Ok, this is a strange one and any thoughts and opinions would be appreciated!
Lowered my car with H&R's about a month ago and all is good, about a week after lowering, recived my Strut reiforcemnet plate ( figured cheap insurance), and while I was at it figured the strut bar couldn't hurt either...
Installed them as per instructions, left home for the day all was good... drove to work, parked... worked, and when I got in to leave for home, and put the car in reverse... I heard a strange almost grinding sound coming from the right front... I thought hmmm thats weird, but kept going, and while driving ...no more noise...
On the way home stoped to do an erand... got back in my car reversed to back out of the parking spot... and again strange grinding, almost rubbing noise?????
So I drove home perplexed as to what could be casueing the noise, inspeced everything when I got home... wheel clearance from larger wheels, torque specs on strut bar, and every other thing I could think of. Finally I thought to myself the only thing I changed since lowering with no noise, or issue, was the strut bar... so I took it off retightened the strut nuts... and went for a test drive... Wallah no more noise!

week or two went by and no noise all was fixed... and I couldn't bare to look at my bar in the garage anymore, and really wanted it to work, so ... I tried it again... same result... remove again... problem fixed again!
I am still totally prepelexed by this and ask for all of your help... because I would love to run this bar and reiforcement plate setup, and I Just can't figure out why the bar would have anything to do with this strange noise????
Maybe collectively we can figure this thing out... your thoughts and comment are appreciated

Seriously weird. I suspect the same thing has started happening to me last week. Just hadn't had a chance to investigate. Similar sound only when in reverse. I will check the bar and see what happens.

Sorry to hear that you are having the same issue... but at the same time happy to hear I am not the only one, because I hadn't heard of any issues on the boards, and I just can't figure out how a such a simple mechanical reiforcement could cause this type of result????
When it first happened and I was inspecting in my drive way I would rock back and forth and could duplicate the noise, and even had someone standing out side inspecting looking for any kind of rubbing or anything unusual... to no avail... as soon as I took of the bar both times... problem solved and now driving for over a week since last uninstall with no trace of the issue...
originally thought maybe the 25ft/lbs was just too loose and the shock tower was just sliding around so tightened it up a bit... No change... only thing that eliminates it is removing the bar!
Hope we can figure it out

This is very wierd!

What other mod's have you done?

Have you spoken with anyone at M7 yet? What did they say?

Haven't spoken to M7 yet as I have been very busy, and since removed no issue... but will probably give a call today... and I will keep you all posted on their response...
As for other mods:
Exhaust
H&R Springs (soon to be TSW...as soon as available)
Hsport 19mm rear bar
Wheels
and that's it!

Mine made the same sound too. I figured out it was the factory air box hitting the bar. When going in reverse, the engine torques enough where the airbox starts to rub. Check your airbox...you'll notice some wear marks were the bar is rubbing.

Wow, great feedback pizznal. I'll check that out in the morning. If only I could mount a little video camera in there!

Hmmm, guess that makes sense....now the only question is ... how did you solve the issue? piece of foam... or something?
Thanks for the chiming in!

So the 2nd gen STB has fitment issues just like the 1st gen STB? Have you guys tried the soak and slam? That was the vendor recommended high tech solution for the 1st gen Minis.

Soak & Slam...nope... please enlighten me ... what does this high tech remedy entail?

Is that like water boarding? Cause I'm against torture...

Ok, I just peeked at the airbox and there is indeed a little scuff mark, about 1" in length, running parallel with the strut bar right behind the M7 logo.

I'll try and find someone to watch my engine with the hood open while I reverse.

you need more proof of a fitment issue than the rub marks?

If I'm a betting man, these will be the official fix

Probably not but I'm more curious than anything else. Where does that doohickey go?

it goes wherever needed to make the part fit. it's an ingenious bit of design (that helps compensate for the lack of same)

That's perfect ... where can I get one?

Home Depot if you want to pay less than $1

LOL

hmm...something in that picture does not look look right...I don't think that's an M7 part at all.

So, with the help of a buddy, I was able to witness the near contact of the airbox and strut bar in reverse. Maybe I have to be on a hill or something to actually get the contact. It didn't happen this time but it came really close.

I'm officially over it because it's pretty minimal contact, it doesn't happen very much, and I know what's causing it... unless I end up wearing a hole through my air box.

I guess, then, I can call it a Cold (coughHotcough) Air Intake.

As said above, very likely rub on the STB and airbox. Even on my CAI (HAI), I had to modify it to make the M7 STB work. I knew this up front when I bought my STB (trial fitment at time of purchse from Way).

I modded my DDM Works CAI pretty aggressively with a cut-out, I did not want to get the raised risers from M7 or not use my M7 STB.

I really doubt you want to cut out part of your stock airbox, but you could get some new (HAI).

I do believe that M7 has updated mounting points, you might ask them. Or even check their website.

I love forums because I probably would have never figured this one out on my own.

me too! ... now I can sleep... and actually use my M7 paper weight for it's intended use without concern!
I will be working on a mod or sollution for this minor issue though, and I will let you know what I come up with!
Thanks to all for help on this one

Nice finishing -- very pretty part!

Seriously though, these are a modder's best friend. Every car is a bit different, and sometimes you have to tinker to get the right fitment. That's part of the fun of DIY.

A quick thought on the washers. After you raise the whole gettup gently and carefully check to make sure that no part of the bar is going to touch the hood when the hood is closed. The last thing you'd want to do is dent the hood from the inside out by slamming it on the corners of that strut bar. I've heard of some people denting their hoods just by slamming it too hard on top of an unmodified M7 strut bar..