Hi Everyone,

I just bought a gorgeous 2008 clubman S. When I went to pick it up, the seller told me that he forgot to mention he added a sway bar.

I was wondering if someone could explain to me what a sway bar does!

Thanks,

Felicia
(Proud new owner of "Cracker Jack")

 

You have sway bars front and rear stock. He must have upgraded one, probably the rear. Here is what it is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sway_bar

 

I would ask:
1. front or rear
2. what brand/size

Good to go into the ownership experience knowing, rather than wondering.

 

It is in the front. You can see it when you open the hood. He showed it to me when I made the purchase, but I was more focussed on trying to figure out how to use the various controls so I could drive the 75 miles home (e.g. at the first tool booth I hit I didn't know how to open the window!)

Anyway, the bar was apparently added by the Mini dealer. Is this an upgrade one can purchase? I am not sure I saw that on the configurator.

 

This is a strut tower brace, not a swaybar. It's a common mistake to confuse the two. Yes you can choose this as an option. They don't really do much

 

Take a picture of it and post it here. If you can see it when you open the hood, it might be a strut brace, not a sway bar.

 

if you can see it under the hood its a strut tower brace (shiny silver bar that goes over the top of the engine from one side to the other, right?)

If thats what it is here is what it does:

This creates a rigid connection between the front left and right wheel suspensions reducing chassis flex that will throw wheel alignment off during hard cornering. The effect is virtually unnoticeable and not everyone agrees that it makes any difference at all but it will cause no harm and does not compromise driving, ride quality, nor make any noise. It has a nice bling factor though

 

Thanks everyone. I now understand I have a strut brace tower. My car is just gorgeous -- I am so thrilled.

Felicia