2023-02-25 - BMW E36 front chassis X-brace

Q.
Requesting ruling on BMW E36 front X-brace points. BMW has an OE part that replaces a single cross-bar between the front of the trans tunnel with a X-brace that also ties into the front subframe. I had teched the car w/ the x-brace installed in 2019 as material points, and tech at that time changed points to 0 due to it being a part installed on non-M E36s.

This part was installed on all convertible models (non-M3 'verts) since start of E36 production. Since there is no differentiation between coupe, sedan or convertible models on VPI line, I believe this is the reason for 0 points given at that time. RealOEM.com supports this, showing the part is applied to 92-99 E36s.

This brace was also added to the Light Weight special model of the 95/96 M3 (not on standard M3), and then added to all S52 powered M3s as well. It is generally now sold as a "M3 performance upgrade part" (while in reality, it started as a convertible part which was later added to M3s).

What is tech's current ruling for this part? Is it 0 points due to it being a part on a vehicle that is within the E36 M50B25 VPI line? Or is it material points since it is only a convertible part, and my car is a coupe?

For reference, the added material for the x-brace consists of:
25" long 1" OD tube
24" long 1" OD tube
11" long 0.5" OD tube
8" long 0.5" OD tube
5"x3" mounting plate
5.5" x 3" mounting plate
1"x1.5" brace plate
2.5"x2.5" brace plate
(I'm coming up w/ 95 sq inches / .066 sq ft of material)

A.
You cannot pick and use parts across the platform years to build a car that was not ever mass produced that way. You cannot use specific convertible parts for no point add. As far as point value if it is a cross brace between or close to suspension mounting points it will carry the 10 point strut or subframe value. If not then material points should be added.