Specs: 2005 Mini Cooper S, recently added VMaxx Coilovers, new OE strut mounts, 10mm spacers in front, BavAuto front stressbar.

My question(s): When turning (moderately to sharply), I hear a spring compressing/ decompressing noise, kind of like the noise springs in a mattress make when you move around, but obviously a heavier sounding noise... what is this from? The obvious answer would be the springs rubbing up against my tires, but that's why we put spacers in and I'm pretty positive they don't rub... Are the coilovers moving? Are the coilovers moving in the perch at the strut mount? Is this noise coming from something else? Control arms, etc.

My second question: When I first bought the car, the P/O had put camber plates in, I used them until I bought this set of coilovers a few months ago and then we took them out (I wasn't sure what they were initially intended for). I replaced them with stock strut mounts. Now, after recently reading that people sometimes use camber plates to heed the mushrooming affect in the strut towers (I'm assuming that's what the P/O had used them for because the car wasn't lowered before), I'm wondering if the stress bar is enough protection or if I should look into getting the m7 setup with the strut tower brace + strut reinforcement plates? Or just get a set of strut reinforcement plates?

Sorry for the lengthy post and if I mixed up the names of anything

 

Not sure about the sound...You usually have to be a detective and just look for it...could be a different reason for a similar sound on every car....

But as to the use of reinforcent plates, I have had a set of Crave STD's since nearly new...they are more or less the same as the M7. The 7 can be fitted with a stress bar if you so wish...I opted for the OEM cabrio strut braces, easy to fit on an S and a bit cheaper..they brace the strut towers forward/back. Side to side can still be done, I just fine the bars to be a pain when doing oilchanges...
Camber plates are used to improve handling...side benefit is it also toughs up the strut tower...they are OFTEN used in-conjunction with with coilovers..heck some coilovers (the better ones) have camber plates with them....

 

So I can get away with just getting the Craven STD's (I think IE makes almost the same thing too) and use the BavAuto stress bar I have and be somewhat protected from mushrooming?

 

Thinking about going the Madness MINI Cooper S Strut Tower Reinforcement Plates route instead

 

Stress bars are not always compatible with strut top protection...hood clearance tends to become an issue.
the main advantage of the M7 ones are they do have a stress bar that fits nicely with them.
Not sure with the bav-auto one....
A few folks have been having "issues" with Maddness-MINI recently...just be cautious! Mostly with the items getting shipped being a cheaper e-bay version rather than the "nice" one pictured on their site....has been mostly $$$ items like headers and exhausts so far....
Still have the camber plates? could just re-install them, or were they sold?

 

I have the craven STD's on top, but no stressbar....
They do make an under-tower version I think, but harder install.
If you want a simple install, the M7 combo might be the way to go...
used might be cheap...
M7 was just sold (in the last month), and their stuff shipped to the Carolina's...not sure if they are up and running yet with a new owner/website!

 

Still have the camber plates, but they were disintegrating when we took them off (they're actually h sport ones) so that's not an option... The madness mini ones, or whatever their called look like thick sheet metal..in other words,. I feel like I could make these. A friend of mine is selling his m7 setup, can I run the bottom defenders along with the m7 top and stress bar?

 

Most find just topside is fine unless you go over crazy bumps...
a bit depends on the size rims/tires you run....
http://www.waymotorworks.com/m7-strut-tower-brace.html
you can see the plates on the end to help the strut towers....
these can go under,,,,
http://www.cravenspeed.com/under-tower-indurators/

I have the top ones....
http://www.cravenspeed.com/strut-tower-defenders/

 

One thought...before you junk the camber plates, the bearings in the center can usually be replaced if they were the part failing...