I seemed to be missing mine...does it look anything remotely a normal skid plate? When they replaced the rack and pinion they must not have put it back on.

It sure made it easy to change the oil without a plate in place.

 

If you mean a heavy piece of metal which protects the underside of the engine, then you're talking aftermarket. The one from the factory is plastic and doesn't cover anything except the bottom of the radiator, more or less.

 

So it doesn't have a plastic thing covering the bottom of the motor..okay

I guess I need to buy a real skidplate.

 

Why, ........ you going four wheelin?

 

Just reflecting on hitting cones while autocrossing...

 

Meanboy, I've read in here somewhere that some of those skid plates interfere with Power steering cooling and are not recommended on tracks or Auto-X. I'd say especially not in Auto-X because your going slower and steering harder.

 

They have some plates that are drilled out to allow airflow. The biggest thing was changing the oil because you have to remove it or you can buy a quick release valve.

So when are you getting those wheels?:smile:

 

soon.... just got my control arms handed to me a couple of minutes ago here at work.
Rims tires coming soon.

 

So don't hit the cones.

 

Come on..you haven't seen me drive yet!

 

Right on...which ones did you end up buying and did you get top and bottom ones?

 

aftermarket "skid plates" are overkill - heavy, block cooling to engine/steering, and make oil-changes a PITA. Not worth anything. If you must do something, get a power steering fan grill.

 

My 2004 MCS came with a steering fan grille from the factory.

 

Yup, it has the grill for the ps fan.

Maybe, it's overkill to buy a skidplate.

 

Aftermarket metal PS fan shroud like this are around $50.00...I heard the factory unit is plastic?




The FULL metal cover runs around $140.00...

 

What material is the oil pan made out of on the MCS? On my lowered VW, I ended up installing a metal skidplate because of reports from other owners that have cracked their aluminum oil pan causing major damage. The MKIV VWs have low clearance to begin with and just a 1.5" to 2" drop leaves the oil pan particularly vulnerable.

 

I know it's silver underneath so I think it's aluminum.

 

The oil pan is a structural cast aluminum, but is not the lowest or most vulnerable part of the underside of the MINI. The flexible plastic air dams seem to get the majority of the abuse.

yes, later '04's and on have a plastic grill on the PS fan

 

One of the most creative solutions I have read to address the PS fan exposure issue is the use of a PC power supply fan grille (90-something mm ?). It is very cheap (~$10), strong enough for the job and extremely light weight. I think you have to drill some small holes in the fan shroud to accept the screws, but the screws don't need to be very big in diameter.

FWIW,

Theo

 

Just put on lower arms for now. Installed them yesterday in couple of hours.

 

Sweeet...where are you getting it aligned at?

 

Has anyone cracked their oil pan from road hazards or crappy roads ?

I did once in my VW bug, so the addition of the aluminum skid plate saved me from it happening again--and I have the grooves in the plate to prove it !


I think the MINI is as low as the VW, so I'm thinking I just might get a skidplate for the MINI, too. I only read one "con", and that was overheating--but I'm not so sure the plate was the problem.

 

I have the aluminum skidplate on 05 MCSC and had one on my 03 Cooper. The aluminum is not heavy by any means and I have never had any overheating problems. I plan on leaving it on for autocrossing when I start that. I think the weight issues is overstated. It is about protecting the bottom of the engine and making the underside look good also.


I had mine painted to match the color of the car.