Ok so I'm getting tired of the myths about the powerflex control arm bushings. So I want YOU the MINI owner that actually has them installed to post your feedback.
So please post:
what year MINI you have
how long you've had the powerflex control arm bushings installed
how many miles you've had them installed
what your thoughts on them are


The only time we've had complaints from control arm bushings is when people were using the "other" brand that is a copy.

Had PF CAB in the race car for 5yrs no problem, well abused

Had them in my street car for 2yrs, about 20k no problems

In other race car for 3yrs no problems, abused and wrecked once

Installed over 100 sets and ABSOLUTELY NO COMPLAINTS, everyone from little old ladies to weekend track warriors.

 

2004 MCS
2 years
20k Mi

i Love mine. I installed when my OE went bad.

The steering is direct with little dead space. Ride is as good as stock with a bit more fellt over bumps, nothing extreme it just feels more connected. There is no tramlining and confidence under breaking.

i took a look at them after last winter and see no wear or binding developing.

-Jonathan

 

2006 MCS
2 Years
18000

One of the best investments I have made and highly recommend this if you want a MINI that feels like it just came off the showroom floor.

 

20,000 miles on Artoo, my 2003 MCS daily driver. I did ball joints and sway bar bushings at the same time. It made a big difference right after the install. At least as good as OEM and I am hoping they last much longer than the original bushings.

///Rich

 

Used powerflex for over 6 years in multiple applications, recommended to friends, and never had one problem.
What's the other brand?

 

2006 MCS
1 year, 36,000 miles.

Noticed improvement in Steering right away. Feels tighter. No problems what so ever.

 

Well this made my decision easier. Thx

 

Replaced oem with oem at 35K. Replaced those oems with PowerFlex at 55K.
Doing great with the PF for the last 5K since then. Minimal change in NVH,
significantly better for keeping the suspension and wheel planted where it's
supposed to be, and I'm expecting them to last way longer than the oem ones.

 

just made appt. for Tuesday for control arm and sway bar bushing.

 

The only myth I've ever heard about Powerflex control arm bushings is the myth that they're no good. I'm planning to replace my stock bushings with Powerflex. Definitely an upgrade in steering feel and response over stock bushings.

 

2003 R50 5spd
Replaced slightly worm OE bushings at 48,000 miles with Powerflex. There was a distinct improvement in feel even when compared to when the car was brand new. Crisper turn in & no more wheel tramp after I added the motor mount & gearbox inserts. I didn't experience any NVH until I added the Gbox inserts & it's very minimal.
I'm at 85000 miles now & no issues, no squeaking when it's cold like the crummy poly bushings on my old GTI!
I tend to steer clear of the vendor war threads so I'm not familiar with any gripes about them. I like the Powerflex bushings & sure wouldn't go back to stock. Dropping the subframe every 30-40000 miles isn't my idea of fun!

 

2005 MCS
Had them on for a little over two years
Approximately 35,000 miles on them
I did the subframe drop method and have been nothing but happy with the PF bushings. I would also like to enter shameless plug for WayMotorWorks at this point. Bought mine already installed in the brackets from Way and would recommend the same to anyone thinking of doing this mod/upgrade! I am at 87,000 miles now and the car is almost as tight as it was new.

 

2004 MCS
3 year, 40,000 miles.

Felt the improvement in Steering right away. Feels tighter. No problems what so ever, no noise.

 

2006 MCS R53 6spd
Installed 12 moths ago, approx. 13,000 miles on the Powerflex CAB, 76,000 total miles. Lots of auto-x and HPDE days.

No complaints, no increase in noise, vibration or harshness. In fact the "clunking" that had developed, as the original rubber bushings self-destructed, was completely eliminated. Control under braking was definitely improved.

I bought mine pre-installed in the brackets from WMW. Absolutely the best way to do it. Fantastic service to offer the customer.

Also installed the lower transmission PF bushing insert and am very happy with it. Much less engine movement under acceleration and deceleration with only minimal increase in vibration at idle. Once above 1,000 rpm there is no detectable vibrations.

Very happy with the PF bushings, will definitely consider adding more as the OE wear out.

 

OK, Mine were installed today. Love the ride already. It feels very solid now.

 

how much was your installation?

 

Mine were FREE! Yes you heard me, Free for parts and labor. Believe it or not I got it covered under my aftermarket warranty.

 

Installed them yesterday on our 04S, 99k, and replaced torn ball joints and right motor mount at same time. Immediate improvement. Love the way the car handles.

 

Just had Power Flex front control arm bushings installed in my 2006 MCS and so far they are great. I have about 1500 miles on them and have no squeaking at all. Get Powerflex from Way Motor Works and not some aftermarket brand! Also make sure they are installed properly and that they use all of the grease up that comes with the bushings. This was my trial run and now I'll be installing more in other areas as they become needed. Thanks again Way for the recommendation! Sorry I couldn't get them from you this time because my car was apart at the dealership and I found them locally for a higher price. It was either pay more and have the Power Flex installed or get stuck with the OEM bushings again. I'll be getting the rest from you and I appreciate your excellent customer service.

 

they work great. I bought my 2005 mcs used with 89k miles. I just figured the old ones were gone and replaced them with the powerflex bushings. So they went in along with new swaybars front and back.

 

2003 R50
bushings installed for about one week (by Way Motor Works)
At the same time I had the Powerflex swaybar bushings put in, passenger side motor mounts (upper and lower) and a strut mount replaced.
Given that there was more service done to the car than the control arm bushings alone, I can report that so far the steering is tight and responsive and there are no audible squeaks from the bushings. Definitely there's a difference going over bumps, starting and stopping (no clunking). Overall I think the car handles better than when I bought it a couple years ago (with high miles). The ride is not yet perfect as I chose not to have an alignment done because I'm about to buy new tires, replacing the current set that has settled into the posture of the worn bushings.

 

I brought the dealership the PF bushings and they put it in instead of the original bushings. I did get charged 1 hour of labor even though they were already replacing my clutch, flywheel, and guide sleeve under warranty. It's strange to me that the clutch would be covered but not the front control arm bushings.

 

I finally ordered a set from Way and will be getting them installed next week sometime.

 

We just put them into our daughter's 05 MC.

Sorry we didn't do it in time to spare the almost new front tires.

She complained that the car was pulling to the right badly, so, after ignoring her for too long, we took a look at the front wheels. The tires we put on a few months back were worn through to the cord on the inside edge. ALWAYS listen to your daughter.

Nuts.

$200 to Tire Rack, $100 to Way (thanks much, great service like always). $450 to the Mini store to install Way's PF bushings that had been pressed into the mounts, and to align the little car.

The good news is that the car drives perfectly. My daughter says the steering wheel is back to straight (that's her measure of it). The bushings make no noise that is descernible and it steers properly. And a visual comparison of the PF bushings and new stock ones is really convincing. The PF stuff is very high quality - looks like aircraft grade. The oem stuff just looks like it came from the Dollar Store by comparison. It looks like it will have to be replaced again and again, just not very good stuff.

The bad news is that we could have saved at least $200 if we had done the bushing replacement when we put new tires on the car.

Nuts - again.

BTW, the tires had been rotated, but when the bushings go away, the tires go away very quickly -- BE WARNED.

Oh, one more neat thing -- we ordered the tires (more Yoko Avid Envigors - love those tires) from Alex at Tire Rack on Thursday afternoon about 4pm. The tires arrived about noon the next day. We had them mounted, balanced and installed on the car less than 24 hours later. AMAZING service from Tire Rack, and, of course, from Way. The little car has about 95K miles on it now. It still looks, and now drives, like new.

 

Whomever disparaged the PF bushings is a dummy. And anyone who doesn't buy them pre-pressed from Way is a dummy too!

I'm at about 26K miles on the PF bushings, replaced after my rear tires were cupping and the wheel was shaking. Do not wait, if there is any play in the bushings you're just going to cost yourself a set of tires too!

The feel is great, the car tracks like new and I've got 101K miles on it.

I did the PF lower motor mount reinforcement at the same time, NVH at idle with the A/C on is quite nasty, but how often am I sitting still?!?