Quick question for those of you who have a strut brace and CAI:
I already have a CAI and was thinking of adding a strut brace. I'm just curious on how the bar is suppose to go over the CAI and between the bonnet and the rubber seals. Any pics would be great.
Thanks!

 

Most strut bars for the MINI are flattened in that area.

Until I can find a pic of that, here is one that is just flat all the way around.

 

Here's another one. Most are completely flat.

 

Thanks for the pics.
I was wondering about the bar going over an after market cold air intake, which usually seals with the bonnet. Would the bar just go through those seals?

 

I would recomment putting on top of the seals. If you have the ALTA CAI like me, I would just go over it. If anything, it'll tighten the seal.

 

i think you need to cut the heat sheild a little bit to accomondate
some clearance. which is really no big deal if you have the right tools.

 

Thanks a lot, that's the kind of answer I was looking for. I don't have an Alta CAI but I'm sure it's pretty much the same seals.

 

Hmmmm, no such tools in my house...
Do you guys know if most strut bars have the same height (or clearance)?
One that would just go over the CAI seals would be best.

 

Depending on which bar you get you might have to cut the heatshield as kenchan said. If you get the carbon fiber one which sits very low this will be needed. If you get a bar such as the M7 or JCW I reccomend you cut some of the foam of the CAI so that it sits flat and still makes a snug seal. I cut mine when I did this so it didn't create a larger unsealed area by the bar smashing down on it.

 

Here is a old pic of my car without the Alta boxtop and a M7 bar.

You can see how I trimmed the CAI seal.

 

Likely to get a better response in the beneath the bonnet or performance mod section (CAI)

MDS seems to have it fit just right, I've also seen the M7 bar with the HDI and it cleared about the same as the stock systems.

Which CAI and which strut brace, I bet if you found someone out there with the existing combo you may find some have better fit with different bars.

Another not I've seen many who had to dampen and press or remove sections to the entire hood lining to get the boonet to close properly after a strut bar install.