Hey guys, I need a help

I installed the M7 brace this weekend:




And as M7 expected, I ran into a hight problem that the hood does not close. I apllied their solution of distilled water and it somehow worked. The hood closes but only when I press hard on it. I need any other comments or suggestions please.

 

Mine also lifts slightly. Dosen't bother me though. Some guy's have just completely removed the lining.

 

You can do a search for install pics / directions.

Some have fixed with the water solution -- keep in mind it takes A LOT of water-- you really have to soak the lining.
Also (something I wish I'd read before I did mine) WRAP THE M7 BAR with seran wrap first, otherwise chemicals in the lining will cause discoloration of the bar.

Anyway, this was not enough for me -- still had a bulge. What I did is trim the lining. Do not just cut into it from the underside -- this is sloppy and leads to insulation fibers all over the engine bay and an unclean look to the liner. Remove the liner and then carve out insulation from the upper side: there's a step-by-step somewhere in this forum.

 

other's (like me) have removed the bar altogther

 

Blasphemy!!!

 

These are two of the best methods for " bulge " reduction that have been reported. The second method of removing the material from the back side is the final resort and will solve the problem completely from what we have seen so far . As this issue does not exist with all cars the severity of the fix , if needed at all ,varies.
On my car I the hood was already bulging and liner compressed from my BMP bar. When ours became available I never noticed the difference until people mentioned it online. I appreciate these threads popping up now and then to help educate new entrants to the wide world of Minis

Randy
M7 Tuning

 

It's all a bunch of shi_.

 

You beat me to it.

 

hopefully not too off topic....is this an issue if i get the plates without the bar? i'm more concerned with the mushrooming issue than performance gains from an stb.

 

None whatsoever

Randy
M7 Tuning

 

Well, the M7 brace is 2 parts, the 2 plates and the bar. You can get the strut brace and try your luck if you like the car braced or not. If not, just remove the bar and keep the plates. Smart, huh?

 

not the way i see it. that's 70 clams towards the rear sway bar and the 15% pulley/aic combo! looks like just the plates for me

p.s. thanks randy, anyone not affiliated with m7 have the same reply?

 

I'm with Marwan on this one. Why not use the bar? Look at virtually any high performance car out there, they use strut bars. Anything to keep the towers braced is good. Even the Mini factory understood this on the cabrio, they have an extra brace from the towers to the frame.

 

Or there's the old hairspray trick...
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=110312

 

I have the M7 bar on mine, and no bulge at all. I can see where the liner rests against the bar, but no bulging.
I have never quite understood why the "bulge" issue randomly occurs. There is no specific model or spec, that applies, in which specifies it will happen.

 

Yeah I guess it is hit and miss mine fits without issues.

 

Astro same here.hood sits pefectly. I only have a slight indent on the hood pad. Its discolored a little but its ok. So I guess its hit and miss on this
issue hmm. Maybe for some reason its the ealier yrs. I have 2006.

How bout the guys here. Is your car ealier or later thats experinecing these
complaints.



Guido out!

 

Mine is 2006 MCS

 

05 MCS. Never had a problem. I dint wet down anything. Ive had it for 2 yrs now.

 

Q-Ban Very nice car.....I love it. Did you have that painted or powder coated?

 

Powder coated. I love that bar.

 

Dude it looks SOooo sweet!

I have a Chili Red 05 R53. M7 bar is on order. You gave me a great idea.

Props to you.

 

thanks!

 

q-ban, nice bling bro! well despite my frugal side, i went for the plates with the bar. i'll probably get it at about the same time as the mini ('08 brg mcsc sidewalk). i'll make sure to let y'all know how things go.

 

I put some school chalk on the bar and closed the bonnet to see where the bar was hitting the pad. With a utility knife I scored along the chalk marks and by hand dug out only the amount of padding to clear the bar. Then sprayed the area of the removed padding with plain old black enamel paint. 2-3 coats (only in the channel left buy the removed padding), letting dry between coats. You have to look hard to see the channel in the padding. I've never had anyone notice unless I pointed to the channel.