You are currently viewing our forum as a guest, which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our community, at no cost, you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is free, fast and simple, so please join our community today!
when I first bought my mini I bought one of those. Its junk. I could have bent it in half without any problems with my hands. I now have another bar, but Ive found that on an autocross track I actually pull better times without a strut bar. Its just on there for looks and I take it off when I go autocross.
From the reading I have done on this forum and other forums plus a few articles I was able to find, the general thought is strut bars are really not needed on a MINI. I personally do not have proof and what I have read may be wrong. For my setup I have went in a different direction.
What I have done/ doing, are several different parts from what I could gather will give me a good street setup. It shouldn't have an adverse effect on the ride and may actually improve it.
I added the cabrio front braces. These tie the strut towers to the horns that extend in the front that the engine is mounted to in a triangular mount. they come off the towers at around 45 degrees and, the theory is, make the front end a bit more stiff. They came from the factory on the cabrio and cannot at least hurt.
I upgraded the springs and shocks. I did not want a auto-x setup since that is not the focus of my car. I used JCW springs with Koni FSD shocks. You are supposed to not use the FSD's with lowering springs but I feel the drop is so minor that there should not really be anything to worry about.
Front brace and a GTT mid-brace. You could also go with the x-brace but some have stated they got increased interior vibration so I decided to make sure that was not possible. Again, my car is for an improved street setup so the x-brace would probably be a better track solution.
I feel the MINI is already a great handling car and only wanted to build upon that rather re-invent the setup on my car.
I also forgot the 19mm swaybar. A 22mm may be a better track bar, and street bar for more aggressive drivers, but I felt the 19mm was good enough for my setup.
You mileage may very but the most important thing is do a lot of research and make decisions from there. You will be far happier in the long run.
'05 HB/B MCS. 
