Introduction
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Neutral
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 5
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From: Troy, Michigan
Introduction
Hello to every one. This is only my second visit here. My first was as a guest, now I have joined the group. As a guest I was looking for experiences with front strut tower failure/weakness. Yesterday I visited Motor City Mini to have them inspect a large fracture in the left front plastic inner fender. They pointed out that my strut towers on both sides are mushrooming, due to hard suspension impacts, potholes and such in Michigan. I have seen a few complaints on the MiniUSA website from other parts of the country.
I would like to hear about others experiences with this problem and their dealers. This will probably end up costing around $2000 with new struts, reinforcements and such.
I have a 03 MCS that just turned 40K miles.
I would like to hear about others experiences with this problem and their dealers. This will probably end up costing around $2000 with new struts, reinforcements and such.
I have a 03 MCS that just turned 40K miles.
Welcome to NAM! An "OUCH" on the repairs. Living in Wisconsin, we too have to watch those potholes. I hit one once with my old mini-van and it took out the right spring and upset the motor mounts which were about to go anyway. Plus they jar your teeth on the real big ones you can't see at night!
6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,051
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From: Sacramento, CA
Welcome to NAM. I'm sorry to hear about the damage to your MINI... You can take a look into the M7 Strut Tower reinforcement plates... this is suppose to help/resolve the mushrooming effect inthe future
http://m7tuning.com/main.m7/store/10036
http://m7tuning.com/main.m7/store/10036
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Neutral
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 5
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From: Troy, Michigan
Introduction
To All; thanks for the welcome notes. My MCS is still on the road though some may think I am driving erratically dodging everything.
I'm waiting for new struts to arrive before getting the work done. Not much point in taking the whole front end apart without installing new struts.
Those with new MC's and MCS's, the strut tower cap, under the bonnet, should be very flat around the strut mounting. Impacts on the suspension will slowly create a mushroom effect as the strut mounting collar is driven upward into the strut tower cap. From the few threads I've seen this seems more apparent on newer cars, although it depends on how and where the car is driven. The Michigan roads did mine in. I've never driven on a dirt road only city streets and freeways. This car is my daily commuter. I could not drive an appliance car every day! But I don't think I abuse the car either. I expect this is more common than people realize as I imagine the majority of owners probably never open the bonnet anyway, and unless they know what to look for, would not realize there was damage occuring. So far I'm getting little from the dealer or MiniUSA.
Best regards to all.
I'm waiting for new struts to arrive before getting the work done. Not much point in taking the whole front end apart without installing new struts.
Those with new MC's and MCS's, the strut tower cap, under the bonnet, should be very flat around the strut mounting. Impacts on the suspension will slowly create a mushroom effect as the strut mounting collar is driven upward into the strut tower cap. From the few threads I've seen this seems more apparent on newer cars, although it depends on how and where the car is driven. The Michigan roads did mine in. I've never driven on a dirt road only city streets and freeways. This car is my daily commuter. I could not drive an appliance car every day! But I don't think I abuse the car either. I expect this is more common than people realize as I imagine the majority of owners probably never open the bonnet anyway, and unless they know what to look for, would not realize there was damage occuring. So far I'm getting little from the dealer or MiniUSA.
Best regards to all.
Originally Posted by bradc
To All; thanks for the welcome notes. My MCS is still on the road though some may think I am driving erratically dodging everything.
I'm waiting for new struts to arrive before getting the work done. Not much point in taking the whole front end apart without installing new struts.
Those with new MC's and MCS's, the strut tower cap, under the bonnet, should be very flat around the strut mounting. Impacts on the suspension will slowly create a mushroom effect as the strut mounting collar is driven upward into the strut tower cap. From the few threads I've seen this seems more apparent on newer cars, although it depends on how and where the car is driven. The Michigan roads did mine in. I've never driven on a dirt road only city streets and freeways. This car is my daily commuter. I could not drive an appliance car every day! But I don't think I abuse the car either. I expect this is more common than people realize as I imagine the majority of owners probably never open the bonnet anyway, and unless they know what to look for, would not realize there was damage occuring. So far I'm getting little from the dealer or MiniUSA.
Best regards to all.
I'm waiting for new struts to arrive before getting the work done. Not much point in taking the whole front end apart without installing new struts.
Those with new MC's and MCS's, the strut tower cap, under the bonnet, should be very flat around the strut mounting. Impacts on the suspension will slowly create a mushroom effect as the strut mounting collar is driven upward into the strut tower cap. From the few threads I've seen this seems more apparent on newer cars, although it depends on how and where the car is driven. The Michigan roads did mine in. I've never driven on a dirt road only city streets and freeways. This car is my daily commuter. I could not drive an appliance car every day! But I don't think I abuse the car either. I expect this is more common than people realize as I imagine the majority of owners probably never open the bonnet anyway, and unless they know what to look for, would not realize there was damage occuring. So far I'm getting little from the dealer or MiniUSA.
Best regards to all.
.Here is more damage caused by MI roads!!! >>>>www.michiganmini.org<<<< I don't know if you seen this yet...
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