FYI -- RENNtech airbox & Wiechers front strut bar

[gerryvz]

I attempted to install my RENNtech carbon-fiber airbox today. I am sad to say that unfortunately it's a little too tall to fit under the Wiechers upper strut reinforcement bar. It's a no-go. So it appears that the two are mutually exclusive upgrades.

The stock airbox JUST fits and slides into place under the Wiechers bar.

Cheers,
Gerry

 

[gsxr]

Interesting - I did not know this. My Wiecher's bar is still new in the package, never have installed it, actually now I can't since installing RDM TEK strut mounts.

Got a photo showing the clearance from the stock airbox to the Wiecher's bar?

 

[Jim]

Got a photo showing the clearance from the stock airbox to the Wiecher's bar?

Dave,

My bar has bent off centre for some reason. The space to the air box is 10 to 15mm depending where you measure.

Yes it is a very tight fit to slide the airbox in whilst ensuring the drivers side rear air box mount seats correctly.

This car has recent engine and gear box mounts.

 

[500AMM]

A little off topic - but do this cross bar give any noticeable improvement on the handling? I guess it does if a stiffer swaybar is mounted, which I know you have on yours, Jim. (RENNtech IIRC?)

Is the Wiechers still available to the 036?

BTW, it would be nice to get one modified to mate the RDMtek strut mounts. Should be possible some way.

 

[samiam44]

I got some old motor mounts which will fix your clearance issue Gerry!

 

[Jim]

...does this cross bar give any noticeable improvement on the handling?

Arnt,

I had the two bars fitted at the same time so cannot comment on the individual effects. My feeling is the 32mm sway bar makes a much larger contribution than the strut bar.

 

[Zuffenhausen]

where does one purchase a Wiechers bar in the US?

 

[gerryvz]

where does one purchase a Wiechers bar in the US?

As far as I know, no one in the US carries them. There were several of us who ordered them back in the 2003/2004 time frame and we all ordered them directly from a place in Germany. I don't remember how much the bar cost, but it was fairly reasonable, even with shipping. Honestly, other than looking cool, I don't know that it really does that much to stiffen the upper strut mounts. I'm still kicking around removing it temporarily so that I can test out the RENNtech carbon fiber airbox. My butt dyno needs some stimulation.....

Cheers,
Gerry

 

[gsxr]

I think you can get them directly from Wiechers in Germany for something like $250-$300 (?) USD plus the cost of an international bank wire transfer. As mentioned above, it's really more for looks than performance. I've got a brand new one for the 500E still in the package that I'm debating if I'll ever use. My other one has been installed on my 300D for years. Check the Wiechers website for current pricing info.

http://wiechers-sport.de/domkstreben/streben-info
http://wiechers-sport.de/HauptkatalogWiechersSport2012.pdf

Oddly, they only show a single bar for W124 now, there used to be a separate part number for the W124+M119 models. Hmmm.

 

[gerryvz]

Yes, there traditionally were two Wiechers SKUs: for V-8 models and for plebian 124s.

 

[500AMM]

Hello.

I contacted Wiechers about the missing strut bar for the W124 V8 models, and Mr.Dominik Greiner was very helpful and checked it out internally.

If you use their Online Katalog you see an open space with missing part numbers and nothing about the W124 V8 models.

But if you use their Online Search option on their site, and search for #292003, the strut bar for the V8 models also appears, and the aluminium bar had #292004.

Mr. Greiner said they have modified the standard strut bar for the W124 cars to fit for all models. So the correct number now for the alu. bar is #292003 and supersedes #292004.

 

[gsxr]

Interesting. Thanks for the detective work, Arnt! I wonder what the difference was previously??

 

[gerryvz]

Indeed interesting. I wonder specifically what the mods were that they did.

Honestly this is more of a "bling" mod, not something that is going to give one much tangible benefit.

Definitely something that help score the chicks, when you open that hood to show off the purdy M119, though!

 

[500AMM]

Interesting. Thanks for the detective work, Arnt! I wonder what the difference was previously??

Dave,

He didn't say anything about that, but my guess is that the difference is the height to clear the airfilter box. Since the bonnet is the same on all W124 models, they probably lifted the cross bar as close as possible underneath the bonnet, and then it was done for all models.

Gerry - I did in fact use a couple of images of your car in the Email to Wiechers. They did comment the install without cutting a recess in the alu-shielding and the rubber "weather strip".
(I think I understand why you haven't, just in case you take it off permanently?)

 

[gerryvz]

Yes, I didn't want to cut into the metal inner firewall, so I just bent it and the rubber strip over. You can get a new firewall piece(s) but they aren't particularly cheap nor easy to install, particularly with the engine in the car. It is easily bent back with a pair of channel-lock pliers. At the time I didn't know whether I would keep it or not, but 8.5+ years on, it's still installed so I guess it is indeed a "keeper".

I will be removing the Wiechers bar to try out my RENNtech "butt-dyno" airbox though, sometime in the near future. Probably will replace my upper strut mounts at the same time with new factory units.

Cheers,
Gerry

 

[gerryvz]

I recently removed my Wiechers strut bar when I replaced my rubber upper strut mounts on my E500.

At this point I will now fit the RENNtech airbox and do some massive butt-dyno work. I would think that combined with my Jimbonian(TM) vented headlight wiper air intake panels, the RENNtech box should give me a good 15-20 HP boost and should provide some serious thrills up and down my leg. We'll see....

Likely I will re-install the Wiechers bar at a later date.....I like having it on the car.

Cheers,
Gerry

 

[Calspeed]

I recently removed my Wiechers strut bar when I replaced my rubber upper strut mounts on my E500.

At this point I will now fit the RENNtech airbox and do some massive butt-dyno work. I would think that combined with my Jimbonian(TM) vented headlight wiper air intake panels, the RENNtech box should give me a good 15-20 HP boost and should provide some serious thrills up and down my leg. We'll see....

Likely I will re-install the Wiechers bar at a later date.....I like having it on the car.

Cheers,
Gerry

So, what is the out come of the testing? What's better? Having more power or the engine bay bling?

Miguel

 

[gerryvz]

So, what is the out come of the testing? What's better? Having more power or the engine bay bling?

Miguel

I haven't yet fit the RENNtech box. I will do this when I return from Singapore next weekend and test things out for a while. Thanks for the reminder.

 

[Kyiv]

@gerryvz, do you have an update on Renntech box vs Wiechers strut bar?

 

[gerryvz]

@gerryvz, do you have an update on Renntech box vs Wiechers strut bar?

I used the RENNtech airbox for probably almost two years on my car. Never noticed ANY difference whatsoever. I ended up selling it to a forum member many years ago. Meh. I do not recommend it. It certainly does not provide ANY noticeable benefit in performance.

The Wiechers strut bar, I removed as mentioned when I replaced my upper strut mounts some years back. I still have the Wiechers bar and still do intend to put it back on my car. It is in my basement at the moment. I never sold it because I like it.

However, unless you are doing extreme driving or track work, I am also not sure that it provides any discernable benefit to stiffening the front end of the car. Certainly can't hurt, though.....

Hope this helps.

 

[Kyiv]

I had it the metal bar (aluminum not available any longer) on order from ECStuning since mid-November of last year ($180+tax). it should finally arrive today/tomorrow

 

[gsxr]

Gerry, didn't you have a second RT airbox?

 

[gerryvz]

Nope. I only ever had one.

 

[gsxr]

Got it. I need to send mine out for refinishing. Just for bling, as you found, it's non-functional...

 

[gerryvz]

I was always going to have my box's CF redone in Texas, but never did. Then, someone was looking for one, and I was happy to let mine go.