While awaiting the production of my MCS, I have begun to wonder if I should install a skid plate once it's finally in my hot, little hands.
Currently driving the dreaded SUV (paid it off 5 years ago-any vehicle is appealing when one no longer has to make payments) and am concerned during the crossover might lose sight of the clearance difference. Plus, Dallas streets aren't the best these days!
Anyone recommend/installed themselves?

 

i have a skid plate on my 02 mcs. I drive the car everyday and wanted the protection to the power steering fan that the plate offers. It is very easy to put on and take off. It also makes me feel a little safer everytime I have to drive through the city when I go to work. We have the most lovely potholes and road debirs here in NY.

 

I've had 2 instances where I was scraping the bottom of my MCs, at stock height. Once was a dip in the road, another was a real bad angled driveway. Not very happy noises when that occurred. But after some checking, it appears to be alright. Just some plastic shaving. I think a skidplate is on the list of things to buy very soon for me. And if you already know that the streets you're going to be running on are the pits, than I'd suggest ordering one. You'll be protecting you cars' vitals. I'm sure if it could talk, it would thank you for it.
Cheers,

 

I put a skid plate on my wifes Mini because she does alot of expressway driving to work and we all know how much debris one can find on expressways these days. Just adds a little piece of mind knowing that nothing is about to get kicked up into the engine compartment especially at that dumb plastic steering fan housing Mini decided to place just above road level. It was easy to put on and you can still get to the oil drain plug too.

 

>> It was easy to put on and you can still get to the oil drain plug too.

Reviving this thread...

Has anyone NOT liked their skidplate? I had heard something in a thread far far away about the oil splashing around on the skidplate during changes. So I guess that wasn't true?

 

There was also the thread about the skid plate blocking airflow to the fan, and supposedly resulting in a warranty-denial for a toasted power steering fan. I'd never heard of that problem before, but it makes me think... Otherwise, I'd always thought that I'd get a skidplate for all of the reasons cited above. What do others (who have 'em) think?

 

I'm going to move this over to Interior and Exterior mods.

BTW, if anyone in Denver wants to buy a skid plate I have mine for sale (local sale only please) PM me.

 

I saw in the new Moss catalog that they are marketing a shroud for protecting the PS fan. It is made by the same company that makes the skid plate they market. I think I'll go this route to save weight.

 

minicooperparts.com has them on sale right now for $55 (black) and $65 (silver), with free shipping! I just ordered. I remember reading posts where people used a folded piece of cardboard or something similar to direct oil from the drain plug through one of the holes in the skid plate to prevent splashing all over it. I think I'll probably just remove it to change the oil, since it's so infrequent. Hopefully the dealer won't whine about it at my 10k service. I think that dealer hypothesis about the skid plate blocking ventilation to the power steering fan is 100% certifiable crap.

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2003 red/white Cooper, Borla exhaust, Moss air intake, Magnecor plug wires, parcel shelf

 

The skid plate on Mini Cooper parts is now sold out!

The fan protector from Moss is very overpriced! You can do the same thing for 1/40th the price using a piece of gutter screen and 4 sheetmetal screws.

And now back on topic, I've driven for about 35 years now, including 4 years in British sports cars with half the clearance of the MINI. Never had a skid plate on any of my cars and never had a problem. I've had to do some wild maneuvers to avoid a few things on the road, but hey, that's why you've got a car that handles so good!

 

I was interested in the skidplate until I found out how much they weigh!

I can't remember exactly but I think the Moss skidplate weighs over 40Lbs!!

just my 2cents.