I've been thinking about getting this brace, but just saw a post on another site that it has to be removed in order to access the oil filter. Can anyone confirm this?

 

That's a good question. I would like to know the answer as well.

 

We have it and nothing was said about removing it for oil filter when we took it in for oil service. I inspected it afterward and it did not appear that the brace has been touched.

Go for it...

 

I can tell you that on my R53 I simply remove the cross bolts and leave the major anchoring into the towers there. (and I do my own oil changes)

No need to remove the entire assembly.

2 bolts and that's all there is to it.. (another reason not to go with an off-brand one piece brace)

Jim

 

For a R56 you would Not have to remove it to change the oil.

 

+1

The oil filter lives on the front of the R56 engine so the strut bar is not in the way. My R53 has the filter on the rear of the engine & necessitates the removal of the bar for easy filter access.

 

OK, thanks for that clarification. I haven't taken delivery of my 2008 MCS yet, so that's why I asked.

 

Even if you had to remove it for anything, it takes less than a minute to remove the 2 bolts on the crossmember.