The rod is pinched to clear the top section of the S38 engine, I've looked in the engine bay of some 525/535 cars, and I don't think the brace will fit -- it was designed by Jeff for the M5 exclusively. It does not contact the hood/cover/engine in my car. Many others who have this brace report the same.

I am interested in knowing what easily evidenced changes did you notice after installation, both good and bad? Under what conditions are these changes most evident?

I'm afraid I'm not qualified to answer this one... I've not had the car on a track since the installation, and my wife frowns on my "testing turn-in and tracking" on the streets in Southern Calif. :) I've noticed a general stiffening of front end feel, but also don't consider this one piece to be a complete suspension update. Until I can get on a track and "feel" it, I can't say.

At the same time the M5 mailing list was doing a group buy of these units, there was also a Racing Dynamics (I think it was RD) group buy going on. You should search the mailing-list archives for a bit and see if you can turn up the "reviews" on the Ireland bar versus RD bar.