I have a 2008 Cooper S turbo with a AEM cold air intake and cannot find a strut tower brace that will fit with the CAI I contacted AEM they said that they have not released one for my application yet even thow there are pictures on AEM website of a R56 with one on it they said it was never made for public. So please help I have tried a few different ones and none fit or are even close and am tired of buying waiting for shipping then it not working then sending back waiting for refund done this with 4 different bars!
Please Help!!! Motor On!

 

Why do you even want a strut bar? Biggest waste of money on this car!

Besides improving driver education, the best thing to do for improving handling on the MINI is a huge rear sway bar, tires, and a different spring/strut combo... in that order too.

 

As informative as countryboyshane's post was to your question, I'll add a tidbit as well....

1. AEM's strut bar is 'supposed' to be released sometime around now for the R56 (they said late April)
2. The JCW bar will fit. You need to use a heat gun and impress the hood down on the bar when it closes to give it that lit bit of extra clearance. I didn't do this, but another member did and it looked ok to me - easily show worthy. The bar clears the intake box, but hits the plastic pipe coming from the scoop. The amount to impress looked to be less than a half inch. Hardly noticeable if I wasn't looking for it
3. I've heard the GTSpec bar clears the box as well. I dont know about the scoop pipe- perhaps its a similar situation as to the JCW bar

Good luck

 

In your opinion!

 

Ha, true, but come on. Money is better spent elsewhere on the MINI.

 

Agreed, but thats not what he asked.

 

Any update from AEM on this? Despite the comment in thread, I am interested in the AEM CAI and ability to fit strut bar... and or adjustable camber plates (to also prevent mushrooming).