Just picked up an oddball R53 today. 2005. 99K and its got a lot of stuff fixed on it but no mods. PS pump and fan replaced. LCA bushings replaced. First stage low radiator fan mode works. and these....camber plates? or maybe strut tower reinforcement plates?...

Help me ID what these things are... I have had a ton of minis and none look like this stock. The steering makes no noises from side to side and there are no bulges in the strut towers from potholes in the metal where the 3 screws are like my usual minis have.

Here are two pics. Any takers?

 

Anyone?

 

Are they the IE (Ireland Engineering) fixed camber plates?
They look off center but otherwise similar to stock and I can't
think of any other ones that fit that description.


http://www.waymotorworks.com/ireland...e-r50-r53.html
http://www.iemotorsport.com/bmw/MINI...fixedcmbr.html

 

They look like them to me but the off center look throws me off... I have zero history on the car so I am only guessing.

 

my guess would be the IE plates as well. The strut top isn't centered in the hole in order to gain more negative camber.

 

With the plate between the mount & the tower that thick, I presume the car must have some serious wheel gap & reverse rake going on????

 

The plate is only 3/16"

 

It looks pretty normal to me?...

here is my car side profile..



I'm guessing this gives me some negative camber for better handling?

 

Yes those are the Ireland fixed camber plates, they are off center to add the camber.

 

The fronts do look raised.

 

I gladly added that 3/16" to my MINI for the improved handling. IE plates are a nice piece with a beefy bearing & a thick plate. Better handling & protection from strut mushrooms. Nice looking MINI patsum.

 

+1 on the camber plates. The thickness isn't noticeable, the handling is better and tire wear doesn't seem to be an issue.