I had all this stuff M7 See my Sig below I was happy with everything. Couple of track schools, but no timed performance stuff in a couple of years hopefully I could do that. Sorry, no dynos either. If I knew someone that had dyno equipment that I could use for free that would be nice, but for now Ugghhhh I think a hot rod shop quoted me $100 I don't remember for a dyno, but at the same time had to pay ticket for $200. Where do you get DISCOUNT dynos?????? Like $20 bucks a dyno then I would dyno every item.
Somebody here on NAM has to have a buddy that would give up the dyno for a day?? I did not have the USS though never really wanted to.

 

I admit it....I liked what the USS did for handling. If only the issues could have been sorted (it's so close to being usable if only M7 would tweak the design a bit - they did just this on the DFIC...perhaps it will happen on the USS). Instead, I took a bath when selling them (both kits).

I admit it....the STB is perhaps the best strut bar out there if mushroom prevention is a goal.

There's no hidden agenda other than an open thread to rant/rave about M7 products instead of doing it in every thread that is started. Yes, it's all too easy to drive those normal threads to the gutter. Perhaps it's better to keep the lunacy here.

 

M7 Products I have or have had

1. Strut Bar - Works well, on the track I think it does help. Everyday driving one should never get to that level on the street where it would make a difference. For 90% of you it's just bling. The plates by themselves that help prevent mushrooming would be all you need, they work.

2. USS - Had some fitment issues due to the header I use. Could not use the middle bar or the back part of the main bar. I bounce off curbs a lot on track. The front bar took a heck of beating and was bent. Possibly would be better for track use if was solid and not a square tube. Has been replaced with TSW X-Brace.

3. DFIC with Ceramic Coating and Aerogel Pad - After testing back to back with GP IC I found the GP IC better for my use on track. On the street I noticed no difference between the two. Has been replaced with GP IC

4. Splitter - Works fine, is held on very well, almost to well for us track rats that have the occasional agricultural excursion. Helped rip an already cracked bumper cover off during an incident. Held up fine and was reused, had to only purchase new turnbuckles.

5. Ultimate Grilles - All 3 - Nice peices, held up in an incident, fit decent and look good.

6. Diverter - I think it works, With a few on track off's I've certainly picked up my share of North Texas dried grass. The upper section of the radiator is always free of debris when this happens so something must be happening.

7. Oil Catch Can - Works fine, I did not today that some of the bolts in the top are rusting slightly.

8. Aerogel Exhaust Pad - The power steering and collant bottles are not insanely hot after a track session. It does keep that heat at bay. Can't determine if it is causing any airflow issues.

9. Throttle Body - I was tossing codes so sold it and went back to stock.

10. 400cc Injectors - Rich code in #1 cylinder, move injector to #2 and get rich code there. So must have been dribbling fuel. Replaced with JCW 380's

11. 16% Pulley - It's round, it spins, it works.

12. 2% Crank Pulley - Spun on crank, but then again I go to 8K, replaced with OEM

13. Rear Wing - Looks good, no idea if it does anything but look good. It looks so good on my car that M7 used my car as a model in the advertising. Still waiting on the poster that was promised, I guess like the vented fenders and header shown at AMVIV they are vaproware Issues I found was hardware was too short and did not contact the nylon in the nylock nut and the rubber gasket was smaller then the base leaving a gap. Replaced gasket with a custom made one.

14. 180 Degree Thermostat - Great in TX summer but when it gets cool round these parts I start tossing codes the coolant is not heating enough. Does not come with a new gasket either. Seasonal item that gets swapped out for cooler weather.

15. Rear Splitter - Order, paid for, waited, waited, waited, requested refund 4-5 months later.

 

thanks Nathan...that's what this thread was meant for. honest, no BS assessments so that others might be able to decide what works best for them.

 

It sounds like the interference issue only crops up when the OEM cat is no longer in the factory position, as a result of adding an aftermarket exhaust. But I guess saying that it had "clearance issues with the OEM cat" sounds a lot more damning than "there were clearance issues as a result of the aftermarket exhaust I put on".

So while your statement is factual, it's also misleading because someone that doesn't know better might draw the conclusion that there are interference issues with the stock exhaust system. You went out of your way to mention that it's the OEM catalytic converter, but you failed to mention that the converter is no longer in the same position it was in when it came from the factory.

 

I'm more than happy to edit my post to reflect that.

 

I use my car just on the street so I never really felt that I needed the USS, but I know many people that do have it. I see that TSW has come out with theres but with most cars being lowered, as close to the frame as the USS is, it looks like the TSW X-brace hangs even lower, that could be a problem.

 

on the cabrio, it made the car feel more connected.....less steering effort needed for little course corrections, etc. I have done similar bracing on my Subaru and it's a subtle mod for sure.

 

i have my own beef against M7 which i won't get into here, that said, i have to at least admit i do like their stuff

M7 STB: very very well made, i manage to find a silver one in Hong Kong when i was there, held up very well and actually i think its worn better than the black ones, the bolts are starting to rust in my engine bay, but nothing bad yet, might eventually replace the bolts

M7 USS: i had big issues with the installation, namely the drilled holes being too big (my mistake), its not an idiot proof install, and also bad for those of us living in the snow belt, the bolts aren't stainless and rusts, and as well as the bolt holes themselves rusts up too, which i was never told the possiblity of that, had to get a shop to re-tap the holes, but everything installed properly and it did do its job very very well

M7 splitter: very very strong, i hit a curb at an autocross 2 years ago, bent my wheel, killed the wheel bearing, damaged and bent the control arm and everything, the splitter held on fine though, just needed new turn buckles as i bent the one, the fiberglass suprisingly didnt rip out either

M7 ultimate grille: the install (especially the upper one) was a *****, but otherwise held up okay, the lower one after 3.5 years show some sign of rusting up, i might eventually take it out and have it re-done

overall, despite my beef with M7, i will give M7 that they are still one of the finest mini tuners out there

 

Hey Nate, you need to stay out of that Texas grass. Or change your hobby to off roading. Get yourself a nice F150 or something.

For those going back and forth on the USS fitment. The issue is not aftermarket exhausts, stock cats, etc. The issue is the fact that M7 is aware of it, but fails to offer a rudimentary warning to potential customers.

I think I am being clear enough, but I am sure the above statement will somehow get twisted.

 

I totally forgot that I have the Upper/Middle grilles. No problems at all.

 

I think there are advantages to be found with threads like this. I do, though, have a couple of questions that I hope will help this thread grow over time.

Is this to talk about M7 products (the titles suggests so), or to talk about M7? I am not suggesting that it need to be one or the other, but am asking what the intent or focus should be.

Has anyone seen a cubby-hole on NAM, or another racing or Mini site, that does have track-based metrics on products? Or other metrics on Mini-related after market products? After 60 posts to this thread, most comments seems to reflect "seat of the pants" assessments of performance gains (there are some dyno references) but I know a few of us would be interested in seeing actual numbers, no matter the means of metrics used. NAM is clearly a Mini site, not a performance since. I'll admit that I don't spend much time on other Mini-related sites (and none on racing forums), but if others have seen numbers elsewhere, I'd be interested to know.

I'm happy with my own seat of the pants assessments, but, well, I'm a nerd. I like numbers, too.

 

I'll always associate M7 with two things that are probably ancient history around here:

1) The incredible Plasma Booster that got the company started

2) The three postage stamp that I sent them to cover the shipping for the "device" that never was sent to me.

Based on my feelings on the above two points, once I was ready to seriously mod my car, I looked elsewhere for my parts. Certainly some of their current stuff is nice, but I have no need for any of it and will always look to other vendors first.

 

I saw this image and immediately thought of this thread...

 

Perfecto!

 

Im sure if we sat here and put every vender under a microscope we would find all sorts of issues with everyone of them. not sure what use this thread has anymore. If i dont like something i just return it or dont buy it. I prefer M7/TSW products over similar Alta products, but i dont sit here and bash Alta for it. Its just a matter of personal preference and good "unbiased" research, that we should be making our decisions to purchase products. Maybe this thread started off with good intensions, but like similar threads sometimes ends up going in the wrong direction.
Anyway Chirstmas is coming, and I've been a good boy, so I sent Santa my list and I'm pretty sure hes gonna come through for me :-)
380cc injectors
RMW tune (jan 18th)
R compound tires

Charlie

 

I am noticing the same thing. This has gone too far. M7 is a successful company who seem to be consistently involved at the track and getting involved in the true sport of the mini.

 

Yea, I think this thread backfired on PGT.

 

hey now don't pull me into your pro M7 scheme by quoting me. They aren't that consistently involved at the track (little proof, no data) and I don't even know what you mean with the second thing. You've been brain washed by Peter it sounds.

 

actually, I don't think M7 has ever found their way to the track.

no, not at all. if you think I was looking for a steamrolling, perhaps you are right but despite assuming that, it's not the case at all. honest, no BS assessments (good, bad, indifferent...all valuable feedback), minus Peter's marketing hyperbole are the goal.

 

Oh, I never had any fittment issues? I think? I did not install. Had most stuff installed at CUSTOM MINI SHOP, Steve's or Johny's.

 

Even after being repeatedly invited. Just shows what the marketing hype can achieve.

 

I don't think Peter does anymore, but I know that Randy tears up the track when he's not carving up the canyon roads.


If that is the case, then cool. It's just that you were chewing up the "Little Scoop" thread pretty bad.

 

Like Nathan, I have quite a few M7 parts on my car, and here's my opinion on them:

1. STB (well the bar is actually not on my car at present): I don't think this works, while the plates add some insurance against mushrooming (I think my camber plates do more in this regard, btw.) To make the bar "fit" most cars with some variation in the distance between shock towers, the 4 bolt holes in the bar are slotted. Makes sense. However they are slotted in the same axis that the bar is supposed to prevent movement (the towers either moving together, or apart as the car flexes). So, with the slots, the ability of the bar to prevent movement is determined solely by the amount of torque you can get on those big 10mm cap screws. But they thread into Al, which is not a great torque-producing medium. My conclusion: poor, but necessary, design for a "one size fits all" bar. I *never* felt any difference on the track, but I'm on record as being one of the most insensitive Mini owners in the US, so there.

2. OCC: Works very well. I don't know if it solves a real problem, and sure it's costly compared to the alternatives, which work just as well.

3. Coil overs: They work just fine. I like them a lot. They "disappeared" at the last track day, which suggests to me they are working fine. Time will tell about maintenance, but that's true for all us beta-testers.

4. Ultimate grille: Cool! I likee, and the install went fine.

5. DFIC blankie: I don't think this works.

6. Lastly, the DFIC: Everyone knows how much data I've logged and posted, all with no conclusions especially comparatively with other ICs. I don't think it's ideal, and I'd love to get a GP IC to compare. But I have spent bundles of time and effort to get the most out of my DFIC as part of the intake system and I'm pretty happy with the results, especially those from the last track day.

I'm out...

 

Reading through the linked thread above makes me feel like we're all the sheep in Animal Farm.

mb