I got my plates today.

I will go for the install this weekend.

 

Great! The install is pretty easy. As rmplstlskn said, there is just barely enough room to get them into place. Just keep twisting them around and they will fit. I used a floor jack under the lower control arm to hold the asembly in place as when removing the 3 nuts holding the strut and then lowered the assembly. Push it down as low as it will go before trying to put the plates in place. Once in place use the floor jack to raise the assembly and put it back together.

 

Ya, I was surprised how much wiggling was involved, haha. Finally got my plates and the install took no time, although having the car on a hoist while doing the install made things much easier.

I'm sure it's just mental, but the car feels much safer going over all those road imperfections, now I can start aiming for the potholes.

 

Just an update after driving for a little bit with the plates installed.

I noticed that the passenger side stut mount cap is pushed closer to the top of the tower than the drivers side is. Anyone else notice that on theirs? Is it because the drivers side is still mushroomed? I don't remember noticing a difference of the height prior to the install!

 

I would try retourquing the mounting bolts. it may just be the way it is but it may have some aditional adjustment after settling in.
did you use hammer and a block of wood to flatten down the towers before installing the plates? I know some people say not to do that but the Dealer and Mini Madness do it and I dont see any harm in it. just dont go wild on them and dont expect to get them back to their original state.

 

Hi,
I've got a 2005 MCS and have the M7 Strut tower brace on order and am also thinking of getting the Madness under strut plates. However i've been told the tower strut bolts will not fit both the M7 n madness together, not enough thread

Anyone has any input on this.
Does anyone have a similar combo out there?
Or any idea where longer bolts can be obtained?

Thanks
Roops

 

Personally I wouldn't bother with both. I have an 02 MCS and have the same M7 plates and tower brace and never have had any issues since. I would say putting both in is WAY over kill and you will find it difficult in locating bolts that are long enough to fit both. My suggestion is install the tower brace and forget about the under plates, but that's just my opinion. The upper brace with reinforcement plates does more than the under plates as it also makes it more rigid laterally which is a benefit to that setup.

If others have other suggestions, great. But the hassle you will have or could depending on where you are as there metric maybe the problem.

I also think by 05 they made the shock towers a little heavier gauge steel than the 02-04 model, but someone can chime in on that one.

Either way you will be happy with the look and the driveability over rough roads.

Scott

 

Thanks man, appreciate your input.

When you say "I have an 02 MCS and have the same M7 plates and tower brace and never have had any issues since"

You're talking bout having both the under plates as well as the M7 STB or you just have the M7 STB?

Between, did you have any bonnet clearance issues with yr M7 STB?

Cheers

 

The MINI Mania plates say they are for the MCS. Am I correct in assuming they will work on a MC too?

 

I have the m7 reinforcement plates that go on top of the shock towers and have the brace that connects the 2 for lateral stiffening. M7 plates are available alone or as a kit with the stress bar that goes across the front. I think I have pics of it in my gallery? It works fine with no clearance issues with my stock intake. I have the 2002 MCS and haven't had any problems with my car over rough roads, it also seems to have stiffened the chassis a bit or it seems to have anyway!!!

Hope that helps

Regards

Scott

 

I'm just wondering.For those of you with cars under warr. are you saying the dealer will not do anything to repair this problem of mushrooming?

 

Has anyone had issues with the rear strut towers mushrooming? Or is it simply the fronts cause all the engine weight is there?