hello, we have a 2006 JCW mini and many people have told me about the strut towers mushroom. It has not happened to our car but we do not want it to start. I was wondering if an upper strut tower brace would help aid this or if we should just get the M7 Strut Tower Reinforcement Plates.

 

Any form of added strength to the strut towers is shows to lessen the affects of the mushrooming. I have not heard if the JCW bar is a better deterant over any other companies product.

If it was me and I had a JCW car i'd keep it JCW.

 

The M7 plates will definitely help put your mind at ease, insofar as worrying about the mushrooming. However, I sure wouldn't get them installed and then go out looking for potholes to try them out. The STRPs are a good product, though, and are nice to have for those nighttime and/or bad weather encounters with those nasty road hazards.

 

the M7 plates are good if you don't want/need the strut tower bar. If you do want a strut tower bar, then you should get the M7 Strut tower bar, cuz they do almost as well as the plates by themselves. I wouldn't go with any other strut tower bar, cuz that one will give the most coverage on the surface of the strut tower (to my knowledge). If there is another, somebody please chime in.

 

I read up on the M7 strut tower bar and they say it is about the same as the M7 plates. thanks for all the input.

 

The M7 strut tower bar uses the M7 Strut Tower plates. It's only a few bucks more, so if you're going to get the plates, might as well get the bar.

The downlow on mushrooming.

Mini designed the strut towers poorly. They will mushroom eventually if you drive anywhere that has decent pothole or bumps over time. If you get lower profile wheels (ie: bigger rims) or a stiffer suspension, it will happen sooner.

The force which bends the tower comes from below. Keep in mind the plates sit on top, sandwiching the tower against the force. The towers can still bend and push the plates up (mine indeed have done just this, but I do have a stiffer suspension and low profile tires).

Reinforcing the top of the tower is a measure to help deter the eventual damage, but it WILL NOT prevent or protect against it.

That said, I think it's still a worthy investment for someone worried about it... Because if your dealer sees it, they'll likely blame you saying you knew you were going to damage them and that they're not liable. Very few people have successfully had a dealer repair the towers under warranty. But if you have the plates, you'll at least know you did as best you could to prevent the damage regardless.

Best of luck either way.

 

It happened to us. We had to hammer them back with a 2x4. We now have IE Fixed Camber Plates under and M7 STB over. Won't be happening to us again

 

I can't believe mini made such a crappy design. you would think they would tell there customers about it.

 

I've also got the M7 strut brace - good stuff!

 

No, because then they'd have to not only pay for repairs, but probably face numerous lawsuits.

Right now they can hope not too many people notice this defect, and brush it under the rug as 'normal wear and tear within limits' until after warranty expires. If they admitted the flaw, it would cost them millions... And their wallets are more important than pretty much everything except consumer safety.

If they (BMW/Mini Lawyers) believed that lawsuits/damages from the mushrooming could cost them more money than ignoring it... They would take care of the problem. But since it doesn't impact performance severely enough, they'll sit on it until it blows up or goes away.

 

I also just recently installed the M7 STB. I think it looks alot better that I originally thought it would. But, I am one of those thats getting some minor bonnet popping. Anyone else have this problem? I'm going to try the spray down method to remold the insulation.

I really do like the added peace of mind and the difference in handling with the M7 STB.

 

After reading all this about the mushrooming, I am thinking about getting something to prevent it. I have read about the IE camber plates and M7 strut tower bar. Should these be used in combanation, or are the camber plates adequate? Also, where did those who purchased them get the IE camber plates and M7 strut bar? From the company's website? And where do you go to get these installed? I appreciate the help.

-Russell

 

We have the IE fixed camber plates and the M7 STB. The reason I went with fixed is that I didn't want/need adjustable and just wanted the added support on the towers.

 

. . . and the thing that really gets me is that the sheet metal in that area on the "newly designed" '07's appears to be absolutely NO BEEFIER! :impatient

 

Where did you get the IE camber plates installed?

 

I had a "special someone" at one of our local dealerships install it for me, but they are no longer there. I know LDG can do it though.