This is an '05 Mini S. I've been doing research since I'm new to the Mini community and need those who have experience with this defect to chime in , please. If it is mushrooming, I know what I have to do. Thanks.

 

Hard to say, but it looks like it... All those bolts should be parallel. The metal under it started life perfectly flat, so the top should be too.

The fisheye effect of the lens makes it hard to be sure from here.

 

Hmmm, well I can tell you that there is sloping on both tops. It looked normal to me at first, but after reading that the bolts should be parallel, i can say they aren't 100%. The sloping isn't drastic, though.

 

This is what is under the tower from the factory. Others are the same. Flat with all bolts parallel.

http://www.waymotorworks.com/oem-fro...rut-mount.html


BTW, if you ever replace them, get these for $3.00 more...they add a bit of camber which is nice on the mini.

http://www.waymotorworks.com/ireland...e-r50-r53.html

 

Excellent. Thanks a lot. I have my work cut out.

 

They do look a bit 'shroomed. I got some STDs and gave the towers a few whacks until the STDs lay flush. My passenger tower was obvious; the driver's side not obvious until I put the STD over it. Also, check out the VIP product, it looks good and has a unique sleeved nut that allows full thread contact.

 

Silly question, but in order to hammer the tops back into form, the struts/shocks must be removed, right?

 

Not a silly question. No, no need to remove the struts - just put a 2x4 over the top of the mount and give it a few whacks. Note that placing a rag in between will help stop paint transfer to the 2x4.

 

I was also advised to jack that wheel up off the ground... seems like a good idea - no?

 

Couldn't hurt, but not really necessary. Personally, I'd rather have the force be supported by the wheel than whacking it while up on a jack.

 

Ok. Great. Thanks guys. I looked again and the "mushrooming" isn't all that bad as far as i can see.

 

Wow, that is pretty bad mushrooming. You need to fix that. Replace the strut mounts and bent the towers back. Then you can either install some strut plates, or camber plates to keep it from happening again.

 

Hmm. You think so? In person it doesn't look that bad. Perhaps its my iPhone? But I take your opinion very seriously. When I take my car in for servicing next week I will pick the mechanic's brain.

 

Is that as bad as it looks... or is it the camera?

 

Honestly, it looks pretty flat in the flesh.

 

Lesson learned....This used Mini I just bought needs over $3000 in repairs.

The dealer who sold me the car is paying for the parts.

The list is so long it's not even funny.


Repairs:

Oil and filter change

Replacement of both strut tops as they are domed and mushroomed

Replacement of engine fan stage 1 as it is inop

Replacement of water pump as it was leaking

Both control arm bushings are c racked and replacing

Right muffler hanger is broken and replacing

Perform alignment for suspension work

 

I would suspect the MINI you bought was not well looked after. Since it is difficult to drive a MINI "carefully", I would expect to check over the car carefully (any used car actually) with a fine tooth comb before committing to buying.

Alignment and oil change probably should have been performed by the dealer before he sold it to you. The rest, if you bought your car CPO, should have been covered by the warranty.

The passenger side tower does look mushroomed. The driver side, not so much. I thought my towers were mushroomed, but when the plates were added, they sat flat. Go with non-runflat tires and that should prolong your front suspension too.

 

I'm in the process of ordering Conti All-seasons now. The car is not CPO. I admit, I purchased the car in haste. Long story. The car was under ownership of one person for the bulk of the time, so I don't know how so much went wrong when warranty would cover all that is currently wrong. I'm getting the entire car redone from head-to-toe and I'll consider it new, relieving me of stress for a while. Lesson learned....

 

The R53 MINI is really a very good car. However, it is built to very tight tolerances and once something goes wrong, a lot can go wrong. Driven within its limits (a very difficult thing to do), the car can be very reliable. My MINI has been more reliable than a Toyota Corolla I had many years ago. However, it is so much fun to drive, I have this saying that "it begs to be flogged".

Good luck and hope to see you at one of the national events in the future. I'll be waving at you.

 

After she's on the road again, I'll keep it for ever.

 

Do you have to spring for labor?

 

Yup and the labor costs more. Nice.