I'm very frustrated about this car right now that I've found that it has this "mushrooming" issue and no warranty will cover it... The strut tower damaged the metal that holds it... The metal sheet that holds the strut tower is too weak for this car!! That is a Factory's defect, they have to fix it!
I'd like to know how an issue like this doesn't ahve a Factory's recall yet? How nobody do anything about it? Why we have to pay extra money buying aftermarket pieces to fix this issue. Is a Factory's defect of the car, they have to fix it. Their excuse is that they wouldn't cover this kind of things because they are consider as abuse of the car... A hard hit or something like that, but the point here is that the sheet metal is too weak and they need to fix it!
Is any way we can get this issue as a recall?

Check these links to see the problem. The sheet metal is supposed to be flat... The mushroom is where the metal is rounded (mushroom/bubble) on the left side...

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/P6086108.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/P6086103.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/P6086102.jpg

 

but it's not from driving on smooth roads that causes this! One could make a case that it's the crappy infrastructure maintenance (read bumpy roads) that is the cause....

Get a really big hammer and some 2x4 and join the rest of us in how we've "fixed" it.

Matt

 

Apparently, paipuky, you aren't familiar with MINI's philosophy that you are supposed to tollerate these things for the privilege of driving a MINI. The doc apparently is.

 

This has been talked to death. BMW did address it, it's called the R56. That's how BMW works.

My advice, get some 16 or even 15" wheels and non-runflats. Problem (for the most part) solved. And try to avoid potholes, manholes etc. But that's common sence.

My mind was made up, that the real factor is the run-flats when I saw a pic of the MCS doing final Nurbergring testing on .... 15" Holeys and regular tires.

Thank you BMW for forcing a lesser technology on us, and taking away our spare tire.

 

I'm confused...

The pics show the same paint pattern as my 10/20/06-build MC. I thought the mushrooming part is the rubber that can be seen when looking down into the opening?

Not sure what you mean about the metal being damaged; my car has the exact same "textured" paint pattern and it's had it since I took delivery on 01/13/07.

 

The mushrooming refers to the distortion of the sheet metal where the tops of the struts are bolted on. Has nothing to do with rubber or paint.

 

it has nothing to do with the paint.

As far as tolerating this as a design flaw, I don't expect perfection in a car. How many parts are there? How many items have to be perfect for a car to be perfect? Statistically, is it even possible? Sure it's a crappy design. But once we all knew about it, we all could make the choice to live with it, mitigate it, or get a different car. I can't think of any single car that I've ever heard of, owned or reasearched that doesn't have it's share of issues. Mini is no different. The problem isn't the design flaw per se, it's BMW/Minis attitude that's the problem. They don't cover it under warranty, even though they know roads have pot holes. And they didn't just add teh extra piece of metal that would have prevented it in the first place eirlier in the production run. They didn't have to wait for the R56, but they did.
But if you really think what this does to the car, besides **** the owner off, it results in a bit of lowering, little to no camber or toe change, and the rubber bushings in the strut towers sag over time (no invictives agains mini on the net on this one, even though it's just as offensive) so the dimensional changes from the mushrooming are on par with the sag that causes little heartburn in the Mini community. I guess cause it can't be seen, it's not as much as a sore spot.

Matt

 

I don't expect cars will never have issues. I DO expect the manufacturer to own up to the problems and fix them --- for the current owner, not just future ones. The fact that this particular problem relates to the structural integrity of the car is of particular concern to me. Maybe one day too, MINI (BMW) will decide it's not worth $8 to move a bolt that will cause a gas tank explosion.

 

This is not a new issue with BMW...

For some excellent examples of how the issue looks see here

http://www.bmwz8.us/vbb/showthread.php?t=400

Granted, thats not a Mini but the images show what a "mushroomed" tower will look like.

 

You'll also want to get yourself a set of "Strut Re-Inforcement Plates" (I am only aware of the M7 model (m7tuning.com $129).

 

I love this car, but got really disappointed about this fact... What bother me is that being a so common issue, the dealer/factory refuse to fix it and then the owners have to pay them to fix it... Even though, the problem would continue unless you buy reinforcing plates or a strut bar... But, if you install any of these things, they will take that as an excuse to avoid any warranty... Is just such a dirty thing to do...

I already order the M7 strut bar... I"ll get it tomorrow... Dealing with the dealer is a pain... They just want to get as much money from you. Sucks!
Sorry the ignorance... could somebody tell me what is the 2x4 that is used to fix this issue?


Thanks

 

The 2x4 goes between the strut tower sheetmetal and the hammer you use to pound the metal back into shape. Really. It's the same thing that a body shop would do.

 

That's on a $128K Z8! Think they'll pay much attention to a MINI complaint?

 

It is not like there is no solution to the mushrooming. Sure you may have to eat ~$200 for some fixed camber plates and an afternoon (or another ~$200 for a shop) to install the plates and pound down the mushrooming.

I think the real source of the spleen that is being spilled over this is the belief that BMW/MINI should eat the cost of the repairs. At this point, you have at least two options: 1.) Eat the cost of the fixes or 2.) Sell the car and move on. Actually, there is a third option: ignore it, since the car is not hazardous with the mushrooming....

Compared to ~$65,000 for a Z8 frame, ~$400 is cheap.

 

I own 1 of thoses Z8 and BMW did made the parts to fix it but we as owners we have to pay for the parts and labor ourself.....

 

with that z8 link, says the rear shock towers could be similarly affected, anyone noticed this in the minis??? everyone only seems to mention the front ones...

 

its like telling a wheel manufacturer their wheels are defects because
someone ran over a pot hole and bent it.

 

Do you need to put the MINI up on jacks or something while you do that?

 

I am sure your comprehensive insurance would cover this if its a huge issue for you. I have looked on my car and it does have a little mushrooming but if the car drives straight and is alligned it should be fine... I will get some M7 plates someday which pulls everything back down.

 

While I have not actually put a micrometer on the sheet metal to compare, it certainly appears that MINI's solution to the mushrooming problem on the new R56 is to leave the design basically as it was on the earlier R50/R53's.

Live & Learn - NOT!

 

There was a thread a while back with some back-and-forth between Dave and the crew at M7 about the functionality of the SRPs. I don't think that the SRPs will pull the mushroomed sheetmetal down; that will require either a 2x4 and a hammer, or some sort of puller.

 

I've already fixed the issue. I've had to use a piece of wood and a hammer to flat the sheet metal. My father who is a Professional mechanic did it. After that, we installed the M7 strut bar. The car feels a lot better, improves the handling. I just need to get an alignment. Does anybody knows a good place for alignment around Fort Lauderdale, Florida?... I don't want to deal with the dealer!
I'll publish some pictures later.

Thanks

 

Based on your signature, your car is pretty stock. So, any reasonably competent alignment shop could handle your car.

 

Per the instructions, if there is NO mushrooming take the three nuts loose, place the plate in place and torque the nuts to 27 flbs. If mushrooming is present, loosen nuts, jack car up to drop strut down and hammer back flat, and then put all back togeather. More or less.

 

Only if you believe that reinforcement from the top (instead of the bottom) will work and don't mind attaching the struts with a seriously compromised connection which does not allow the nut to fully engage the threads.