Hello fellow MINIpheliacs,

The Mod Bug hit me today. I installed a Alta Air Diverter and M7 Strut brace. A problem occurred though during the final step. Closing the hood. So I did some searching and found that this is a common problem with the strut brace. First I thought I already have the dreaded Mushroom, Mushrooom! A few beers, a cigarette and some curses later, I did the ruler test and that turned out to not be the problem. So I took out the hood liner and alas, hood closes no problem. So the question is:
Could I just leave the liner out? Would that cause my paint to bubble or some other problems?

Thanks!
7

 

It only took approx 1-2 weeks (if that long!) for the hood liner to "conform" to the M7 STB. Once it became "molded", the bonnet closed without any "gap" near the cowls.

 

What If I couldnt even get the hood to latch let alone have a gap?

 

Removing the hood liner will not cause the paint to bubble or any other problems, but you should cut it and reinstall the rear section so it still seals off the two rear compartments at the cowl area.
I've been running mine like this and have had no issues.

 

Adjust the latch itself by loosening & then repositioning the two bolts on the latch mechanism.

 

soak the liner with water and close the hood. when it drys, the liner'd have an almost perfect imprint of the brace. works for alot of M7 brace user

 

When I installed my M7 STB the hood didn't close well. I called M7 and was told to soak the liner with water using a spray bottle with the nozzle touching it. Cover the STB with plastic to keep it dry and close the hood. Let it dry, repeat if necessary. It worked okay for my car. I have a little cowl gap, but, doesn't seem to cause any problems. I was also told if it didn't fix it to call back. Good luck!

 

There is a possibility that you have the plates on correctly but the crossbar is in the wrong direction. The side bars need to angle back towards the driver not the front . Make sure this is the case. More than a few have made this error including myself one time

Randy
M7 Tuning

 

the liner is so if there is a fire it will put it out.. more or less.... but the water thing sounds good..

 

+1, considering the sticky on engine bay fires.

 

Boy I hate to see what your under hood temperatures are. LOL What are the other problems you have had? As with everything in MINI the condition are all different. While I on the other side of the coin have had a bare underside hood for almost 4 years and never had a paint issue. The biggest concern that I others have had is the increase noise factor hearing the CAI and the S/C a lot more. Personally speaking A bare underwood looks clean. It also solves clearance problems with some after market parts.

 

The water trick didn't work for me (but you should try it first -- just make sure, as noted above, that you wrap the bar in plastic wrap -- chemicals in the liner will discolor the bar otherwise).
If that fails, as it did for me, just cut the inside isulation of the liner (hell, you already have the liner removed and that's half the job -- in fact, you may just want to do this and skip the soaking, since based on your description you have less room than I did) . . . and then re-install the liner. That worked like a charm.

 

how does it put a fire out?

 

Maybe it is just flame retardent.

 

FWIW...I did the water technique about 4 times. One month later, the gap caused by the M7 STB went from 1/4" to 1/16". There is currently a nice crisp outline that has formed on the liner. My advice...a little patience. Also, based on others' accounts, the density, thickness, positioning, etc., of the liner varies enough per MINI causing differing results.

 

Good question from a Fireman, Itsa Mini thing

 

Randy,

Do you have a picture showing this? I've recently gotten your AE M7 STB, and can't quite get the bonnet to close properly all the way, even with the water soaking method.

 

I filled a 5 gallon bucket with HOT water and poured it on the hood liner (removed from the hood) slowly while rubbing the liner with my hand in an effort to get the hot water to soak in. If you don't rub it the water will try to bead off. The result was a very pliable and well soaked hood liner.

I allowed the liner to drain a bit and then reinstalled it to the hood. The hood was raised slightly aloge the seam parallel to the cowling, but after a week it is virtually even as it was initially. Be sure to either cover your M7 STB with plastic and then wipe it down with some silicone spray lube or WD-40 for a while after that to keep it from having any surface corrosion on it.

Cheers-

 

i took the liner out, everything works fine, tell yourself that your shaving weight haha. plus the supercharger whine is a little louder too!

 

if you installed the alta air diverter too, make sure to remove the stock unit attached to the hood. I forgot to do this, the hood would close, but not properly.

 

Post a picture of Chakik's engine and under hood Josh..

 

Painted empty areas where the liner covered:

 

I just got a M7 crossbar, thanks for posting this information.