Hey guys,

So I've been looking around online for days to find a strut bar/brace for my 2008 non-S. I have yet to find a picture of one in a non-S, it mostly seems like they only make them for the S. I have found a few, but most require battery box mods or don't specify whether or not they will even fit in the non-S. VIP didn't even make it clear on their website until I emailed them about it.

These are the ones I've found so far:
http://jdmultimate.com/sparco/sparco...8/i-82033.aspx

http://shop.edoperformance.com/gtspe...6-p-12443.html

http://new.minimania.com/web/item/G2.../InvDetail.cfm

If anyone can put some pictures on this thread, or anything they have found for their non-S, it's much appreciated. Preferably I want one that doesn't need a battery box mod. I want to make sure I'm going to get the right one before I drop $150-$300 on it.

Thanks!

 

Check out this site:

http://kappasphere.com/mini/nm-eng-b...er_tie_bar.cfm

They were at AMVIV with the bar installed on a R56, it was a really clean installed so I ordered one. The bar arrived the Tuesday after AMVIV, it installed in less than a 1/2 hour, very nicely designed and manufactured. I'm very happy with it and it says it will fit a std. Cooper. I know MINI probably fixed the spring tower "mushrooming" problem but I like the fact that this design also beefs up the towers and the bar clears the stock air cleaner which not all of them do. Worth a look see anyway.

 

Battery box mods would be for a 1st Gen R50.The battery box is not an issue on the R56.
Almost all the strut braces for the MCS will fit the MC.

 

I saw that one a few weeks ago but forgot about it, thanks for reminding me.

VIP told me that their strut bar won't fit the non-S because of the box. Hmmm

 

interesting. if you look closely at this STB you can see that the car has the DDM street intake. i want to get this and a STB but nobody makes a STB that will work.


http://shop.edoperformance.com/gtspe...6-p-12443.html

 

It's also an S, not a Justa-Cooper.

 

A stb for an 07+ MINI cooper coupe will fit either car. Also the Clubman. and the new 2nd gen convertables. I'm just happy to see that someone has a STB that will fit around that air intake.

 

It is not true that STB made for S would fit the non-S. The issue is the hood, not the battery box. The underside of the non-S hood will not clear the STB. So when you slam it close, the hood might get damaged. Detroit Tuned informed me that the JCW STB is the only one they know of that clears the non-S.

 

I have the M7 strut tower plates and I was wondering if I could get the add on strut brace for it even though I own a justa. I really like the NM bar but it would be just easier to get the M7 one since I'm already half way there.

 

The GT-Spec strut brace works:

Picture on non-s here (post 37):
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ll-pics-2.html