inclines continuously connecting these sections two beads 22 extend across the flange 16 as far as into the transverse section 11 following thereon at its outer end the transverse section 11 carries an angled off flange 23 for welding to the wheel installation brace 4 the transverse section 11 is divided in cross section into four sections similar to a w a substantially vertical flange 24 on its side facing the front wall 1 a substantially horizontal wall 25 in cross section a vertical wall 26 and a second approximately horizontal flange 27 fig4 and fig5 illustrate the attachment of the stiffening element 9 in the body for the sake of clearer representation an inner profile 28 of the side member 3 that is hat shaped in cross section and a closing plate 29 of the latter are shown separately from each other although at the time of the installation of the stiffening element 9 these are already connected in a fixed manner to each other into side member 3 and to a wheel installation housing 30 as is evident in fig4 the flanges 15 16 of the stiffening element 9 hug an upper welding flange 31 of the inner profile 28 as well as a middle vertical wall section 32 of the latter facing the engine compartment 2 where they are welded together the wheel installation housing 30 fills out an intermediate space which towards the engine compartment 2 is limited by the closing plate 29 of the side member 3 in vehicle transverse direction towards the outside by the wheel installation brace 4 towards the back by the front wall 1 and towards the front by a reinforcing part 33 which extends in an arc from.