Which Roll Cage Fits A BMW E36 Compact With A Harness Bar And Rear Diagonals?
A customer asked us for a full cage for an E36 Compact with twin rear diagonals, a harness bar and single door bars, then asked whether the Sparco E36 MK3 Compact cage can be fitted with a harness bar. One cage on our site is listed with exactly that layout, and it isn't the Sparco. Below is what each Compact listing says, what it leaves out, and the cage Garreth recommends.
- Prices read from the live site, inc VAT
- Every layout claim comes from the product listing
- Sparco harness bar question answered from the listing as it stands
Safety Devices B035 is listed with cross rear diagonals, a harness bar and single door bars
£958.80inc VAT
The Sparco E36 MK3 Compact listing does not mention a harness bar, so we would not order it for one until we have confirmed it.
- The Safety Devices B035 for the E36 Compact lists a cross diagonal and harness bar with door bars as a design option
- The JP Dash Dodger JPC2 is listed with single door bars, X rear and harness bars, for track days only
- The Sparco listing gives six fixing points and door bars but no harness bar
- Tell us which variation you want and we confirm it before you order
What the customer asked for, in the listings' words
The request had three parts: twin rear diagonals, a harness bar and single door bars. The Safety Devices and JP listings call those a cross diagonal (or X rear), a harness bar, and single door bars. We’ve read twin rear diagonals as the X rear. If you mean something else, tell us and we’ll check it against the listing.
Cameron: “Does it have to be bolt-in, or can it be welded?” That splits the Compact range in two. Most of what we list for the E36 Compact is bolt-in. The OMP and Custom Cages kits are weld-in, and so is a JP multipoint kit.
Safety Devices B035: the listing that matches the request
The B035 is a 6-point bolt-in cage that mounts to the floor, with a front cage that penetrates the dash. All tubes are 45 mm outer diameter. The description lists it for the E36 Compact 3-door and says it has unique single door bars.
The Roll Cage Design options on the listing include single fixed diagonal and harness bar with door bars, and cross diagonal and harness bar with door bars. The second one is what you asked for. The description names the rear cage for it as RBB035 5SXU: cross diagonal, harness bars, for single door bars.
It comes as separate parts. The front cage must be used with a rear cage, and the rear cage may be used alone. The nearside and offside door bars are listed separately and must be used with a front and rear cage. Cameron: “Tell us which design and which sides you want, and we’ll confirm the variation matches before you order.”
- From £958.80 inc VAT
- Cross diagonal and harness bar with door bars is a listed design
- Steel, bolt-in, 45 mm tube
- Black powder coat unless you ask otherwise
-
From £958.80 Incl. VATPayPal CreditMade to orderKlarna ReadySelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Product cards show prices excluding VAT. Prices in the text include VAT.
There’s also a Safety Devices listing for cross door bars, from £1,004.40, and a rear-only Safety Devices cage from £547.20 with the same cross diagonal and harness bar option. If you only want the back of the car done first, the rear-only one is worth a look. It won’t complete the request on its own, though, because single door bars need the front and rear cage as well.
The cross door bar listing is at this link and the rear cage is at this one.
JP Dash Dodger JPC2: single door bars, X rear and harness bars
JP list their E36 Compact Bolt In Dash Dodger in three designs. JPC1.5 is single door bars, a diagonal rear and a harness bar. JPC2 is single door bars, X rear and harness bars. JPC3 moves to double door bars, X rear and harness bars.
JPC2 is the one that reads like your request. It’s a steel CDS cage, bolt-in, from £817.80, which is £141.00 under the Safety Devices cage. The listing is plain about the limit: it’s for track days and not suitable for competitive use.
- From £817.80 inc VAT
- JPC2: single door bars, X rear, harness bars
- Steel CDS, bolt-in
- Listed for track days, not competitive use
-
From £817.80 Incl. VATPayPal CreditMade to orderKlarna ReadySelect options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Cameron: “If the car will only ever see track days, that £141.00 gap puts this one on the shortlist. If there’s any chance you’ll race it, take the Safety Devices cage and forget the saving.” The JP listing says it isn’t for competition, and the Safety Devices listing doesn’t carry that line.
If you’re not sure which side of that you sit on, drop us an email or open a chat and tell us what the car will be doing.
Can the Sparco E36 MK3 Compact cage take a harness bar?
The Sparco BMW E36 MK3 Compact 6 Point Bolt In Roll Cage is listed for 1991 to 1999. It’s E255 (FE45) cold drawn steel tube, the main hoop is 50 mm by 2 mm, and the listing gives the weight as 27 kg. The cage attaches to the shell by its six feet with no other attachment, which the listing says suits regulations that don’t allow multi point cages.
The listing says it’s supplied unpainted with door bars and a mounting kit. It doesn’t say whether the door bars are single, and there’s no mention of a harness bar or twin rear diagonals. We haven’t found a harness bar option on that page, so we won’t tell you one can be added.
- £971.87 inc VAT
- 6 fixing points, 27 kg
- Supplied unpainted with door bars and mounting kit
- No harness bar mentioned in the listing
OMP Compact weld-in: harness bar, but cross door reinforcements
If a weld-in cage is on the table, the OMP BMW 3 Series E36 Compact Multi-Point Weld In Roll Cage has a wrap around harness attachment bar, feature code H1. It’s chromoly (25CRM04), and the listing gives the weight as 41 kg.
Door reinforcement is code A1, cross door reinforcements, and the back stays carry an X brace. That gets you the harness bar and an X in the back stays, but not single door bars. The listing also says fitting bolts aren’t included and the feet brackets are welded to the chassis floor.
- £1,434.98 inc VAT
- Weld-in, chromoly 25CRM04, 41 kg
- H1 wrap around harness attachment bar
- A1 cross door reinforcements
The four side by side
| Cage | Brand | Price inc VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Safety Devices BMW E36 Compact Bolt-in Roll Cage Single Door Bar | Safety Devices | From £958.80 |
| JP BMW E36 Compact Bolt In Dash Dodger Roll Cage | JP Cages | From £817.80 |
| Sparco BMW E36 MK3 Compact 6 Point Bolt In Roll Cage | Sparco Seats | £971.87 |
| OMP BMW 3 Series E36 Compact Multi-Point Weld In Roll Cage | OMP Racing | £1,434.98 |
Variable listings show the lowest price across their designs. Prices include VAT and come from the live site.
| Cage | Cross rear | Harness bar | Single door bars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safety Devices B035 | Yes, as a design option | Yes, as a design option | Yes |
| JP Dash Dodger JPC2 | X rear | Harness bars | Yes |
| Sparco E36 MK3 Compact | Not mentioned | Not mentioned | Door bars supplied, type not stated |
| OMP Compact weld-in | X brace on back stays | H1 wrap around bar | Cross door reinforcements |
Read from the product listings. Where a listing is silent we have said not mentioned and left it there.
Common questions
Can the Sparco E36 MK3 Compact cage be fitted with a harness bar?
The listing doesn’t mention one. It gives six fixing points, door bars and a mounting kit and says nothing about a harness bar, so we can’t tell you it’ll take one. Send us part code 00723175 and we’ll ask Sparco and come back to you with the answer.
What are twin rear diagonals called on the listings?
The Safety Devices listings call it a cross diagonal and the JP listings call it an X rear.
Does the Safety Devices cage need welding?
The listing describes a 6-point bolt-in cage that mounts to the floor. Our guide on how to install a bolt-in roll cage covers what bolt-in means in practice, including who does the job and in what order.
Can I buy the rear cage on its own?
Yes. The Safety Devices description says the rear cage may be used alone, and the rear-only listing starts at £547.20. The front cage has to go with a rear cage, and the door bars need both of them.
Is the JP Dash Dodger usable for competition?
Not according to the listing, which says it’s for track days and not suitable for competitive use, so if competition is a possibility, pick another cage.
Do you list other E36 Compact cages?
Yes. There are Custom Cages, JP, SW Motorsports and OMP kits too, and our Custom Cages BMW E30 and E36 guide covers that maker’s range.
Fitting costs are in our roll cage fitting cost guide.
What we would buy
Garreth
Garreth's top tip
For your request I'd order the Safety Devices B035 with the cross diagonal and harness bar with door bars design. It's the one listing that names all three things you asked for. I'd leave the Sparco alone for this build. It may well be a good cage, but the page doesn't give me a harness bar.
If you're only doing track days, fine, look at the JP.
Cameron
Cameron's fitting view
Before you pay, check you've picked the Compact and the right design. The listing opens on the single fixed diagonal, which isn't what you asked for. Then tell me which door bars you want and I'll confirm them.
On the JP: for a car that only does track days the JPC2 is a good choice and saves you £141.00. The Safety Devices cage costs more but leaves the door open to racing the car.
Want us to confirm the cage before you order?
Tell us the design you want and whether the car will be raced or only used on track days. Cally, our digital receptionist, takes your details, and Cameron comes back to you with the right variation.
