain the structural integrity of the towers and reducing flex under harder cornering. The result is sharper, more consistent front-end response when you turn the wheel.
Why a Strut Tower Brace Helps the E46 M3
Under hard cornering the front towers flex slightly toward each other, which changes the strut geometry at exactly the moment you want it steady. A front strut tower brace links them so the load is shared across the car. The Dinan brace mounts over the factory strut tower reinforcements, so it bolts into place without any drilling.
It also looks right in an S54 engine bay. The brace is brushed aluminum with carbon fiber inlays, and at 7.2 lbs it adds very little weight over the front axle. Dinan part number D180-0464. Sold by AutoTecknic, an authorized Dinan dealer.
What's Included
- Dinan brushed aluminum front strut tower brace with carbon fiber inlays
Key Features
- Helps maintain the structural integrity of the front strut towers
- Reduces flex under harder cornering for sharper handling
- Mounts over the factory strut tower reinforcements
- Brushed aluminum with carbon fiber inlays
- 7.2 lbs
- Bolt-on install, about 0.5 hours of labor
- Legal for emissions-controlled vehicles, a chassis part with no emissions impact
Vehicle Fitment
Fits the following BMW M model:
- BMW M3 / E46 (2001-2006): M3 Coupe, M3 Convertible
Installation Notes
This is one of the easiest chassis upgrades you can do on an E46 M3. Dinan rates it at about 30 minutes with basic hand tools. Follow the Dinan instructions supplied with the brace.
- Open the hood and remove any covers over the front strut tower tops.
- Remove the factory strut tower nuts as directed in the instructions.
- Set the Dinan brace over the strut tower reinforcements on both sides.
- Reinstall the nuts and torque them to the factory specification.
