This thread helped me in putting them into my car so thought I would chime in... they are most definitely a noticeable gain in stiffness and thus better traction putting the power down... so you can come on the throttle sooner exiting corners and it also has better wheel control over rough pavement and lets the LSD deal with crowned roads much better. It does make the steering turn-in feel tighter but also "more FWD", with an increase in understeer, hence the good recommendation others here have made to upgrade to a larger rear sway to balance the handling.

For any Canucks thinking of doing this, parts cost at the dealer is $64 for the two braces and another $10 for the 8 bolts. As usual, more expensive than sourcing in the US, but then again you'd have to pay shipping if you purchased stateside. Price is still very reasonable given it is a very good improvement in wheel control under power and is a nice clean OEM mod underhood. Highly recommended!

And finally a pic of them in my JCW CE and a closeup of passenger side and driver side...

 

Yeah, I put these on too and don't feel any improvement or change. Not even on the track. Same thing when I added the engine damper. Shifting didn't improve any as everyone seems to say. Maybe I'm just numb.

 

Larry, welcome to my numb & lame world.

 

For one my dash shakes and rattles stopped so something was stiffened. Also I feel more confident taking corners at speed and it feels more solid thus the planted feel.

Put it this way, before the braces I was getting better gas mileage around town, now...not so much.

 

Sounds like you are getting more smiles per gallon now. That is always a good thing.

 

 

I just installed mine and in conjunction with my OMP lower brace, I feel like the front end is definitely stronger now!

 

I installed these a while back. I did like the idea of having a bit more stability on the front end. I have never really noticed a difference either, but that's not to say there isn't one. On a car the mini's size, I cant really argue with anything to firm it up just a little bit more. Its cheap, It does look good to anyone who might see it, so why not.

 

Ordered mine yesterday from way motor works and can't wait to throw them on.

 

how much will these set me back?

 

as mentioned at least a dozen times at the beginning of this thread, they cost about $40 for both. several sources are also listed.

 

I installed a set. They look pretty neat sitting in there. I know they must add some stiffness or MINI would not have bothered to put them on the cabrio.

 

I added these to the site if anyone wants to order some:

http://www.outmotoring.com/mini-coop...tible_r52.html

 

Installed these today on my 06 MCS today. Had to bend the some harnesses out of the way on the front left side (left if you're in the car) so the brace would fit. The hood wouldn't close properly until i rebent the bracket.

It has taken out some dash rattles, but i haven't had enough time to see which ones exactly that it has taken out. (so far, i'd like to say the ones right below the main center speedometer) I can't say that it has made steering much more accurate, and if it has, it has only done so incrementally. I'm happy with the mod because I hate all the rattles in my dash.

 

Exactly the reason they were added to the cabrio......rattles.

Glad they worked as designed!

 

still haven't ordered these.....need some free time and i'll get them from outmotoring.

 

Anyone list where to source the additional parts required if you do not have the pre drilled holes or can one just dremel and fit?

 

Sorry but with an early car that doesn't already have the threaded holes, it will be pretty expensive to add them. You'd have to drill holes and use self taping screws or somehow weld in nuts. I'd just put your money toward something else.

 

Interesting read.

I just got a set so i thought i would add my $0.02

Coming from a back ground of 20 years of auto body experience ICAR and ASE master certified, I have spent most my life on a frame rack
When you have a car tied to a 2000 pound slab of steel with 4 tons of pulling power you can move things where ever you want, But also with the chain pulled tight, and the added weight of myself ( 180 lbs ) you can watch the gaps in the pinch welds open and close, Think of corning forces? Ever open a car door with the car on a jack?, There is a lot of flex, I have noticed, if i would add 3 to 5 more spot welds ( big pinch type spot welder that car makers use) It will actually stiff in the rail, door jamb, hinge pillar what ever you want to put 3 to 5 more seconds into, Most slicing using a extra backing plate, so just one more layer of same Gauge sheet metal makes a huge difference,
So any thing to add strength and durability and for the questions about added weight, These are super light your floor mats weigh more

As for my install, No holes in my 03 coop,

I am painting the bars, prepping back side of flat ends with a weld thru Zinc primer, prepping area on car, Then plug welding the 3 holes in each end, Then using a factory type brush able seam sealer, Duplicate minis brush marks, then paint welded area

Hoping the weekend,

 

dhabutcher

Good points, and all true.

I think it's funny about the floor mats weight more, cause MINI floor mats are just crazy heavy.

 

I think using Rivnuts might work for this. Welding would be worlds better, but think the Rivnuts might do the job.

http://www.rivetnuttool.com/

 

I got a set of these from Way Motor. Installed them and was amazed at reduction of interior buzzes and dash rattles. Also reduction in road noise by a few decibels. In my opinion, well worth the 40 bucks.

 

If anyone needs a pair of these, PM me. My cage builder will render these parts useless. I started this thread a long time ago...I still like them, I just don't need them any longer.

 

PMed you.

 

I remember reading this thread years ago and thinking.....that sounds like a great idea!! I never got around to ordering them...and I forgot all about it till I saw this thread come back to life, thanks!! Just ordered a set, and a dead pedal from those great folks at WayMotorWorks!!